MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Insects, diseases and wild animals are among the pests that challenge horticulture crop producers. An upcoming workshop in Jackson will provide the latest recommendations for successfully managing these obstacles in 2004's crops.

Mississippi State University's Extension Service is sponsoring the General Pest Management Workshop at the Agriculture and Forestry Museum on March 2. Registration is $10 and begins at 8 a.m. for the full-day event to be held in the forestry building.

"The workshop will provide current information related to pest management in a variety of horticultural crop situations," said David Ingram, Extension plant pathologist and research professor with the Central Research and Extension Center in Raymond. He will serve as the lead instructor for the workshop.

"Participants will learn about regulatory issues involving pesticides," Ingram said. "Some of the topics will address formosan termites, vegetable insects, the national plant disease network, blueberry diseases, summer pasture management, the Master Gardener program, cattle parasite management, wild animal damage control and farmers' markets."

Parking for participants will be in the Smith-Wills Stadium parking lot. For more information on the eight-hour workshop, contact local Extension offices or Ingram at (601) 857-2284 or davidi@ext.msstate.edu.