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Feature Story

Three people pose, with the person in the middle holding a plaque.
October 3, 2024 - Filed Under: Economic Development, Natural Resources

PICAYUNE, Miss. -- The Crosby Arboretum was recently designated an Outpost Business by the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area, opening the door to future funding opportunities.

The 104-acre plant conservatory managed by the Mississippi State University Extension Service, was eligible for the award through its participation in Gulf Coast Outpost -- a business recognition program launched by the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area, or MGCNHA, for nature-based tourism business owners. The Arboretum’s designation was made Sept. 20.

A pond has dried into a fraction of its usual size.
September 26, 2024 - Filed Under: Crops

Knowing that the severity of a drought is more than a measure of weather data, Mississippi State University Extension Service agents across the state gather photos and data weekly to document actual conditions.
Mike Brown, MSU professor of geosciences and state climatologist, helped develop and now oversees an app that allows him to submit detailed, highly localized information to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The Drought Monitor is a publication provided by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is the basis of much drought-relief efforts nationwide.

Wet cotton plant with open bolls.
September 20, 2024 - Filed Under: Agriculture, Cotton

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Hurricane Francine was reduced to a tropical storm by the time it reached Mississippi, and its rainfall and wind were not enough to cause major damage to the state’s cotton crop despite two-thirds of it having opened beforehand.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service estimated just under 70% of the cotton bolls around the state had opened as of Sept. 9, three days before Francine reached the state.

Boy riding a horse surrounded by three people.
September 18, 2024 - Filed Under: Equine, Equine Assisted Therapy Programs

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Amy Knight has seen her 13-year-old son, Cameron, make substantial strides in his speech and core strength since he began horse riding three years ago.

People pose for a photo during an open house event.
September 16, 2024 - Filed Under: Family, Children and Parenting, Mississippi LIFT Resource and Referral Network

GLUCKSTADT, Miss. -- Children, parents and child care providers in the Gluckstadt area now have a new learning center with free resources. The Mississippi LIFT Resource and Referral Network at the Mississippi State University Extension Service provides mini-learning stations throughout the center with themed hands-on, play-based educational activities each month. Various free services are available through the center, including an educational lending library, referrals for teacher training, and family support services training.

A hand touching the screen of a tablet to pick a picture from a selection.
September 11, 2024 - Filed Under: 4-H, STEM – Science Technology Engineering and Math, Children and Parenting

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi 4-H is developing new programs incorporating ScratchJr, an introductory computer programming application for children ages 4-7, and an instructor with the research group that created the software recently visited Mississippi State University to train educators on its curriculum.

A drone sprays water on crops
September 6, 2024 - Filed Under: Field Scale Crop Assessment with Drones, Spray Drones, Types of UAS

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Those interested in learning about the use of unmanned aircraft systems as row crop application sprayers are invited to a seminar at Mississippi State University.

The MSU Spray Drone/UAS Seminar will be held at the Bost Extension Center Oct. 9 from 9 to 11 a.m. This meeting will be presented in person and available online. Topics include regulatory updates, the current Federal Aviation Administration-approved spray drone list, current and potential spray drone restrictions and ongoing spray drone research at MSU.

A soccer ball sits in the foreground with a soccer team and coach in the background.
September 3, 2024 - Filed Under: Family, Children and Parenting

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Extracurricular activities offer many benefits for children and teens, but parents should help young people set important boundaries when it comes to these activities.

“Participating in sports, music, dance and other activities not only helps children learn life skills, like time management and interpersonal skills, but also teaches them about themselves -- what things they are good at and what things they enjoy,” said Lori Elmore-Staton, a human development and family science specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

Pumpkin patch
August 30, 2024 - Filed Under: Agri-tourism

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Farms are the most prominent symbol of agritourism, but the industry contains numerous types of enterprises and entertainment.

The agritourism sector also creates additional income streams for producers and entrepreneurs and has been a proven community development tool in Mississippi, especially in rural areas.

A closeup of a tussie mussie bouquet
August 28, 2024 - Filed Under: Cut Flowers and Houseplants, Floral Design

Floral enthusiasts and professionals can learn how to make tussie-mussie floral arrangements and the history of these bouquets during an Oct. 10 workshop in Hernando.

A large crowd gathers at a festival while a panel of judges tastes food.
August 15, 2024 - Filed Under: Community, City and County Government

October marks an exciting milestone for Mississippi tourism professionals who will complete training in a one-of-a-kind program. Trainees in the second annual Excellence in Tourism Leadership Program will receive their certificates of completion at the 2024 Governor’s Conference on Tourism, an annual event hosted by the Mississippi Tourism Association. Registration is now open to those that want to be part of the next class, which begins in January 2025.

Several adults and children gather around an educational booth hosted by a man in a crawfish suit.
August 15, 2024 - Filed Under: 4-H, Family, Insects

PICAYUNE, Miss. -- School groups, nature enthusiasts and the public can enjoy two fun-filled days of celebrating the environment, ecosystems, wildlife and insects at the Mississippi State University Crosby Arboretum in Picayune. BugFest is set for Sept. 20 and 21. The event offers insect-related displays, interactive exhibits, games and crafts. Biologists, naturalists, entomologists and other experts from Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama will host booths and give presentations on butterflies, bats, caterpillars, pollinators, spiders, crayfish, native plants, native and exotic arthropods and more.

August 9, 2024 - Filed Under: Commercial Fruit and Nuts, Fruit

CARRIERE, Miss. -- Muscadine producers can learn more about growing the specialty crop during an upcoming field day. The 2024 Muscadine Field Day will be held Aug. 29 at the Mississippi State University McNeill Research Unit in Carriere.

August 8, 2024 - Filed Under: Forages

A Mississippi State University Extension Service forage specialist recently received a national award for his high-quality work and effective program development.

A peanut agronomist shows a group of people a disease-infested peanut plant.
August 7, 2024 - Filed Under: Agriculture, Corn, Cotton, Soybeans, Field Scale Crop Assessment with Drones, Spray Drones, Types of UAS

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Producers got a behind-the-scenes look at the wide scope of agricultural research taking place at Mississippi State University in an Aug. 6 event.

Faculty and specialists with the MSU Extension Service and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station presented on-farm research projects designed to help growers meet the challenges of row crop production.

August 7, 2024 - Filed Under: Rice, Agri-tourism

MERIGOLD, Miss. -- Mississippi ranks among the top six states in rice production, and there is no better occasion to celebrate the industry’s success than Rice Fest.

This year’s festival will be held Sept. 19 in downtown Merigold from 4 to 9 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

A group of people holding awards.
August 7, 2024 - Filed Under: 4-H, 4-H Forestry, Join 4-H

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Ashlyn Henderson can now lay claim to two Super Bowl wins -- one as a competitor and another as a coach.

In July, the Mississippi 4-H Forestry Judging Team won its second national championship in three years at the National 4-H Forestry Invitational, also referred to as the Super Bowl of 4-H Forestry.

Team members included Mississippi 4-H president John Clayton Kitchens and fellow 4-H’ers Samuel Davidson, Joy Kitchens and Josie Thompson. The team is based out of Lauderdale County.

August 2, 2024 - Filed Under: Fisheries
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Dr. Wes Neal

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- A Mississippi State University Extension Service fisheries specialist is being inducted as a fellow of the American Fisheries Society.

Full trash can sitting at the curb awaiting collection
August 1, 2024 - Filed Under: Marine Resources, Waste Management, Water

RAYMOND, Miss. -- By 2050, the world’s oceans will contain more plastic pollution by weight than fish. It's an alarming statistic. Implementing small lifestyle changes associated with zero waste can help reduce all waste, including plastics, that enter waterways and landfills.

A glass jar with a metal lid is full of vegetables.
July 31, 2024 - Filed Under: Agri-business, Marketing and Business Planning, Small Business

Mississippians with a quality food product looking to scale up their business are invited to take advantage of a series of one-hour webinars and a one-day, in-person workshop to learn ways to navigate different markets.
The Mississippi State University Extension Service is offering "Food as Business: Scaling up from the Market - Take Your Food Business to the Next Level” program. It is for anyone who currently operates or is interested in operating an agriculture-based food business, including agricultural and food entrepreneurs, farmers and cottage food operators.

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