News

During a recent visit to the Mississippi State University South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station in Poplarville, I had the pleasure of exploring the beautiful display garden created and maintained by the Pearl River County Master Gardeners.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Changes to farm policy programs through an omnibus bill passed by Congress and signed into law July 4 will improve growers’ safety nets and increase row crop reference prices.

The tax and spending cut legislation H.R. 1 includes updates to the Price Loss Coverage, or PLC, and Agricultural Risk Coverage, or ARC, programs and increased reference prices for row crops, including those grown most frequently in Mississippi.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- H.R. 1, the tax and spending cut bill passed by Congress and signed into law July 4, makes significant cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, including the elimination of a nutrition program delivered by the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

A few of the people employed in various aspects of the green industry in Mississippi learned their skills while incarcerated at the East Mississippi Correctional Facility in Meridian.

The facility, like many in the state, offer the men housed there several educational opportunities that will provide avenues of gainful employment upon their release. In Meridian, Tammie Jennings teaches a horticulture class for inmates and calls upon the Mississippi State University Extension Service on occasion for support.

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Deer season is right around the corner. Right now, baby deer are taking their first steps -- and who doesn’t love baby deer?

I look forward to seeing my first baby deer, or fawn, each year. That first sighting is typically a quick glimpse of a fawn following its mom’s lead as they bolt for cover. For a few lucky folks, the encounter is much more intimate.

Every year, many people stumble across bedded fawns that appear to be abandoned. If you happen to find yourself in such a situation, here is what you should do:

Coleus are often used in the background for foliage, but I think they deserve attention for their bold foliage and personality.

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Mississippi’s watermelon producers face a tough year as summer rains diminish what they had expected would be a good crop.

Coreopsis, our state wildflower here in Mississippi, is getting the spotlight it deserves at Mississippi State University’s South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station in Poplarville.

During a recent visit to their trial gardens, I had the chance to check out several varieties currently being evaluated.

Mississippi State University will host a half-day grape workshop on July 11 for anyone interested in growing bunch grapes in the state.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- New and experienced municipal officials have an updated reference resource available through the Mississippi State University Extension Service. The MSU Extension Center for Government and Community Development, or GCD, published the “Municipal Government in Mississippi, Eighth Edition” in June.

As the Fourth of July approaches, many of us are preparing to celebrate with patriotic decor, fireworks and gatherings with family and friends. Why not extend the celebration into the garden with plants that proudly show off our nation’s colors?

Rainfall at well above normal accumulations is impacting the state’s row crops, mostly in a negative way.

Mike Brown, state climatologist with the Mississippi State University Department of Geosciences, said many areas of the state have had one and a half times the typical amount of rain for this time of year.

BILOXI, Miss. -- The Mississippi Sound Estuary Program, or MSEP, has released its 2025-2030 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for public review and comment.

The inaugural plan, or CCMP, outlines regional priorities for conservation, restoration, resilience and stewardship, and MSEP encourages Mississippi residents to help shape its future.

MSEP is housed at the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center within the MSU Coastal and Marine Extension Program.

RAYMOND, Miss. -- A Mississippi State University expert says he has no evidence that Africanized honey bees are established in Mississippi contrary to reports from Mississippi media outlets June 26.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Seed and agricultural industry professionals, producers, crop consultants, research professionals and stakeholders can learn about considerations for seed-applied and precision agriculture technologies during the 2025 Seed and Agricultural Technology Short Course on Aug. 5 and 6.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the backyard bluff gardens of Paul and Donna Ingram, perched high above the winding Mississippi River in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

RAYMOND, Miss. -- This year, Julie Bounds was expecting a bumper crop of blueberries. What she could not anticipate was the excess amount of rainfall her family’s blueberry farm would receive. This untimely rain has been the biggest challenge for growers across the state.

There are a few plants that bring both beauty and function to the landscape, and pineapple guava is one of those rare gems that does it all.

During a recent visit to Paul and Donna Ingram’s garden in Vicksburg, Mississippi, I was inspired by how beautifully they’ve showcased this remarkable plant.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi’s lakes, rivers and streams are some of the best places to cool off, relax and connect with nature. As the days get warmer and more people head to the water, it’s worth remembering that even fun outdoor activities can affect water quality.

Vegetable producers across the Southeast are invited to the 2025 Vegetable Field Day on July 23 at the Mississippi State University station in Verona, Mississippi.