News

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Students at Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine are throwing a birthday party as their college turns the big 3-0.

The students, faculty and staff will host the 20th annual open house April 2 and 3 at the Wise Center, located on the south side of campus off Spring Street. The theme of the open house is "Celebrating a 30-Year Heritage and Continuing Tradition of Service." 2004 marks 30 years since the Mississippi Legislature established the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Incredible things are happening in the world of the tropical hibiscus when it comes to new colors. There are many new varieties, so remember to check your garden center this spring.

By Laura Whelan

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Cattle producers looking to reduce rising fertilizer costs can enrich soil and feed livestock by seeding clover in grazing pastures.

Gregg Ibendahl, agricultural economist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said in the last two years natural gas wellhead prices have risen from $2 per British thermal unit to $5 per unit.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- President George W. Bush signed the dotted line, but new legislation may not have happened without the dean of Mississippi State University's veterinary college.

The Veterinary Medical Services Act encourages veterinary assistance in underserved areas by helping veterinarians repay student loans. These veterinarians may also guard against foreign and domestic disease outbreaks or agro-terrorist threats.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Four Mississippi youth were selected in February to help out for a week in the 2004 state legislature.

Beth Alexander from Newton County, Arcenio Cooke from Lee County, Drew Hearn from Leflore County and Kaitlin Lindsey from Itawamba County will serve March 15-19 in the offices of the Mississippi Speaker of the House and the Lieutenant Governor.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A Health and Safety Summit on March 23 and 24 in Jackson will address rural and occupational health concerns for much of Mississippi.

Summit organizers want to create awareness, identify issues and develop a plan to improve the safety and health environment of rural Mississippians, especially in the Delta region. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. on the first day with remarks from Gov. Haley Barbour.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Gardeners looking for a break from the long, wet winter may want to head down to the 2004 Mississippi Garden and Patio Show March 13 and 14 in Jackson.

The show is a result of the combined efforts of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, the Mississippi Nursery and Landscape Association and Mississippi State University, and officially kicks off the gardening season.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Since last summer, drivers along Highway 82 near the Mississippi State University campus have been inquiring about the school's cemetery.

The rows of white, round-topped "tombstones" visible from the highway adjacent to MSU's North Farm don't mark final resting places. They are, instead, part of a turf grass research project.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

There is a new, bold gardener out there stirring up excitement. What I like about the bold gardener's style is that it uses plant selections or combinations in atypical ways. The result is that we're pushed outside our comfort zone -- we are challenged.

One instance of this bold style involves plants thought of as only for the arid west or perhaps Mexico. These plants typically have sword-like leaves and even prickles.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

My imagination runs wild when I think about a white coneflower I saw last summer. I can picture a man saying, "Honey, I got a new white coneflower and I am going to name it after you -- Kim's Mophead."

I suppose it didn't happen that way, but it sure would be fun to think so. If so, that was probably the last flower he named -- right after Kim's Knee High, a more traditional but shorter purple coneflower.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Rotational grazing may sound like a way to get a cow dizzy, but this method of forage management gives producers the highest efficiency from their pastures.

Stan Pace, agronomic crops agent in Wiggins with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said using rotational grazing can increase efficiency up to 75 percent over conventional grazing's 30 percent to 35 percent efficiency.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Instead of the typical veterinary internship, one Mississippi State University student joined a human influenza response team during the severe 2003-04 flu season.

Dr. Brittany Baughman originally planned to work with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studying diseases that are zoonotic, or pass between humans and animals. But when the unusually severe flu season hit, that branch of the CDC needed extra help with an in-depth study of influenza deaths in children.

By Tricia Hopper

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Sandwiched between high-calorie holidays and swimsuit weather, March offers the perfect time of the year for people to consider healthier nutrition.

March is National Nutrition Month, and this year's campaign, "Eat Smart, Stay Healthy," focuses on the importance of healthy eating choices and physical activity.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

This year it looks like the snow bush will again be one of the hottest plants at the garden and patio shows, but you had shop early if you want one or more.

Some may ask, "What in the world is a snow bush? Isn't the winter long, cold and wet enough without mentioning snow?"

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- An anniversary celebration Feb. 27 will mark 30 years of veterinary education, service and research at Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

While the college has grown considerably since its development and construction began in 1974, MSU-CVM Dean Dr. John U. Thomson said the mission remains constant.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi will soon host an intensive, one-of-a-kind greenhouse tomato workshop with national and international appeal.

The short course on March 9 and 10 in Jackson will be the state's 14th annual gathering exclusively dedicated to helping producers of greenhouse tomatoes. Mississippi is home to 135 growers who combine to produce a $6.5 million greenhouse tomato crop annually. In 2003, the short course attracted participants from 24 states and four countries.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine has been recognized for its efforts in achieving performance excellence.

The veterinary college earned the Quality Commitment Award, one of four awards given by the Mississippi Quality Awards program. MSU-CVM received the Quality Alignment Award last year.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Victoria Blue, a 1998 Mississippi Medallion award winner, has always been one of my favorite varieties of Salvia farinacea, or mealy-cup sage, but there are certainly some other selections worthy of a prime spot in the landscape.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The worst may not be over for cattle producers despite mid-January market rebounds from the Dec. 23 news of the nation's first case of mad cow disease.

After the discovery of one cow in Washington state with bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease, virtually all countries stopped accepting beef from the United States. Although domestic consumption changed very little, the loss of almost 10 percent of the beef market in exports is contributing to a build-up of supplies.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

If you are ready for some new garden appeal, look no further than two of this year's All-America Selections winners: Fresh Look Red and Fresh Look Yellow celosia.

Fresh Look Red celosia performs like a fresh floral arrangement all summer and for that reason is an All-America Selections Gold Medal Winner.

Thriving in the summer heat and humidity with drought or rainy conditions, Fresh Look Red decorates a garden or patio container with rosy red plumes.