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BILOXI, Miss. -- Wild-caught shrimp contribute millions of dollars to Mississippi’s economy each year, and experts say better flavor gives them a competitive advantage over imported and pond-raised shrimp.

Dave Burrage, Mississippi State University Extension Service fisheries specialist, said consumers who participate in blind taste tests tend to prefer the taste of wild-caught Gulf shrimp over that of pond-raised, imported products.

Shrimp boats at rest in the Biloxi Small Craft Harbor in Biloxi, Mississippi, Jan. 25, 2016. (Photo by MSU Extension Service/Kevin Hudson)
This graph show the U.S. per capita shrimp consumption

POPLARVILLE, Miss. – A rare tropical plant drew a steady stream of fascinated onlookers to a Mississippi State University research station as it bloomed for the first time on June 30.

The 9-year-old titan arum was nicknamed “Spike” by the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station researchers who care for it. Known scientifically as Amorphophallus titanum, Spike likely will not bloom again for several years.

The titan arum’s spathe opens for one day every seven to 10 years. The leafy, petal-like structure, which contains both male and female flowers, emits a strong odor similar to decaying meat to attract the plant’s native pollinators. (Photo by MSU Extension Service/Susan Collins-Smith)
The rare titan arum was in full bloom June 30, 2016, at the Mississippi State University South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station in Poplarville. Commonly called a corpse plant, it likely will not bloom again for several years.  (Photo by MSU Extension Service/Susan Collins-Smith)

Lately, I’ve been telling you about some of my favorite go-to plants for Mississippi gardens. The canna lily is another easy landscape plant that I think everyone should have in his or her garden.

Cannas are valued for their large tropical foliage and showy, brilliantly colored flowers.

Canna lilies are easy landscape plants for Mississippi gardens. This South Pacific Scarlet is a dwarf selection that can reach 4 feet tall. (Photo by MSU Extension/Gary Bachman)
Canna lilies are valued for their tropical foliage and showy flowers. The flowers of this Cannova Rose, about 3 to 4 inches across, are held high above lush foliage. (Photo by MSU Extension/Gary Bachman)

RAYMOND, Miss. -- An increase in housing starts in 2015 strengthened Mississippi’s timber industry, and stronger demand for sawtimber products used in construction are helping give the industry a boost this year.

James Henderson, an associate professor of forestry with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said timber ended the year with a total estimated harvest value of almost $1.67 billion.

Deodar weevil damage is easily identified by the wood-chip cocoons the insects make for larvae under the inner bark. Central Mississippi landowners will continue to experience increased pressure from these pests because of extreme drought and an extended fall in 2015. (Photo by MSU Extension Service/Susan Collins-Smith)
Ips beetles carve out distinctive straight tunnels to lay eggs under the inner bark of pine trees. Extreme drought and above-average temperatures in November and December created ideal conditions for Ips beetles to thrive. (Photo by MSU Extension Service/Susan Collins-Smith)

JACKSON, Miss. -- An organization ready to harvest and distribute quality food to the hungry always looks for new farms to glean and more hands to help with the work.

The Mississippi Gleaning Network exists to link agricultural endeavors with organizations that distribute food to the needy. It is operated under the Society of St. Andrew, a Christian nonprofit, nationwide organization that supplies the volunteer labor.

Gleaning is an ancient practice in which workers are allowed into a harvested field to gather for themselves the food that is left over.

Gleaners harvest leftover crops and distribute them to the hungry. Volunteers are needed at all steps of the process, from harvesting to distribution. These sweet potatoes were bagged for delivery at Mississippi State University. (File Photo by MSU Extension Service/Kevin Hudson)

Most of the time, I write about what I think are great landscape plants for gardeners in Mississippi to try in their landscapes. But this column is a bit different as I’m writing about a plant I don’t recommend for the home gardener.

So I ask your pardon while I turn to my alter ego as a plant nerd.

At the South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station in Poplarville, a very unusual plant is going to bloom shortly. Called a titan arum, this plant originates a long way from Mississippi -- in Indonesia.

The bloom of the Titan arum is an inflorescence, a collection of many individual flowers. This inflorescence is composed of a petal-like structure called a spathe that has a ruffled edge. The spathe surrounds a fleshy central spike called a spadix. Male and female flowers are produced in rings at the base of the spadix. (Photo by MSU Extension/Gary Bachman)
Spike is a 9-year-old, 63-inch-tall rare titan arum about to bloom. Although originally from Indonesia, this one is grown at the Mississippi State University research station in Poplarville. (Photo by MSU Extension/Gary Bachman)

STARKVILLE, Miss. – During the summer months, few activities are more appealing than a dip in the pool to escape the heat, but safety must be the top priority.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, toddlers have been known to drown in as little as a bucket of water. Swimming pools can pose the greatest drowning riks to toddlers.

Despite the dangers associated with swimming, the good news is that drowning is preventable.

To avoid sunburn, young children should wear sunscreen and stay in the shade as much as possible when playing outside. (Photo by MSU Extension/Alexandra Woolbright)

POPLARVILLE, Miss. – Horticulture researchers at the Mississippi State University South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station anticipate the first bloom of the rare titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum) will happen soon.

The plant will not likely bloom again for several years.

The first bloom of the rare titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum) at the MSU South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station, nicknamed “Spike”  will happen soon, possibly between June 25-30!

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi residents are not alone in their appreciation of hiking trails and water activities during the hot days of summer. Wildlife, including snakes, are right there with them.

As outdoor recreation picks up, so does water recreation. Where there is water, there will be snakes. There are all different kinds of snakes people encounter in Mississippi. Some are potentially dangerous and others are completely harmless.

Copperheads, such as this one, are among the most common venomous snakes in Mississippi. (Photo courtesy of Robert Lewis)
The northern watersnake, which is common in Mississippi, is not dangerous but is often mistaken for the venomous copperhead. (Photo courtesy of Robert Lewis)

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