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  • A green watermelon grows on the ground in a field.

    Research supports state watermelon growers

    On a hot July morning, more than 60 people walked through dusty research fields at Mississippi State University to see for themselves how melon varieties performed in the state’s summer climate.

  • July 2026 WASDE Rundown graphic

    July 2026 WASDE Rundown

    An explanation of the July 2026 WASDE Report by the USDA. What it said and what were the implications? Extension Economist Dr. Will Maples tells us.

  • Presenters address a large crowd sitting under outdoor tents.

    Muscadine field day set for Aug. 27

    CARRIERE, Miss. -- Muscadine producers can learn more about growing the specialty crop during an upcoming field day. The 2026 Muscadine Field Day will be held Aug. 27 at the Mississippi State University McNeill Research Unit in Carriere.

  • Catfish are harvested from a pond using a large net suspended above a boat.

    Programs lend hand to catfish producers

    Two weeks before the U.S. Department of Agriculture officially set aside $20 million to buy U.S. farm-raised catfish under its Section 32 program on July 23, it updated its Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program. Known as ELAP, this program will pay $600 per acre per year to eligible farm-raised catfish producers who suffered inventory loss due to bird depredation.

  • A vine with dark purple leaves grows over a wooden garden barrier.

    Sweet potato vines love summer heat

    Sometimes the best way to beat the summer heat in the garden is to plant something that truly enjoys it.

  • A cat and dog lying on a bed.

    Know how to protect pets from New World Screwworm

    RAYMOND, Miss. -- While most confirmed cases of New World Screwworm in the U.S. have been detected in cattle, sheep and goats, animal health officials in Mississippi want pet owners to know dogs and cats are vulnerable to the pest.

  • A pump attached to a white pipe sits in water in a rice field.

    Reused rice tailwater shows water savings

    Rice production requires a significant amount of water, and while Mississippi still has plentiful supplies of this resource, careful managers are finding ways to cut use of this diminishing resource.

  • A mature ear of corn has been shucked while on the stalk.

    Early corn crop headed to apparent good harvest

    Mississippi’s corn crop is looking good this year, and harvest began in July for what was one of the earliest planted corn crops in state history.

  • Dark clusters of grapes hang among leaves on a vine.

    MSU bunch grapes trials reveal solid performers

    There is nothing quite like picking fresh grapes straight from the vine. Sweet, juicy and bursting with flavor, they’re one of summer’s great rewards.

Mississippi State University Extension Service 130 Bost Drive Mississippi State MS 39762