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News From 2023

Pink blooms grown on green stems.
December 25, 2023 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

Snapdragons are some of the most beautiful plants that grow in cold weather. They may not seem like holiday plants, but their festive colors make them a great selection.
These annuals love the cold fall, winter and spring weather we have in the South. Their colorful flower spikes brighten up any landscape, making them important additions to dreary winter scenes.

A three-panel photo illustration showing soybeans in the first panel, a chicken in the middle one and trees in the right panel.
December 19, 2023 - Filed Under: Agriculture, Crops, Corn, Cotton, Soybeans

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi agriculture’s value of production fell 10.3% in 2023, but still posted its second highest result on record at $8.8 billion.

Though the value of poultry production fell more than 22% from nearly $4 billion in 2022, the agricultural commodity still dwarfs all others in the state with an estimated value of $3.1 billion this year. The state’s forestry industry took its usual place as the state’s third most valuable agricultural product at $1.5 billion, an increase of nearly 10% from $1.4 billion in 2022.

Four chicks are pictured together.
December 19, 2023 - Filed Under: Agricultural Economics, Poultry

Mississippi’s poultry took an estimated 23% loss in value in 2023; though production was strong, a failure to meet the previous year’s record high prices was responsible for the hit. Poultry generated an estimated $3.1 billion to Mississippi agriculture in 2023, down from the $3.9 billion generated in 2022.

Felled trees are grasped by logging equipment in mid-air.
December 19, 2023 - Filed Under: Natural Resources, Forestry, Forest Economics, Taxation, Timber Prices, Timber Harvest

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Mississippi’s 2023 timber harvest is expected to set a record for the 21st century. “We are on pace to exceed 36 million tons of timber harvested, which would be the highest level we have experienced this century, surpassing the previous high set in 2005 prior to the Great Recession,” said Eric McConnell, an associate professor of forest business at Mississippi State University. The increased harvest helped Mississippi’s forestry industry remain in third place among the state’s agricultural commodities, with an estimated production value of $1.5 billion. That is a 9.6% increase from 2022.

Flowers bloom in an array of colors in deep red, yellow and blue.
December 19, 2023 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

Merry Christmas! While I take time to be with loved ones, the garden is not far from my mind. I’m dreaming of a winter wonderland with enchanting, cold-hardy plants.

As the new season settles in, casting its chilly embrace over gardens and landscapes, many plants surrender to the frosty grip, leaving behind a muted canvas of browns and grays.

December 13, 2023 - Filed Under: Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Crops

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Agricultural specialists with Mississippi State University will share updates and forecasts for 2024 on the state’s largest industry during a conference in January.

December 11, 2023 - Filed Under: Food and Health, AIM for CHangE, Rural Health

JACKSON, Miss. -- For five years, AIM for CHangE has turned federal dollars into park updates, playgrounds, food pantries, ride-sharing programs and community produce gardens for underserved areas in Mississippi.

December 11, 2023 - Filed Under: Agriculture, Commercial Horticulture, Commercial Fruit and Nuts, Greenhouse Tomatoes

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Current and prospective greenhouse vegetable growers can learn about the specialized production method during Mississippi State University’s 2024 Greenhouse Vegetable Short Course on Feb. 27-28. The course will be held at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center’s Magnolia Building in Verona from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. It is open to greenhouse vegetable producers throughout the Southeast.

A kale plant has purple leaves surrounded by green leaves.
December 11, 2023 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

If you would like to add plants that will provide color to your winter landscape and are also edible, I recommend planting some ornamental kale. Ornamental kale, also known as flowering kale, is a stunning and unique addition to any garden or landscape. With its colorful leaves and striking appearance, it is a popular choice among gardeners and plant enthusiasts.

December 8, 2023 - Filed Under: Family, Children and Parenting, Healthy Homes Initiative, Creating Healthy Indoor Childcare Environments

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Healthy lifestyles and healthy homes may seem like two separate concepts, but both components are important for overall well-being. David Buys, health specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, encourages people to consider giving their homes a checkup in the new year.

MyIPM for Vegetables logo
December 7, 2023 - Filed Under: Agriculture, Crops, Commercial Horticulture, Other Vegetables, Tomato Pepper and Eggplant, Watermelon Cantaloupe and Cucumber, Pumpkins, Vegetable Diseases

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Commercial vegetable growers have a new mobile-based resource to help them manage pests and diseases in their crops. The MyIPM for Vegetables app is the latest in the MyIPM app series. MyIPM for Vegetables currently offers resources for tomatoes and cucurbits, which includes cucumbers, pumpkins, squash and watermelons.

Dried up pond
December 6, 2023 - Filed Under: Agriculture, Healthy Soils and Water, Water
STARKVILLE, Miss. — State Climatologist and Mississippi State University Professor of Meteorology Mike Brown said he’s never wished for a tropical storm in the Magnolia State—until this year when the drought, in recent months and weeks, became so severe he thought rain from a tropical system might be beneficial enough to outweigh storm risks.
 
These poinsettias have white or pink bracts.
December 4, 2023 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

Poinsettias are classic holiday plants, known for their vibrant red and snowy white hues. You may not know that there are also many colorful versions of this popular plant that can add a unique and festive touch to your holiday decor. I love the many different colors that range from pink and coral to yellow and marbled. Today, poinsettias can be found in a variety of shades to suit your preferences.

Tiny, grassy plants.
November 30, 2023 - Filed Under: Wheat

Extreme drought from July onward is expected to significantly reduce the state’s winter wheat crop that is typically small compared to the primary summer crops, but recent rain may help what was planted.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that, as of Nov. 26, 82% of the state’s wheat had been planted, 71% emerged, and only 50% was in good or excellent condition.

A man looks on as a child controls a remote for a drone.
November 29, 2023 - Filed Under: 4-H, STEM – Science Technology Engineering and Math, Youth Projects

RAYMOND, Miss. -- The Mississippi State University Extension Service Center for 4-H Youth Development recently received a grant that will help close the digital divide in the state. The one-year, $53,000 grant from the National 4-H Council and Verizon will help implement the 4-H Tech Changemakers program. The program enlists 4-H members to teach digital skills that can provide more opportunities, including better jobs, to adults in their communities.

Children stand and sit around life-size, bright-yellow letters that spell out “share.”
November 29, 2023 - Filed Under: Food and Health, Health, AIM for CHangE

RAYMOND, Miss. -- The Mississippi State University Extension Service recently received a second cycle of funding for a project that has worked to combat obesity by helping people eat healthier and participate in physical activity. The AIM for CHangE program was awarded a five-year, $4.4 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help continue efforts to combat obesity in 10 target counties.

A man adjusts a valve on a water pipe.
November 29, 2023 - Filed Under: Water, Rural Water Association, Water Quality

Although few consider what makes it possible to turn on the tap at home and get abundant, clean water, there is an entire critical infrastructure operating smoothly to make that happen.

A huge, pink flower has a dark center.
November 27, 2023 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

Reflecting back on Thanksgiving, I feel thankful for the opportunity to grow plants that share their large, beautiful flowers with me. I think plants with big flowers have a bold presence that adds interest and value to any landscape. While they may have a shorter flowering period compared to those with small flowers, do not underestimate the impact they can have.

Tiny purple flowers bloom on golden foliage.
November 19, 2023 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

During a recent visit to the Mississippi State University Truck Crops Branch Experiment Station in Crystal Springs, I stumbled upon two striking plants that were in full bloom and showing out. While admiring their beauty, I noticed that bees were equally drawn to these plants. What caught my eye was the Caryopteris plants.

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith stands next to a display case in a library.
November 17, 2023 - Filed Under: 4-H

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, a native and resident of Brookhaven, observes the Lincoln County 4-H display that is part of the Smithsonian Institution’s “Crossroads: Change in Rural America” exhibition at the Lincoln County Library. 

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