On a recent visit to the Mississippi State University South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station in Poplarville, I was captivated by the beauty of the Angelonia plants in their display gardens.
The Angelonia Angelface series truly impressed me with their snapdragon-like flowers and versatility in various garden and landscape settings.
In this third episode with Dr. Mark Turner, we discuss Mark's research exploring the factors that contribute to the variation in population-level buck antler size. He explains that deer tend to be larger in areas further north due to heat retention and dissipation. He also highlights the importance of landscape characteristics, such as row crop agriculture, in influencing deer size. Additionally, he emphasizes the significance of managing forage availability on individual properties, including improving early successional plant communities and implementing holistic food plotting approaches. Overall, the key takeaways are the importance of considering the context of a property within the larger landscape, the potential for incremental improvements in deer management, and the need to manage both habitat and deer density to optimize deer quality.
Check out the MSU Deer Lab’s online seminar series (here) and choose the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop down menu. You will have to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits.
Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here)
Takeaways
Deer tend to be larger in areas further north due to heat retention and dissipation.
Row crop agriculture and early successional plant communities are positively associated with deer size.
Managing forage availability on individual properties can lead to significant improvements in deer quality.
Improving early successional plant communities and implementing holistic food plotting approaches are effective strategies for increasing forage availability.
Managing both habitat and deer density is crucial for optimizing deer quality.
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Hurricane Francine was reduced to a tropical storm by the time it reached Mississippi, and its rainfall and wind were not enough to cause major damage to the state’s cotton crop despite two-thirds of it having opened beforehand.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service estimated just under 70% of the cotton bolls around the state had opened as of Sept. 9, three days before Francine reached the state.
The Year of the Mustang with Jake Harvath
Utah native, Jake Harvath is a horseman and adventure seeker who created the Year of the Mustang, a year long ride across the US and back. In this episode of TTR, Clay and Jake discuss the ins and outs of a year long ride on horseback. Luckily for us, Jake has documented his entire trip and it can be viewed on his YouTube channel!
YouTube: Jake Harvath
Website: yearofthemustang.com
Closed captioning can be viewed on Taking the Reins-Mississippi State on YouTube.
Required Resource
ArcGIS Pro (tutorial developed using v. 3.1; v. 2.x or higher are compatible)
Featured Data Source
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Amy Knight has seen her 13-year-old son, Cameron, make substantial strides in his speech and core strength since he began horse riding three years ago.
GLUCKSTADT, Miss. -- Children, parents and child care providers in the Gluckstadt area now have a new learning center with free resources. The Mississippi LIFT Resource and Referral Network at the Mississippi State University Extension Service provides mini-learning stations throughout the center with themed hands-on, play-based educational activities each month. Various free services are available through the center, including an educational lending library, referrals for teacher training, and family support services training.
I have fond memories of walking daily as a kid past my grandmother’s chain-link fence, admiring the bright red flowers on the Turk’s Cap growing along it. Every time I see those flowers today, childhood memories rush through my mind.
Now as an adult gardener, I’ve come to appreciate Turk’s Cap even more for its beauty and resilience.
September is Rice Month! Did you know rice is one of Mississippi’s top ten agricultural commodities.
