News

By Chantel Lott

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Control diabetes during the holiday season by balancing food, activity and medication.

"The first rule should be that no foods are forbidden," said Melissa Mixon, human nutrition specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service. "Accept the fact that the holidays bring challenges. Plan from beginning to end how to handle them.

"Enjoy your favorite holiday food, but remember moderation is the key," Mixon said.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

The goal, make your garden look great in January. That was the challenge Ed Martin, renowned and retired Mississippi State University professor emeritus of landscape architecture, would issue to his students and to those of us who have been lucky enough to sit through one of his seminars.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

My favorite holiday plant is the Christmas cactus. I never cease to be amazed by its durability and beauty.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Names like Nemesia, Diascia and Otacanthus may be unfamiliar now, but it won't be long until gardeners find a place for them in the landscape. They all belong to the snapdragon family.

It was just a couple of years ago that another member of the family, the Angelonia, made its debut. Now Angelonias are becoming a staple in everyone's summer garden, and they are still blooming as fall progresses. They are even returning from the past two mild winters.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Sometimes even Santa says no to good children.

"One of the hardest things a parent has to do is say no to the pleading eyes of a son or daughter," said Louise Davis, child and family development specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service.

The stress of the holiday season can make parenting decisions even more challenging. While conceding to a child's wants may provide momentary relief, it may cause greater burdens in the future.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Marking the holidays with food, family, more food and more guests is usually enjoyable for the guests, but it can be a hassle to the hosts.

Cooking for a crowd is not a task for the faint hearted. Menus must be carefully planned, entertainment coordinated, guest lists drawn up and accommodations arranged. While a primary concern often is how to do this without blowing the budget, a secondary concern is how to do this while staying sane.

By Chantel Lott

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Melissa Mixon, human nutrition specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said since mail-order food gifts are increasing in popularity, consumers need to be aware of the precautions necessary to mail a perishable item.

By Chantel Lott

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Pre-holiday clothing shopping is a joy compared to the frustration of battling lines at the returns counter when buyers fail to be good detectives.

Each holiday shopping season people stare at rack after rack of clothing in a store wondering which style is best for that special person. The next dilemma is guessing the right size.

If possible, sneak a visit to their closet to take some of the guesswork out of gift buying.

By Crystel Bailey

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Carols with altered lyrics such as "Deck the halls with bills from shopping" or "Oh, Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree. What should I get Aunt Sally?" may represent holiday feelings, but people can replace stress with cash if they plan and adjust their spending habits.

By Crystel Bailey

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Janice Guice, like many other people, joins family members to devour turkey and dressing, opens red and green-packaged Christmas presents with her grandchildren and counts down the seconds until the New Year.

However, behind smile-plastered faces and hectic schedules, Guice, and others who have lost loved ones, celebrate the holidays in sadness and with difficulty. Holiday sights, sounds and smells spark memories of family and friends who have passed away, and survivors are left to cope.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Homeowners are cautioned every year to keep their Christmas trees watered, but growers are the one's needing that advice this year.

Steve Dicke, forestry specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said this year's drought also could reduce the longevity of Christmas trees after harvesting.

"Trees won't be as healthy as normal, so they may dry out faster after harvest making water in the tree stand even more important this year," Dicke said. "On the other hand, it will be more water than they've seen in awhile."

By Chantel Lott

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A dead animal dumped along a highway or a river bank decreases Mississippi's aesthetic appeal, and breaks new laws concerning proper disposal.

Proper disposal of dead animals is not just an issue for hunters. Disposal laws include all kinds of animals from pets to livestock.

By Maridith Geuder
MSU University Relations

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- In a new study exploring the state's future employment opportunities for people leaving welfare, a Mississippi State research scientist finds good and not-so-good news.

Frank Howell, a professor in Mississippi State University's Social Science Research Center, reports a promising picture in some parts of Mississippi. In other areas, he predicts a shortage of jobs matching the skill and educational levels of those in the labor market.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Kids across the state are learning from Master Gardeners the power plants have to beautify their surroundings.

In Meridian, Master Gardeners have teamed up with the Meridian Public School District's Parents As Teachers program to offer a gardening project. Cathy Trawick works with the school program and also is a Master Gardener. She works out of an office in a public housing project.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

The snapdragon is one of the most beautiful plants for fall color, and it thrives right through winter until late spring heat arrives. Snapdragons love those times when night temperatures are in the low 40s and day temperatures reach the low 70s, which makes them ideally situated for fall in the South.

By Crystel Bailey

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- After a summer of extreme heat and dry conditions, Mississippi cotton farmers now battle low yields, low quality and low prices.

Will McCarty, cotton specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said dry weather helped mature cotton faster, which is why more than 90 percent of harvest was complete in Mississippi by the end of October. Typically, harvest is 84 percent complete by this time. Because cotton matured early, yields and quality suffered.

HATTIESBURG -- At-risk youth in a residential, military-style program in South Mississippi are learning gardening as part of training to get them back on the straight and narrow.

The Pine Belt Master Gardeners meet once a week with young people in the Youth Challenge Program at Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg. The Master Gardeners spend the morning helping the youth with a gardening project, and the afternoon instructing them in landscape maintenance and basic conservation.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Insects are not usually something people try to keep alive, but an international group of specialists met in Starkville recently to learn the best ways to raise bugs.

Rearing healthy insects is not as easy as it sounds. Elaborate systems and equipment are needed, along with climate- controlled environments, special diets and close monitoring. Most people in the business learn on the job and from colleagues, as little if any formal training exists.

By Crystel Bailey

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Even though babies have their own special language and preschoolers may struggle saying big words, parents and teachers can communicate with children.

Louise Davis, child and family development specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said children learn to communicate by imitating the speech and behavior of adults.

To achieve good communication with children, adults should get on a child's level, but use some of the same principles of courtesy and respect as when communicating with adults.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The damaging effects of this year's drought may not be confined to the 2000 pecan crop as the stressed trees also may lack the energy to produce big yields next year.

Like other trees in the state, some pecans went dormant early to protect themselves from a fate worse than just losing leaves.