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June 2, 2000 - Filed Under: Soybeans

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Growers are just completing their part of the soybean planting process, and now it's Mother Nature's turn.

Tom Jones, agricultural economist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said the weather forecasts are making the soybean market more volatile than normal as predictions range from adequate moisture to severe drought conditions for this season.

May 29, 2000 - Filed Under: Children and Parenting

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- High school graduation is an important rite of passage in the journey away from parental control, but parents still can play vital roles by being available to provide support and guidance.

"Many career and future education choices are made as early as eighth grade when vocational or college class choices are made," said Louise Davis, child and family development specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service.

May 29, 2000 - Filed Under: Insects

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The phrase "love is in the air" takes on a new meaning each spring and fall as love bug swarms take flight in South Mississippi.

Known scientifically as Biblonidae diptera, love bugs are members of the fly family. These black insects have a brownish-colored head and thorax, antennas and compound eyes. They may be most easily recognized by the smudge they leave on the front of automobiles.

May 29, 2000 - Filed Under: Food Safety

By Chantel Lott

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Summertime is a traditional season for outdoor celebrations and reunions, but those enjoyable occasions can turn sour if foodborne illness shows up as the ultimate unwanted guest.

About 7 million Americans suffer from food poisoning each year, but 85 percent of those cases could be avoided with proper handling of food.

May 29, 2000 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Dragon Wing has got to be the most beautiful begonia for planters or the landscape. While it works great in full sun, the look in partial shade is absolutely awesome.

The Dragon Wing has really just hit the market this year. It has been sold under the name Sunbrite on a limited basis. It is kind of funny that it has been around for close to 20 years, but many of us have failed to recognize the beauty and durability of the plant.

May 26, 2000 - Filed Under: Cotton

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Thrips are the only ones having a field day in Mississippi's cotton as the mild winter and dry, windy conditions have growers scouring their crops and the skies for relief.

Blake Layton, cotton entomologist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said thrips are more abundant than normal, but in numbers similar to last year.

May 22, 2000 - Filed Under: Pets

By Chantel Lott

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mosquitoes may be a summertime nuisance to people, but their threat of transmitting heartworms to dogs is year round in Mississippi.

May 22, 2000 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

If you are looking for a plant for the shade, then you can hardly do better than hostas. The hosta is in the lily family and has the common name of Plantain Lily. Despite the fact that they are cold hardy way up north in zone 4, their beauty and leaf texture adds a tropical flair to the garden.

May 22, 2000 - Filed Under: Children and Parenting

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- When parents and coaches set good examples, team sports do more for kids than teach them the rules of the game and get them in shape.

Playing on a team is one of the best ways for children to learn life lessons as they see responsibility, respect, fairness and sportsmanship modeled. Coaches are in the unique position to mold their athletes' character on and off the playing field, and parents on the sidelines can reinforce these positive messages.

May 19, 2000 - Filed Under: Forages

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Normally, hay growers do not get nervous about a drought until July, but this is not likely to be a normal year.

The last soaking rain is a vague memory for most growers and by mid-May, conditions were more like July.

May 15, 2000 - Filed Under: Beef

By Rebekah Ray

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Seaweed may be an anomaly in North Mississippi, but animal researchers at the Prairie Research Unit in Monroe County are using this marine algae to improve production of the state's beef cattle.

May 15, 2000 - Filed Under: Community

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- When Mississippians need information, the Extension Service is ready with a variety of tools to get the facts into their hands.

When personal knowledge falls short, they can turn to the Mississippi State University Extension Service. Extension is the arm of the state's land-grant institution responsible for taking the knowledge of the university to the people of the state. It does this through agents in each county, short courses, field days, demonstrations, workshops and Internet resources.

May 15, 2000 - Filed Under: Flower Gardens

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Every state has wildflowers they boast about, and Mississippi can certainly hold its head high in this category as well. Flowers like the coreopsis and spigelia, or Indian Pinks, have been awesome. The Stokes' Aster is one of my favorite wildflowers budding up now and showing color in many gardens.

May 12, 2000 - Filed Under: Fruit, Nuts

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Late freezes and a predicted light pecan crop are dampening prospects for Mississippi's fruit and nut growers, but growers haven't given up on the year.

Freddie Rasberry, horticulture specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said last year had the potential of being the state's best pecan year since the 1994 ice storm caused extensive damage to Delta orchards. Because pecans ordinarily are alternate bearing fruit, bumper crops are often followed the next year by much smaller harvests.

May 8, 2000 - Filed Under: Dairy

By Suzanne Berry

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Milk. It does a body good, especially a dairy calf's body.

Recently completed research at the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station's Coastal Plain Branch in Newton has shown that immunity levels of newborn dairy calves that were tube-fed colostrum at birth were higher than those that nursed their mothers.

May 8, 2000 - Filed Under: Lawn and Garden

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

It seems the gardening world has gone crazy with arbors, trellises, towers, fences and more. Everyone is looking for perfect or unusual vines to drape or climb these structures. One of the best choices is the crossvine.

It is also called quartervine and is known botanically as Bignonia capreolata. It is hardy throughout the state. Bignonia comes from the name of King Louis IV's librarian.

May 8, 2000 - Filed Under: Crops

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Handing over a portion of profits may seem like bad business, but Mississippi farmers use checkoff programs to promote success in the future.

Checkoff programs are a form of self-tax that require producers by law to set aside a certain portion from each unit sold. This money is collected by the governing board and distributed for industry research and promotion.

May 5, 2000 - Filed Under: Turfgrass and Lawn Management

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Grass, something Mississippi's climate is well-suited for growing, has become a serious cash crop to turf producers taking advantage of booming population centers.

May 1, 2000 - Filed Under: Poultry

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Better eggs mean better broilers, a fact that prompted one Mississippi State University researcher to look at what a hen must eat to lay these good eggs.

Mississippi's $1.5 billion poultry industry is the state's largest agricultural commodity. When even a small improvement is made in this business, the result is seen in millions of dollars.

May 1, 2000 - Filed Under: Agriculture

By Rebekah Ray

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Historically plagued by Mother Nature and the whims of consumer demand, today's agricultural producers have more opportunities to receive advice on managing their risks and producing a profitable crop.

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