Feature Story

MISSISSIPPI STATE –Agricultural economists are forecasting increases in government payments and in the value of only one of Mississippi’s 2009 crops -- hay.

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE –The overall value of Mississippi’s 2009 timber harvest failed to reach $1 billion for the first time in 16 years, but unlike other crops, extreme weather was not the reason.

The estimated 2009 harvest value for timber is $817 million, down a steep 24 percent from 2008’s value of $1.08 billion. Blame one of the worst years ever for forestry and forest products on the dismal housing market.

MISSISSIPPI STATE –The 2009 growing season was probably the most challenging for soybeans in more than 50 years, and one lesson that emerges is to diversify the crop, both in planting times and maturity groups.

Trey Koger, soybean specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said the state’s soybean crop is valued at an estimated $431.5 million, down 37 percent from the 2008 value of $686 million. However, the crop lost an estimated 38.5 percent of its value before it could be harvested.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Mississippi’s cotton crop hasn’t caught a break in recent years, and reduced acreage and devastating weather at harvest pushed the 2009 crop’s estimated value to just $97.8 million.

In 2008, the crop was valued at $250 million, so the estimated 2009 value is less than half what it was a year ago. Cotton had a recent high of 1.2 million planted acres in 2006, but fewer than 300,000 were planted in 2009 and only 365,000 acres in 2008. In 1930, the state planted a record 4.2 million acres of cotton.

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE –Each year for the past decade, poultry has ruled the roost as Mississippi’s top crop, and 2009 is no exception.

Poultry ended the year with a total value of $2.3 billion, a 3 percent drop from the $2.37 billion posted in 2008. The total value is derived from estimates representing broiler, egg and chicken production. Broiler production, the largest segment of the industry, weighed in at $2.15 billion for 2009, while egg production was valued at $140.7 million and chickens at $5 million.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – People wanting to start a business or generate more profit in an existing one can participate in a seminar series the Mississippi State University Extension Service is providing through an entrepreneurial network.

Extension will present NxLevel for Entrepreneurs, a training module from NxLevel Education that empowers men and women to be better decision-makers and managers. The program is offered through Mississippi Women in Agriculture, a program of the Southern Rural Development Center.

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Consumers of a decade ago had few disposal options for real Christmas trees, but today they can be recycled into other natural products.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Selecting quality child care can be a tough decision for parents trying to go back to work or school, but a network offered through Mississippi State University is helping ease the process.

Factors in the child-care decision include cost, location, type of care, programs available and openings. This emotional choice is made even harder when negative news stories discuss the latest health and safety violations or child endangerment cases being investigated at child-care facilities.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – A beetle that made its presence known in Mississippi this summer is threatening the extinction of redbay trees in the state and could harm the future of traditional Cajun cuisine.

The beetle is the redbay ambrosia beetle, a dark brown insect about half the size of an uncooked grain of rice. It spreads the pathogen that causes Laurel wilt disease in many tree species, including Mississippi’s redbay and sassafras trees. Redbay leaves and file’, which is made from sassafras leaves, are used commonly as spices in Cajun dishes such as gumbo.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A weed scientist who has spent his career developing strategies to control agricultural crop pests has been named interim head of Mississippi State University’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.

Dan Reynolds assumed his new duties Nov. 25. MSU Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine vice president Greg Bohach announced the appointment.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A Mississippi State University animal scientist who explores physiological factors affecting the ability of horses to reproduce and an MSU agricultural economist who makes sense of the interaction of market forces have each been honored with a prestigious award. 

Peter Ryan, a faculty member of the MSU Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, received the 2009 Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Excellence in Research Award. The award is sponsored by Southern Ag Credit, a part of the Farm Credit System.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi State University will resume its efforts this summer to encourage talented high school juniors to consider medical professions in Mississippi.

From 1998 through 2007, special funding allowed MSU to offer the intense, five-week Rural Medical Scholars summer program. New funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the University of Mississippi Medical Center will help MSU identify the state’s future primary-care doctors and help them become members of the medical school class of 2019.

By Karen Templeton
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – It is no secret that excessive drinking can take a toll on the body, but new research from Mississippi State University shows that binge drinking can even weaken its ability to fight off infection.

Dr. Stephen Pruett, head of basic sciences at MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and Dr. Ruping Fan of Louisiana State University’s Health Sciences Center conducted a study examining the effects of binge drinking on the immune system. Binge drinking is the consumption of five or more drinks in one sitting.

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Some people believe that 65 is over the hill, but staff and students at Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine know this assumption is false because they have interacted with senior citizens who built and now manage Aberdeen’s animal shelter.

Shelter volunteers, who average 72 years old, have given many homeless animals in their area a second chance at finding loving homes. They established a facility after waging a public campaign to replace the city’s old pound.

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – An outreach program that Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine developed with a special endowment and supplemental gifts is creating new career opportunities in shelter animal medicine and community service for future graduates.

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Collaboration between a Mississippi State University research agronomist and Georgia’s self-proclaimed “sodfather” may offer the Southeast the “Freedom” of a viable grassy feedstock to capitalize on sustainable bioenergy production.

By Karen Templeton
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Poultry’s spot as the state’s No. 1 agricultural commodity is due in large part to a strong relationship between the poultry industry and Mississippi State University.

MSU’s poultry science department assists the growing industry through education, research and outreach to help improve production. Sanderson Farms, the fourth-largest U.S. poultry producer and processor, has been located in Laurel since 1955. The company has a longstanding relationship with MSU researchers.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A 24-year-veteran faculty member is the new head of the Mississippi State University's forestry department.

Andrew Ezell will assume his new duties Dec. 1, leading the only 4-year forestry degree program in the state.

"Dr. Ezell has a wealth of experience in research, Extension and teaching," said George Hopper, dean of the College of Forest Resources and research center director. "His experience working with private landowners is extensive, and he will be an asset to the university and the state in his new role.”

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – The holidays will be sweeter for food pantry patrons after Collegiate 4-H members from across the Southeast bagged more than 30,000 pounds of sweet potatoes at Mississippi State University’s annual drop for the Mississippi Food Network.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station Sales Store located on Mississippi State University’s campus will have extended hours during Thanksgiving week.

During the week of Nov. 22 - 28, the store will be open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and, Friday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. The store will also be open for Egg Bowl attendees from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday.