News

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Girls need support from family and friends to be strong enough to recognize and leave unhealthy relationships.

Lynn Pike, professor of human sciences at Mississippi State University, said the development of an unhealthy relationship is a gradual process. On rare occasions, males will be the victims, but those are the exceptions.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi's Christmas tree growers were having a great year, and then Hurricane Katrina hit.

Steve Dicke, forestry specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said frequent summer rains had trees growing very well until Katrina's heavy rain and strong winds blew many over. The following drought prevented some growers from being able to right affected trees.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Hurricane Katrina damaged portions of the state's poinsettia crop, but plants remain available from Mississippi growers.

Kerry Johnson, area horticulturist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service in George County, said Katrina may have destroyed 25 percent or more of the area's poinsettia crop. Some producers had total losses from storm damage and the subsequent power outage.

By Marcus Daniels

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- With proper meal planning and attention to exercise, diabetic family members can enjoy traditional holiday meals with the rest of the family.

November is National Diabetes Month, bringing awareness to the millions of Americans who suffer from what is referred to as a silent killer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 240,000 Mississippians have diabetes, and 80,000 of those are unaware they have the disease.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Holidays have a way of bringing structure and celebration to certain days, but stress and hurt feelings can follow if families do not handle change with care.

Patsilu Reeves, family life education specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said traditions are a large part of a family's identity.

By Hannah Watts

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Families of military personnel will appreciate helping hands this holiday season while their loved ones are serving overseas.

The holidays are often seen as joyous occasions and a chance to come together with friends and family. However, this holiday season has been over shadowed with natural disasters and the war in Iraq.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Memories exist in minds and hearts, but much of how Americans hang on to their past is through photographs and videos of special people, events and places.

Hurricane Katrina destroyed many Mississippians' sentimental items, videos and photographs. Family and friends can help them recover some of their loss at the holidays by sharing copies of their own photographs that include people and places of importance to them. Others can let the holidays remind them to preserve this treasure so they can pass these photographs and videos on to future generations.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Thoughtful gifts that promote good health can be perfect for the people who are the biggest challenges on this year's holiday shopping lists.

Jane Clary, health specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said a wide range of gifts are available that promote healthy living. Reading materials, clothing, nutrition and exercise are categories with multiple options for every age group and price range.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

The highly colorful and attractive foliage of flowering cabbage, kale and mustard gain them a lot of attention, but keep your eyes open for the breathtakingly beautiful flowers of Citrona Orange.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Hurricane Katrina robbed Mississippi of pumpkins on about 25 percent of the state's acreage, but the greatest losses may be markets in the coastal and New Orleans areas.

David Nagel, horticulturist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said the entire crop below Interstate 20 -- just under 100 acres -- was lost.

“The biggest blow from the hurricanes was not crop damage; it was the loss of market,” Nagel said.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Landowners trying to decide if they should clear-cut Katrina-damaged timber stands or try to salvage what is left have some help with their decision.

Trey DeLoach, a Mississippi State University Extension Service forester at the Central Mississippi Research and Extension Center in Raymond, said the Extension Service developed a set of guidelines to help landowners assess their timber stands.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A variety of Web sites are gathering names and contact information in an attempt to link landowners with timber on the ground with people who can help them salvage it.

Glenn Hughes, Mississippi State University Extension Service forester, said Hurricane Katrina destroyed much of the standing timber in south Mississippi, and landowners are working now to salvage what they can. The salvage job is massive, but speed is critical in the recovery.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Cotton growers, consultants and distributors can get the latest in production recommendations from top agricultural specialists, economists and researchers Nov. 29-30 at the Mississippi State University Extension Service’s 22nd annual Cotton Short Course.

Cotton is one of the mid-South’s most important industries and keeps hundreds of millions of dollars turning over in the region’s economy. Even after record-producing years, growers need the most current recommendations for planting and managing next year’s crop.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

The wind chill of 39 degrees this morning told me I better start getting ready to plant pansies and violas. As usual, I find myself a little behind in bed preparation. I need to tidy up the area where lantanas and verbenas have run rampant.

In 2000, the Panola was a Mississippi Medallion award winner, and there were just a handful of colors that first year. This fall, there are 22 colors and nine mixes. One of the most sought-after no doubt will be the True Blue Panola.

By Robert H. Wells

STONEVILLE -- British poet William Blake wrote of seeing the world in a grain of sand, and one Mississippi State University researcher is seeing Delta towns in kernels of rice.

When Dwight Kanter, a rice breeder at MSU's Delta Research and Extension Center, chose the name of his newest rice variety, he looked no further than the small Delta town where the variety impressed him the most.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Hurricane Katrina and her aftermath destroyed much of the turf along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and the entire industry supporting landscapes is reeling.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- When families come together for socializing or in daily life, grandparents can use those times to do what they do best.

Patsilu Reeves, family life education specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said grandparents give the gifts of example and unconditional love. They fill a variety of roles in families.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Judging from those attending this year's Fall Flower and Garden Fest, pansy planting season is here, and there are some terrific new selections to pick from.

I enjoyed watching people shop at the festival in Crystal Springs. In one area, tropicals were selling like there was no tomorrow, and in another area it was pansies and snapdragons. It was good to see people paying attention to the landscape again.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi golfers, especially those who play the state’s smaller courses, may soon tee off on bermudagrass that is the product of university research.

While not a new variety, Mississippi State University recently licensed MS-Express to a local sod producer for commercial production and sales.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Top quality beef animals and horses will move through the auction ring Nov. 17 as Mississippi State University releases more than 100 research herd cattle and horses to the highest bidders.

MSU and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station will host the 23rd annual Animal Production Sale at the Mississippi Horse Park, AgriCenter and Fairgrounds, which is located on Poorhouse Road south of Starkville.