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Feature Story from 2022

June 30, 2022 - Filed Under: Irrigation, Remote Sensing Technology

STONEVILLE, Miss. -- An irrigation specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service has gained national recognition for his outreach related to water conservation practices.

Glass jars filled with produce are lined up with price tags.
July 1, 2022 - Filed Under: Farmers Markets

Farmers markets are multiplying across the state as they combine two of the things that Mississippians value most: fresh produce and socializing. The concept of a central place for area farmers to sell their goods has been around for decades, but the recent, increased focus on shopping locally has caused an uptick in the number of farmers markets across the state.

July 5, 2022 - Filed Under: Agriculture, Soybeans

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- For the first time, Mississippi’s top soybean growers can compete with their peers and win money for producing the highest yields.

The Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board (MSPB) has announced the launch of the “Grow It. Show It. Win It. Mississippi Soybean Yield Challenge.” Mississippi State University Extension agents will serve as yield contest officials.

A stack of logs.
July 6, 2022 - Filed Under: Natural Resources, Forestry, Forest Economics, Timber Prices, Timber Harvest

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Mississippi has gained new timber mills over the last 18months, and producers have seen timber prices rise since last year.

A golden retriever lies on the grass.
July 6, 2022 - Filed Under: Family, Pets

RAYMOND, Miss. -- When temperatures rise, it’s not just humans who need to take precautions. Heat stress is just as serious and life threatening for pets as it is for humans. While both dogs and cats can get too hot, dogs are more susceptible to overheating, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

July 8, 2022 - Filed Under: Agriculture, Rice

STONEVILLE, Miss. – Hunter Bowman has been named rice specialist for the Mississippi State University Extension Service

July 8, 2022 - Filed Under: Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Carbon Credits

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Seed industry representatives, agricultural professionals, producers, crop consultants and research scientists are encouraged to attend the Seed and Agricultural Technology Short Course at Mississippi State University Aug. 15-16.

Hosted by the MSU Extension Service and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, the short course will be held at the Bost Extension Conference Center at MSU.

July 14, 2022 - Filed Under: Wildlife, Wildlife Economics and Enterprises

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- The Wildlife Society’s latest group of fellowship inductees includes a member from Mississippi State University.

Daryl Jones, an MSU Extension professor in the MSU College of Forest Resources Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, joined an international collective of professionals and faculty in wildlife conservation and management with his induction as a fellow in the society.

A phone screen displays an image of two dice.
July 14, 2022 - Filed Under: Family Financial Management, Basic Money Management

Using digital resources to buy products from individuals can be as easy as making online purchases from major sellers if consumers take steps to ensure financial security. Mark Kilpatrick recently offered a desk for sale in Starkville, Mississippi, and was targeted for a questionable transaction. The name of the financial app was deleted from the following conversation.

July 19, 2022 - Filed Under: Community

Mississippi State University and Sea Grant’s efforts to help coastal communities prepare for expected sea level rise has now produced an application guide to assist decision-makers and community planners. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/hazards/sealevelrise/sealevelrise-tech-report-sections.html#application-guideThe recent 2022 Sea Level Rise Technical Report projects an average of around 1.5 feet of higher waters along the Mississippi coastline by 2050. The report was released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

July 20, 2022 - Filed Under: Natural Resources, Water, SipSafe

A Mississippi State University Extension Service program is organizing a list of qualified child care centers and schools in anticipation of funding for addressing lead in drinking water. Facilities with sample results that show elevated levels of lead in drinking water will be flagged for funding on a first-come, first-served basis in order of participation date and highest levels of lead exposure.

July 27, 2022 - Filed Under: Agriculture, Crops, Commercial Horticulture, Commercial Fruit and Nuts

CARRIERE, Miss. -- Individuals interested in muscadine production can attend an upcoming field day dedicated to the fruit. The 2022 Muscadine Field Day will be held Aug. 25 at the Mississippi State University McNeill Research Unit.

Two men standing in front of a pickup truck parked in a rice field.
July 27, 2022 - Filed Under: Agriculture, Rice

A producer with 40 years’ experience growing high-quality rice using environmentally sustainable practices has been named Mississippi’s 2022 Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year. Mike Wagner grows top-quality rice while preserving the soil and environment on his Two Brooks Rice farm in Tallahatchie and Leflore counties. He also grows non-genetically modified soybeans.

A white larva can be seen inside a peeled back grass stem.
July 27, 2022 - Filed Under: Forages, Insects-Forage Pests

Following last year’s significant fall armyworm outbreak, hay producers should be careful not to overlook another important pest -- the Bermudagrass stem maggot -- while watching for armyworms. While farm armyworms attack hay fields, home lawns, golf courses and more, the non-native Bermudagrass stem maggot is primarily a pest of hay fields.

Vial of monkeypox vaccine ready to be injected
July 27, 2022 - Filed Under: Health and Wellness, Diseases, Health

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Though monkeypox is not as easily spread as COVID-19, it has become a public health concern as documented case counts approach 4,000 nationwide.

The monkeypox virus is part of the same family of viruses as smallpox. Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms but milder. Infections in this outbreak are from the West African type, which has an infection fatality rate of 1% and is considered the milder of the two types of the virus.

August 1, 2022 - Filed Under: Leadership, Master Gardener, Lawn and Garden

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Dates for the fall 2022 session of the Master Gardener course have been set.

Registration for the asynchronous online seminars will be open from August 15 to September 12. The sessions will be available from October 3 to December 2. Once registration opens, it can be accessed at http://msuext.ms/mg.

A man stands in a field with sweet potatoes in his hand.
August 1, 2022 - Filed Under: Sweet Potatoes

The state’s sweet potato growers will have a wealth of information available to them in a half-day event Aug. 25 in Pontotoc. The Mississippi State University Extension Service and Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station are hosting the 2022 Sweet Potato Field Day at the Pontotoc Ridge-Flatwoods Branch Experiment Station. There is no cost to attend. Registration begins at 8 a.m., with the station tour starting at 8:30.

A brown caterpillar rests on a blade of grass.
August 1, 2022 - Filed Under: Insects-Crop Pests

Mississippi pastures, hay fields and lawns are threatened annually by fall armyworms, and close observation and quick action are the only ways to successfully battle the pests again this year. Keith Whitehead works in Franklin County with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. He said no one knows each year how bad the fall armyworm problem will be or when the insects will show up.

Closeup of gummy vitamins in a child’s hand
August 3, 2022 - Filed Under: Family, Healthy Homes Initiative, Health, The PROMISE Initiative, Prescription Opioid Misuse

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Over-the-counter medications and supplements seem safer than prescription drugs, but a dramatic rise in pediatric melatonin overdoses serves as a warning that these products can be dangerous and must be stored safely.

A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found a 530% increase in melatonin overdose in children from 2012 to 2020. Most of these ingestions were unintentional and occurred among children 5 or younger in their homes.

Rice in a field
August 15, 2022 - Filed Under: Agriculture, Crops, Grains, Rice

Mississippi rice producers and crop specialists are optimistic about the state’s 2022 harvest despite a high population of rice stink bugs that were difficult to treat.

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