News

Medical issues made it really tough on me this past year to do garden and landscape-related activities. At this point, I’m ready to start putting plants in the ground!

I know there are plenty of other gardeners in the same boat, and we all suffer from cabin fever that seems to set in earlier every year. So of course we are in the midst of the never-ending winter.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Anyone interested in learning about the latest turfgrass management practices can attend the 2014 Mississippi State University Turfgrass and Ornamental Field Day to get access to industry experts.

The MSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences will host the event in Starkville on Aug. 26.

In addition to five educational workshops led by the MSU Turfgrass Team, the field day will include a vendor expo with field demonstrations and opportunities for guests to have one-on-one discussions with experts at the MSU Extension Service booth.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- An experienced consumer economics professor has been named the new family financial management specialist for the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- As early corn comes to market in July, growers are reminded that timing counts for a lot when it comes to planting corn. That’s why Mississippi State University scientists are researching the effects of planting date, plant population and hybrid selection on field corn yields.

JACKSON -- Sneezing, itchy skin and swollen, watery eyes are hallmarks of spring and summer for some humans. But allergies can affect pets, too.

Dr. Juli Gunter, board-certified veterinary dermatology specialist and assistant professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences at the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, said sensitivities to fleas and environmental elements, such as grass, tree and weed pollens and house dust mites, are the most common allergies in dogs and cats.

Plants with tropical textures seem to attract the most interest in any landscape. Elephant ears just scream for attention wherever they grow. Most gardeners I know love elephant ears because they are easy-to-grow tropical plants that make a big impact.

Alocasia and Colocasia are the two species commonly found in our Mississippi landscapes. Today I want to concentrate on Colocasia, which is also called taro. It features big leaves and big texture, but it’s not all green.

PONTOTOC -- Sweet potato growers, crop consultants and other agricultural professionals can learn about current research and issues at a field day Aug. 20.

Researchers and specialists with Mississippi State University’s Extension Service and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station will host the event at the Pontotoc Ridge-Flatwoods Branch Experiment Station, located at 8320 Highway 15 South.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi State University has released the results of the winter wheat variety trials to help farmers plan for fall and winter wheat planting.

The university’s Official Variety Trials program evaluates the performance of agricultural crops planted throughout the state.

Researchers planted 82 varieties of wheat this past fall at eight locations in Mississippi. Fourteen companies provided seed for the trials.

STARKVILLE -- Land owners and property managers can get a firsthand look at the latest land management techniques during a special tour organized by the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

The Golden Triangle Wildlife Management Tour will be Aug. 7 in Clayton Village at a property located on Highway 182 about 200 yards east of the MSU Golf Course. Signs will be posted along the highway. Registration begins at 4:30 p.m. Tours depart at 5:30 p.m. Water will be provided on the tour wagons.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Who knew Mississippi corn growers should worry about bears?

The bears are not in the fields eating the crop; they are in the market, eating the profits. When economists refer to a bear market, they are talking about declining stock prices over a prolonged period, usually a 20 percent or larger decline.

Brian Williams, agricultural economist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said several factors have pushed corn prices down in recent weeks.

July is National Ice Cream Month…

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- As temperatures increase, so does the production of Mississippi State University’s ice cream, especially in July, which is National Ice Cream Month.

David Hall, MSU’s dairy process production manager, said ice cream sales have been steadily rising in recent years.

“In 2012, we sold 9,000 gallons of ice cream,” Hall said. “That year we sold 67,000 cups compared to 44,500 cups in 2005.”

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- As students head back to the classroom, parents should remain aware of their children’s online behavior -- whether for school assignments or socializing.

Jamie Varner, an instructor with the Mississippi State University Extension Service Center for Technology Outreach, said parents should warn their children about digital dangers and take practical steps to help keep them safe.

Students headed off to college this fall should check with the departments that offer their majors for computer specifications.

Many universities have strict requirements about the operating system they will support and the hardware required to run programs used in the major. Hardware refers to factors such as hard drive capacity, computer memory and the video graphics card.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Small in size but large in visual appeal, hummingbirds are one of the most popular birds around for watching and feeding.

Hummingbirds get their name because of the humming sound created by their wings, which beat at high frequencies audible to humans. They hover in mid-air with rapid wing beats, typically around 50 times per second. Their wing beats can be as high as 200 times per second, allowing them to fly at speeds exceeding 30 mph, even backwards or upside down.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Teachers, students and parents need to be on the same page when disasters happen during school hours.

Ryan Akers, assistant Extension professor of community preparation and disaster management at Mississippi State University, said basic plans can make a huge difference for everyone involved when emergencies occur.

“Emergency plans are becoming more important to schools, and not just the traditional fire and tornado drills,” Akers said. “Schools are gathering supplies and working on extensive communication plans to help everyone involved.”

STONEVILLE -- Mississippi State University increased its support of the state’s rice industry in the state with the recent appointment of Ed Redoña as rice breeder at the Delta Research and Extension Center.

STONEVILLE -- Growers and consultants are invited to the Mississippi State University Delta Research and Extension Center Aug. 13 for a look at late-season issues affecting the state’s row crop acreage.

The half-day field day begins with registration and exhibits at 11 a.m., followed by lunch at noon and field tours that start at 1 p.m. Visitors will make several stops in the research station fields to examine current crop conditions and hear reports and information from MSU researchers and Extension Service specialists.

RAYMOND -- Fruit and vegetable growers can learn how to grow and sell produce for farmers markets during an upcoming short course.

Micro Farming: Growing for Farmers Markets will be held Aug. 27 and 28 in Raymond.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Many children get sick when the school year starts up, and germs may be lurking in an unexpected place: the lunch box.

Natasha Haynes, a family and consumer sciences agent for the Mississippi State University Extension Service in Rankin County, said lunch boxes and bags can harbor bacteria.

“Kids don’t always wash their hands before handling their lunch boxes and food,” Haynes said. “Since most lunches include finger foods, it’s easy to see how germs and bacteria can make kids sick.”

CORINTH -- Despite jokingly being called her father’s “second son” because of her willingness to help with chores while growing up on her family’s farm, Sandy Coleman Mitchell has proven that women make valuable contributions to the agricultural industry.