News

PURVIS -- Conventional gardening can be a challenge for individuals who rely on wheelchairs for mobility. But a project by the Pine Belt Master Gardeners proves raised beds can make growing vegetables a little easier for everyone.

Liz Sadler, county coordinator with Mississippi State University’s Extension Service in Lamar County, said there is a growing interest in gardening in the county. This prompted the Master Gardener group to build demonstration beds as an educational project.

PICAYUNE – An award-winning Mississippi landmark is scheduled to undergo restoration to preserve its beauty and architectural integrity for future generations.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – From fluffy chick to egg-laying hen to money-making livestock, the 4-H Poultry Chain Project engages young people in the process of raising chickens and is now accepting applications for new participants.

By Sarah Shields
MSU School of Human Sciences

MISSISSIPPI STATE – To raise awareness that childhood is more than just a time for play, the Mississippi Child Care Resource and Referral Network encourages local communities to celebrate the Week of the Young Child.

“What seems like just playing to most adults is children working and learning,” said Ellen Goodman, project manager of the Mississippi Child Care Resource and Referral Network, a program Mississippi State University Extension Service. “Play is children’s work.”

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Guide dogs, handicapped assistance animals, detection dogs, therapy animals, and search and rescue dogs selflessly serve the public. To honor these animals and their work, the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine will provide eye screening services to animals that dedicate their lives to serving the public.

One of the flowering plants I remember from my youth is the cleome. I loved these tall plants with flowers I thought looked a little spidery.

Many years later, when I rediscovered cleome growing in my neighbor’s yard, I reached out for a closer look at the flowers and was suddenly reminded of the one aspect I did not like about these plants. I had forgotten about the thorns and had impaled my thumb.

By Kaitlyn Byrne
MSU Office of Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi State University graduate student Stedmond Ware has lived out the 4-H motto, “To make the best better,” from high school all the way to graduate school.

Ware said he joined 4-H during his freshman year of high school and won a variety of awards in photography contests and art exhibitions, but his most meaningful experiences involved his service with 4-H P.R.I.D.E., a group geared toward teaching youth about interpersonal relationships, diversity and teamwork.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – A significant decline in price potential has last year’s peanut growers looking to other crops in 2013.

According to the recent U.S. Department of Agriculture Prospective Plantings report, acreage is declining in every peanut-producing state except Oklahoma. Mississippi is expected to post the greatest percentage decline, down 58 percent from the previous year. The state’s peanut acreage is predicted to drop from 52,000 last year to 22,000 acres this season.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Mississippi 4-H has annual in-service training and leadership development opportunities to maintain excellence among its leaders, giving participating young people the best opportunity to thrive later in life.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – The recent Manufacturing Summit at Mississippi State University highlighted the importance of communities working across county lines to bring jobs to rural regions of the state.

Earl Gohl, federal co-chairman of the Appalachian Regional Commission, was one of the participants in a panel discussion at the March 27 event at MSU’s Franklin Furniture Institute.

“People need to realize that their competition (for new industries) is not with the county next door; it is from across the ocean,” Gohl said.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Mississippi State University Extension Service is connecting law enforcement agencies with trainers on a mission to protect innocent citizens from active shooters.

Ryan Akers, assistant professor of community preparation and disaster management with the MSU Extension Service, said people do not want to think tragic shooting incidents could happen in their peaceful communities. Unfortunately, crimes involving active shooters occur almost daily somewhere in the United States, challenging local law enforcement to respond aggressively, rapidly and effectively.

PICAYUNE – Members of the Crosby Arboretum can tour more than 100 botanical gardens and historic homes across the United States without paying admission.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Cool-season forages will get special attention at an April 30 tour at Mississippi State University’s forage unit.

The Cool-Season Forage Tour begins with registration at 5 p.m. and runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Henry H. Leveck Animal Research Farm, commonly called South Farm, in Starkville.

Topics and demonstrations included on the tour are small grains evaluation, annual and perennial clovers, alfalfa variety testing and management systems, tall fescue varieties and nutrient management.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – A team of Mississippi State University students knows their insects and has the second place win to prove it.

Four students from MSU’s Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology recently participated in the Linnaean Games, an insect trivia competition, at the Southeastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America’s annual meeting in Baton Rouge, La.

CRAWFORD -- Mississippi State University is lending a hand and resources to help child care facilities earn and maintain high-quality standards through a statewide resource and referral network.

The MSU Extension Service oversees the Mississippi Child Care Resource and Referral Network, which receives funding from the Mississippi Department of Human Services’ Division of Early Childhood Care and Development. The network supports parents, children, community members, and early care and education professionals seeking information about quality child care.

The story you are about to read is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

It was a spring morning several years ago just like this morning when I received the call. I thought it was going to be like many others I receive. I was wrong.

The person on the other end of the phone had a neighbor’s cousin to visit the coast some years ago but wasn’t sure about the season. While at a local golf course, they had spotted a blue azalea, and now the caller wanted one.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – A Mississippi State University student organization not only earned official Sweet 16 honors this spring, but also unofficial Final Four as the nation’s No. 2 collegiate chapter of Ducks Unlimited.

Stephen Leininger, chairman of the Bulldog Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, recently received documentation announcing the chapter’s 2012 success. Each spring, the international organization releases a list of their top 16 university chapters.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Mississippi State University’s waterfowl and wetlands science program was recently honored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The North American Waterfowl Management Plan, a program of the service’s Division of Bird Habitat Conservation, gave the Blue-winged Teal Award to MSU’s program because of its significant contributions to waterfowl, other wetland-associated migratory bird populations, and wetlands habitats.

FLORA – Taking top honors at the state 4-H land judging contest might seem like an impossible goal for an urban-based team of 4-H’ers with only YouTube videos and an aquarium of soil as training tools.

But thanks to the direction of an experienced, passionate 4-H volunteer leader, the team placed first and second in the state competition March 21 in Flora.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Corn is the anticipated biggest winner and cotton the biggest loser as Mississippi producers shuffle commodity acres to take advantage of market conditions.