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Chicken and Fruit Salad is an easy and refreshing summertime lunch or dinner.

A woman holds a bowl of chicken and fruit salad.
If hot meals are too much for you in the summer, try adding this Chicken and Fruit Salad recipe to your meal rotation.

I don’t think there is anything more inviting or beautiful than a colorful combination container prominently displayed on the deck, porch or patio. I recently visited Bud and Blooms Greenhouse and Gardens in Wesson, Mississippi, looking at some of their beautiful combination containers. These elaborate containers come in all shapes and sizes, and they might seem challenging for the home gardener to make.

Purple sword-like leaves grow from a container of green leaves.
A blue container has yellow and red flowers and colorful leaves.
Yellow flowers top a container with various size and color leaves.

Life can be overwhelming sometimes, and stress is a normal part of life. Too much unchecked stress can lead to physical and mental health challenges that must be addressed. Know the signs to watch for and learn what to do when you or someone you know needs help.

A man sits with his chin proped on his hand
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Stress is normal and part of life, but too much unchecked stress can lead to physical and mental health challenges that must be addressed.

BILOXI, Miss. -- On April 21, beachgoers in Orange Beach, Ala., were enjoying a pleasant day of sun, sand and surf when they witnessed an incredible event they’ll never forget.

A deceased female great hammerhead shark, the largest of the three hammerhead species occurring in the Gulf of Mexico, suddenly washed ashore.

Two rows of deceased hammerhead baby sharks on top of a tarp

One of the first steps in controlling high blood pressure is to reduce the extra sodium in your diet. Many people think sodium and salt are the same thing, however, they are different. Sodium is a mineral that occurs naturally in foods and is sometimes added during manufacturing. Table salt is a combination of the minerals sodium and chloride.

Jars of spices lined up in a V formation.
Salt-free seasonings add a unique flavor to your dishes without adding extra salt. To incorporate more herbs and spices into your meals, look for seasonings that end in “powder,” like garlic, chili, and onion powders.

Mississippi cattle operations must constantly improve efficiency to remain profitable, as rising production costs are decreasing the benefit of high market prices. Brandi Karisch, beef specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said beef production is a significant component of the state’s agricultural economy, with a total estimated value of $318 million in 2022.

Black cows stand in a herd in a green pasture near trees.

If you want to add a tropical feel to your deck, porch or patio, consider bringing in some tropical vines, such as mandevilla and black-eyed Susan vines. These annual beauties create impressive flowering displays and look incredible in containers.

Two yellow blooms have black centers.
A vine in a container has peach-colored flowers.
A single red bloom has a yellow center.
A vine in the ground has orange flowers.

Have you ever noticed the small birds hopping around parking lots scrounging for food and wondered what kind they were? There’s a good chance they were house sparrows. 

A house sparrow.
House sparrows prefer more developed urban locations over rural areas. (Photo by Canva Pro)

While “marination” brings up images of resealable bags and special sauces for many home cooks and backyard chefs, it meant hard-core meat science and technological advances to 47 industry professionals who attended Marination 101 at Mississippi State University. In mid-April, MSU Extension offered the workshop “Marination 101: The Flavor of Science” to industry personnel from across the United States and Canada. Topics covered included meat marination, marinade formulations, breading, food chemistry, flavor enhancements, equipment and more.

A man in a red apron speaks to a class in a lab.
A woman reaches for a sample in a classroom.
Two people in protective gear work with meat on a table.

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