Feature Story from 2016

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Most people don't like to think about what goes down the drain, but with rising costs for repairing broken pipes, clearing clogged lines, and upgrading or replacing old water treatment equipment, a little knowledge can save everyone money.

Jason Barrett, assistant Extension professor with the Extension Center for Government and Community Development, works with mayors, certified wastewater operators, and boards of city and county government.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State University is offering a blueberry education workshop in Hattiesburg Jan. 14 to raise interest in growing this profitable and delicious fruit crop in the state.

"Much of Mississippi's climate is ideally suited to blueberry production, and those involved in the industry would like to see more people become growers," said Eric Stafne, event organizer and MSU Extension Service fruit crop specialist. "We designed this workshop to be useful to industry professionals and those who are just considering getting involved."

VERONA, Miss. -- Landscape contractors can learn about current practices in lawn maintenance, site design and pest management during an upcoming workshop.

Researchers and specialists with the Mississippi State University Extension Service and Mississippi Turfgrass Association will host the Turf, Lawn and Landscape Road Show Jan. 14 at the MSU North Mississippi Research and Extension Center at 5421 Highway 145 South in Verona.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has awarded the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine a grant to support the college’s Mobile Veterinary Clinics.

The $20,000 grant will help offset some of the expenses incurred as the Mobile Veterinary Clinics travel to 20 north Mississippi animal shelters, where students spay and neuter homeless animals. The program is funded solely by grants and donations.

PICAYUNE, Miss. -- People can learn about metalsmithing during the annual Forge Day at the Mississippi State University Crosby Arboretum on Jan. 30 in Pearl River County.

Area metal workers will demonstrate techniques for hobbyists and anyone else interested in learning the skill. Some artists will allow adults and children to participate in metal forging. Signed waivers are required, and protective equipment is provided.

Knife sharpening will be available. Products also will be available for purchase.

The event begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Everywhere you look, you can see something that wasn’t originally part of Mississippi’s landscape.

From fire ants that came ashore in the early 20th century to a Eurasian sedge thought to have been transported by visitors to the grave of the Gypsy Queen in a Lauderdale County cemetery, Mississippi has a wide variety of invasive species. Kudzu, Chinese privet, cogon grass, Asian carp, pine beetles and wild hogs are other examples of plants and animals that have invaded Mississippi’s landscape.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi high school juniors considering medical careers in their home state have the opportunity to take part in an intense and revealing summer program at Mississippi State University.

The five-week Rural Medical Scholars summer program at MSU aims to identify the state’s future primary care doctors and help them become members of the medical school class of 2025. Applications for the May 29 through June 30 program must be submitted by March 11.

By Sarah Buckleitner
Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station

Scientists at Mississippi State University are working to rid poultry products of bacteria that can cause foodborne illness before they leave the processing plant.

Foodborne illness is a serious concern among producers, processors and consumers. Each year, a million people in the U.S. contract foodborne illnesses from Campylobacter jejuni, or C. jejuni, common bacteria found in healthy poultry and cattle.

BILOXI, Miss. -- Individuals interested in floral design or floral marketing can attend one of four floral design demonstrations across the state in February.

Jim DelPrince, floral design specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, will offer the demonstrations as part of the Beautiful Things from Mississippi initiative, an alternative-crops floral design program. The program is intended to bring Mississippi-produced ornamental horticulture products to the early-adopter floral design market in 2017, DelPrince said.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Creating a reasonable spending plan and reducing debt should be top priorities when it comes to living a well-budgeted life.

Rita Green, assistant Extension professor and state specialist for financial management in the Mississippi State University School of Human Sciences, said developing a budget helps families establish a vision for their spending.

Since cold weather has finally arrived, the summer color plants are deciding enough is enough. My go-to, cool-season trio of Matrix pansies, Sorbet violas and Telstar dianthuses are glad because they’re tired of sharing the landscape stage with the summer hangers-on.

But before we know it, the siren call of spring will be heard, and the cool-season color will start to wear out its welcome. It will only take a couple of warm days before the spring color plants will start showing up in garden stores, whispering in our ears to buy and take them home.

RAYMOND, Miss. -- The Central Mississippi Research and Extension Center will host its annual Producer Advisory Council meeting Feb. 16 in Raymond.

Representatives of the Mississippi State University Extension Service and Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station will hear feedback on and direction for their educational programs and research projects.

Agricultural producers served by the center’s 20 southwest county Extension offices and research stations are invited to attend the program from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the McKenzie Arena.

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Landowners can learn about the use of prescribed fire to manage their property during a Feb. 19 workshop near Raymond.

The Mississippi State University Extension Service, the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and the Mississippi Prescribed Fire Council are partnering to offer the event to introduce landowners to the benefits of prescribed burning and how to safely do it.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Chemicals are effective tools for managing weeds and unwanted brush in a landscape, but overlooking their potency or staying power frequently causes unwanted plant casualties.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- An already popular management tool for beef cattle producers is available to a wider audience in 2016.

POPLARVILLE, Miss. -- South Mississippi homeowners in small communities and rural areas without public water supplies can learn how to better manage, operate and protect their private wells during a program in Pearl River County.

The Water Quality and Private Wells workshop, Feb. 23 from 6 to 9 p.m., will help Mississippi well owners understand groundwater basics, learn best practices for well care and know where to look for assistance.

 STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Two Mississippi State University Extension Service health educators recently took positions on state health boards.

David Buys, Extension health specialist and a researcher with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, accepted an appointment to the board of the Mississippi Public Health Association.

Ann Sansing, Extension community health coordinator and a senior Extension associate in the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion, was elected to the board of the Mississippi Rural Health Association.

By Brittany Jacks
MSU Extension Service

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Creating a healthy balance between work and life is essential to being more productive and focused.

David Buys, health specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service and researcher with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, said one of the most important boundaries to have when balancing work and life is accountability with friends and family.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- The Mississippi State University Extension Service invites grape growers in the state to a pruning workshop to be held Feb. 3 in Beaumont.

The event will cover the basics of vine anatomy and pruning techniques for bunch grapes and muscadines. After the presentations, in-field demonstrations will show participants correct pruning techniques. Novice and seasoned growers are invited to attend.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Knowing when to treat for insect pests in crops is vital to keeping yields high and controlling the costs of agricultural production.

Every year, the Mississippi State University Extension Service updates and publishes its “Insect Control Guide for Agronomic Crops.” The guide includes recommendations for nine crops, including the major row crops, as well as sweet potatoes and pastures.

Angus Catchot, MSU Extension Service entomologist, said all the recommendations in the insect control guide are based on research and tested in the field.