Feature Story from 2014

JACKSON – An interactive, educational event aimed at teaching third-graders about the importance of agriculture comes to the Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo Feb. 7-8.

FARMtastic offers hands-on exhibits that help children learn the role of agriculture in the production of food and other products used in daily life. It will be set up in the Mississippi Trade Mart at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Landowners and farmers need to educate themselves about liability issues related to people on their land, regardless of insurance, signs or fees.

Becky Smith is with the Mississippi State University Extension Service’s Center for Economic Education and Financial Literacy. She recently organized a liability webinar to help Extension agents and landowners understand these issues, whether the land is private or open to the public.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Mississippi State University is offering land management workshops about game birds and prescribed burning in Panola and Pike counties.

The workshops are designed for landowners, foresters, loggers and wildlife biologists.

The MSU Extension Service, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks will host the Game Bird Workshop in Batesville on Feb. 21 and in McComb on Feb. 28. The $30 registration fee includes lunch, snacks and publications.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi farmers and beekeepers are working together to protect the state’s pollinators from accidental exposure to pesticides used on crops.

Jeff Harris, Mississippi State University Extension Service apiculturist, said ongoing discussions over the course of several months resulted in the Mississippi Honey Bee Stewardship Program.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The Southern Weed Science Society recently honored several Mississippi State University students and faculty members for their outstanding contributions.

Alana Blaine of Starkville won first place in the Master of Science paper competition for her paper, titled “The Effect of Dicamba Concentration and Application Timing on Soybean Growth and Yield.” Blaine is an MSU graduate student studying weed science.

GOODMAN – Fruit and vegetable growers can learn how to supply local schools with their produce during a Feb. 21 field day at the Alliance for Sustainable Agricultural Production Demonstration Farm in Goodman.

Experts from the Mississippi State University Extension Service, the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and several partner organizations will help local farmers navigate the process required for selling produce to schools.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Landowners who want to earn extra income are invited to attend a Natural Resource Enterprises business workshop on Feb. 25 in Jackson.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Most spouses know to give romantic gifts on Valentine’s Day, but the gift of time spent developing a healthy relationship is one that will last much longer than a box of chocolates or bouquet of flowers.

Cassandra Kirkland, family life specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said strong marriages are built on common-sense, positive habits.

JACKSON – Greenhouse tomato growers can learn everything from greenhouse design to budgeting during the 24th annual Mississippi Greenhouse Tomato Short Course March 4-5 in Raymond.

Experts from the Mississippi State University Extension Service, the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, the University of Florida Suwannee Valley Agricultural Extension Center, Auburn University and the tomato industry will present information to help current growers and those interested in starting a greenhouse tomato business.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Small business owners and tourism professionals can learn how to translate tourism into dollars from expert speakers at an upcoming conference.

The Miss-Lou Tourism Summit will be Feb. 25-27 at the Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville, La.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – The downtime of winter is the perfect time to put into place three tools to make irrigation more efficient in the growing season.

Jason Krutz, irrigation specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said now is the time to implement a computerized hole selection tool and install soil moisture sensors and surge valves.

JACKSON – Young Mississippians took about 3,000 animals to Jackson to show at the Dixie National Livestock Show, but only 44 animals were judged worthy of competing in the annual Sale of Junior Champions.

Mikayla Shelton is one of hundreds of Mississippi youth who groom their goats, lambs, steers and hogs all year long in hopes they make it to the sale, and after five years of competing, the Calhoun County 4-H’er finally earned the spot she had coveted for so long.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A retired Mississippi State University professor recently donated his professional archives to the Forest History Society Library in Durham, N.C.

Forest products professor emeritus Terry Sellers Jr. was invited to donate his collection of research, publications, patents and speeches to the nonprofit educational institution associated with Duke University.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Young women interested in careers based on their love of the outdoors, wildlife and science can learn about job options from mentors and professionals at an upcoming event.

The Mississippi State University Extension Service is sponsoring Conservation Careers Discovery Days April 4-5. High school girls in ninth-twelfth grades can enjoy camping, bird watching, water sampling and other activities related to wildlife biology, ecology, research and land management. The event begins at 4 p.m. April 4 and concludes at 6 p.m. April 5.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Mississippi farmers and landowners have three opportunities to learn the costs and benefits of implementing sustainable woodland management practices during a Lunch and Learn program available through the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

Steps Toward Woodland Certification is a Mississippi State University Extension Service “Lunch and Learn” program. It is offered from noon to 1 p.m. via webinar on Feb. 21 and 26, or through interactive video on March 4.

There is no cost to attend, but preregistration is required.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – The Mississippi State University Extension Service and its partners are providing a two-day educational and networking opportunity for women involved in agriculture in Mississippi.

The Mississippi Women for Agriculture 2014 annual conference will be Feb. 20-21 in the Bost Extension Center at MSU.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – In a world where technology is always advancing, consumers must know how to keep their online information safe.

Internet hacking and phishing scams are becoming common problems. Having a secure password and knowing what to do if an online account is compromised will help consumers protect themselves from financial loss.

Randy Loper, head of the Mississippi State University Extension Service Center for Technology Outreach, explained how hackers can gain access to different accounts through a brute-force method.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Youth with an interest in animals and veterinary medicine are invited to apply for a camp offered by Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

MSU Veterinary Camp will provide a hands-on experience on its main campus in Starkville. Campers will participate in interactive labs and learn about veterinary medicine from MSU instructors and students. Young people considering a career in veterinary medicine, scientific research or animal health are encouraged to apply.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- High school students with a passion for fashion can learn about career options at FashionPrep14, a new camp at Mississippi State University.

The School of Human Sciences will introduce 14- to 17-year-old campers to the fashion industry May 30-June 6 on the Starkville campus.

Campers will attend workshops taught by industry professionals and MSU faculty in apparel, textiles and merchandising. Current MSU students in the apparel, textiles and merchandising and human development and family studies programs will serve as counselors for the week.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Registration is open for three summer camps for young people interested in wildlife, natural resources and outdoor recreation.

The Mississippi State University Extension Service and the MSU Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture are hosting two residential camps and one day camp.