Join the Magnolia Moves Activity Challenge!

News

Stay up to date on all the latest happening at Extension!

Latest News

  • A gray field has rows of tiny plants emerging from dry soil.

    Weeks-long drought hard on state’s crops

    Deep cracks in the ground tell the story of drought, where only about half the normal rainfall has fallen so far in 2026, making it the 10th driest in Mississippi history.

  • Extension launches Magnolia Moves Activity Challenge on April 20

    Mississippi, it’s time to get moving. Let’s increase our physical movement, improve our eating habits, and make ourselves healthier and happier!

  • Chickasaw plum thicket with pine trees in the background.

    Woody cover is critical for bobwhite management

    When managing for bobwhites, people often think about native bunch grasses or predators first. However, bobwhites are rarely limited by grass, and while predators can certainly pose a management challenge, protecting them from predators is the first step in predator management. 

  • A brick arch has signs for the Carthage Coliseum.

    Strategic, unified vision transforms Carthage

    When the Leake County Board of Supervisors set their sights on rejuvenating downtown Carthage, they initiated significant positive changes in a short time.

  • Upright stems of orange flowers bloom above green leaves.

    Mysty, Skyscraper Orange salvia deserve a garden spot

    Those who follow my work know that I have a fondness for plants that support the pollinator population. When they’re also showstoppers, that’s a win-win for me.

  • A chart shows the number of acres that Mississippi producers intend to plant in 2026 for the following crops: soybeans, 2.3 million acres, which is 27 percent more than 2025’s planted acreage; corn, 630,000 acres, which is a 30 percent decrease from 2025; and cotton, 300,000 acres, which is a 9 percent decrease from last year’s cotton planting.

    Tight margins, costly inputs shape planting intentions

    Growers in Mississippi plan to plant about 630,000 acres of corn in 2026, down 31% from the 910,000 acres planted in 2025. Rice acreage is projected at 80,000 acres, a 51% decrease from last year, while cotton acres are expected to fall 9%, from 330,000 acres to about 300,000 acres.

  • MSU Extension logo

    Specialty crops short course set for May 7

    RAYMOND, Miss. -- Commercial fruit and vegetable producers will have an opportunity to learn more about producing these specialty crops during the Specialty Crop Short Course May 7.

  • Green soybeans hang on a plant.

    Good crops start with good early decisions

    While profit in farming often comes down to what the weather and markets did that year, the decisions farmers make from the beginning impact the bottom line in many important ways.

  • Clusters of white flowers hang from a branch.

    Evergreen shrub Temple Bells shines in the spring

    Sometimes it seems that spring is all about the flowers, but trees and shrubs play a significant role in the landscape waking up from winter.

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