News

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

An outstanding feather reed grass variety named Karl Foerster is the Perennial Plant of the Year, according to the Perennial Plant Association.

This Perennial Plant of the Year will work well in Mississippi, too. As a highly acclaimed cultivar, Karl Foerster is one of the most versatile, attractive and low maintenance ornamental grasses around. The deep green, shiny foliage appears in early spring and lasts until early winter.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- What goes into farmland as additives impacts the The Total Maximum Daily Load, or TMDL, is the amount of a particular pollutant that can be released safely to surface water per day. TMDLs are set by the state Department of Environmental Quality, and are designed to ensure that state waters continue to meet quality standards.

By Allison Matthews

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Something fishy in Mississippi schools is motivating students to learn all about the state's fishery resources.

A new school enrichment module, "Something's Fishy in Mississippi," is now available to fourth grade classrooms through local 4-H agents. The traveling module features a large interactive display accompanied by two personal computers and CD-ROMs, as well as lesson materials to help teachers plan for two weeks of learning activities.

By Allison Matthews

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Tomato spotted wilt virus is a persistent and growing problem for commercial tomato producers and home gardeners, but new resistant varieties are available for this growing season.

Alan Henn, Extension plant pathologist at Mississippi State University, said spotted wilt is a common strain of tospovirus that is becoming a more costly threat to many crops in the South and the rest of the nation.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Local cooperatives are as much a part of the agriculture scene as are farmers, but changes in agriculture are prompting similar changes in these businesses.

Darron Hudson, MAFES agricultural economist at Mississippi State University, said co-ops are formed when a group of producers pool their resources to gain a market advantage.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

All landscapes reach a point where they need a little re-engineering. This year's storms have created problems across the state that will require repair efforts for years to come.

Re-engineering is a popular word today. Corporations use to describe changes they are making in their market focus or their corporate structure. Re-engineering basically means looking at where you are and assessing how you can capitalize on what you have.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Neglecting nutritional needs at any stage of life is risky, but for senior adults, the results could reduce their quality of life significantly.

Melissa Mixon, human nutrition specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said older adults should watch their diets closely, especially if they are prone to heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis.

By Allison Matthews

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Children love watching favorite television programs or movies, but when they are glued to the screen too much during development years, experts say the results get two thumbs down.

"Many studies are showing that media in large doses can have a significant negative impact on children," said Linda Patterson, Extension health specialist at Mississippi State University.

By Charmain Tan Courcelle

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Research conducted at Mississippi State University will soon alter existing state nutrient management plans for Mississippi broiler producers since broiler house conditions are different than what was expected.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Kathy Ann, a native yaupon holly from Stone County, Miss., leads an impressive list of plants that have been announced as Mississippi Medallion winners for this spring.

You won't have to go to Stone County to find the Kathy Ann yaupon holly as this exquisitely formed small tree already has found its place in the hearts of landscapers from Texas to Georgia and the Carolinas.

By Allison Matthews

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The dream-granting program Bruce Brady envisioned while fighting his own battle with cancer was realized this year when 13-year-old Richard Dickson Jr. of Greene County experienced an outdoor adventure to remember.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Economic development is high on the priority list across the South, but some experts believe a contributor to this success is being overlooked.

Home-based businesses annually bring millions of dollars to the rural economies of the South. These are the earliest business form, and offer rural communities the opportunity to develop local assets and keep residents in the community.

By Allison Matthews

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Lush, green fescue may look ideal for livestock before summer grasses are available, but beware of the invisible threat for pregnant horses lurking inside the winter grass.

Peter Ryan, assistant professor of animal science at Mississippi State University, said fescue is a common forage grass for horses and other livestock in the southeastern United States, but it is frequently infected with a strain of endophyte. The fungus is not harmful to the grass, but it can be hazardous to grazing animals and their offspring.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Some gardeners believe roses have lost their fragrance, but I have stuck my nose in more than a few that deliver delightful scents for season-long enjoyment.

Double Delight has been one of the most popular hybrid tea roses for almost 20 years. An outstanding rose with a creamy white color contrasting with bright strawberry red, it has a fresh fruity scent you can smell up to 10 feet away. In 1986, the American Rose Society awarded it as the most fragrant.

By Allison Matthews

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Old wives tales make great claims about honey's health benefits, but one undisputable aspect of Mother Nature's product is its pure-tasting sweetness.

Melissa Mixon, Extension nutrition specialist at Mississippi State University, said honey is useful to have handy when cooking, and it can often substitute for much of the sugar in recipes. Honey is up to twice as sweet as sugar. It gives food a golden quality, and many people's tastebuds can't get enough of it.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Eighteen-year-old Jonathan Greer runs his own wholesale turfgrass business from his wheelchair with help of partners brought together by Mississippi State University's AgrAbility.

Jonathan's father, Grover Greer, farms about 1,750 acres of cotton, corn, soybeans and wheat in Sharkey County. About a year ago, Greer said they looked for occupations where Jonathan's cerebral palsy would not be a disadvantage.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A farmer has a much greater need to know local weather information than someone trying to decide whether or not to carry an umbrella, so for the last four years, Mississippi State University has provided this detailed data to Delta growers.

In 1996, the National Weather Service stopped offering agricultural weather and climate services from Stoneville and other similar locations nationwide. When this happened, farmers no longer could get ag weather forecasts, advisories and observations, frost forecasts, 30-day ag weather outlook or specialized ag services.

By Chantel Lott

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The age a youth must reach to legally work on a farm rose recently, and some farmers may need to reconsider who they employ.

U.S. law now states that any youth under the age of 14 cannot be employed on a farm.

By Chantel Lott

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Computer software can ease the burden of paperwork in fish farming, and the latest release of Fishy 2001 will continue to help farmers make the most of their ponds.

On April 1, Fishy 2001 a microcomputer program developed at Mississippi State University will be available for fish farmers. Fishy records, analyzes and makes reports for fish farmers to keep track of fish numbers, feedings, weights and sizes.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Yarrow is considered an herb, a perennial and a leader for cut-and-dried flower arrangements, yet it is still overlooked by many Southern gardeners.