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Feature Story

Vanessa Kretzschmar-McCluskey
August 21, 2008 - Filed Under: Poultry

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A new poultry specialist is on the job at Mississippi State University, ready to help the poultry industry in Mississippi.

Vanessa Kretzschmar-McCluskey started work July 16 as a poultry specialist with the MSU Extension Service. She will work with growers and industry officials to support the state’s poultry industry.

“Basically I’m a troubleshooter and a problem solver,” Kretzschmar said. “I’ll try to establish contact with all of our growers and the poultry companies who work in Mississippi.”

August 14, 2008 - Filed Under: Financial Health and Wellness

By Steven Nalley
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Careful maintenance, efficient driving practices and informed spending can increase a vehicle's fuel efficiency and help drivers deal with gasoline costs near $4 per gallon.

Susan Cosgrove, family resource management area agent with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said routine tune-ups extend both gas mileage and the life of a car.

August 14, 2008 - Filed Under: Financial Health and Wellness

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Keeping meals on the table is an ever-more-expensive task for Mississippians as food prices were up more than 8 percent in the last three months and energy prices are more than 50 percent higher than last year.

Susan Cosgrove, family resource management area agent with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said egg prices are up 60 percent, pasta prices are up 30 percent, and fruit and vegetables cost about 20 percent more than they did a year ago.

August 14, 2008 - Filed Under: Fisheries

For fishing study…

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi State University is preparing for a research project to understand what motivates fishing enthusiasts to risk personal injury reaching into a dark, underwater hole to grab a fish instead of using the traditional hook-and-line method.

Stephanie Gandy-Moody and her cat, Isabelle, demonstrate that trust works wonders when handling feline patients. (Photo by Tom Thompson)
August 7, 2008 - Filed Under: Pets

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

MADISON, Ala. -- A dog has a master, a cat has a staff, and the felines in north Alabama have a veterinarian at their command who understands their management style.

Stephanie Gandy-Moody, a 2007 graduate of Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, recently opened The Cat Hospital of Madison, Ala., a medical facility that caters to cats and the people they own.

August 7, 2008 - Filed Under: Rural Health, Colon Cancer Screening

By Steven Nalley
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Senior citizens in rural Mississippi are discovering local resources and activities available to them through a new Mississippi State University Extension Service project.

Bonnie Carew, Extension leader of the Smart Aging: Healthy Futures project, said involvement is key to healthy aging. She said seniors benefit when they engage in community activities and volunteerism.

August 7, 2008 - Filed Under: Women for Agriculture

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Two upcoming seminars will help women who work in farming businesses.

This is the second year for “Mississippi Women in Agriculture – Annie’s Project,” which targets women, who are often the sole decision makers in their agricultural businesses.

August 7, 2008 - Filed Under: Community

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- About 30 of Starkville's most discerning citizens found the opening of the town's senior enrichment center quite laughable after listening to Mississippi State University Extension Service professor Linda Mitchell.

An insightful discussion ensued as Mitchell used props, facial expressions and exercises to show how humor can relieve the stress of getting older in a world preoccupied with youth.

August 1, 2008 - Filed Under: Catfish

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- High feed prices and low live-fish prices this year are forcing catfish producers to evaluate their operations and future plans, and many are calling it quits.

Catfish feed makes up about half of the production cost, and prices are more than $400 a ton this year, up from $250 a ton last year and in recent years. Live-fish prices have been as low as 70 cents a pound for catfish, but by July had reached 80 cents a pound. High fuel prices also mean it costs more to feed catfish, aerate ponds, and deliver fish to the processor.

July 31, 2008 - Filed Under: Food

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- An upcoming workshop will help new food businesses learn how to battle the stiff odds and succeed.

“Food as a Business” is a day-long video conference Aug. 28 sponsored by Mississippi State University’s Extension Service, the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion and the Small Business Development Center. Also taking part as a sponsor is the Women’s Center for Entrepreneurship with the Mississippi University for Women.

Wes Neal
July 31, 2008 - Filed Under: Fisheries, About Extension

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A new wildlife and fisheries specialist is available to assist Mississippians with pond management issues on their property.

Wes Neal assumed responsibilities with Mississippi State University’s Extension Service on July 1.

“We are pleased to have such a talented fisheries specialist on board after a three-year absence of a specialist in wild fisheries and pond management at MSU,” said Bruce Leopold, head of MSU’s Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Mississippi State University bioenergy researcher Radhakrishnan Srinivasan conducts a run-through of sieving and aspiration equipment used to separate protein, fat and fiber particles in a corn-to-ethanol byproduct. (Photo by Jim Lytle)
July 31, 2008 - Filed Under: Agriculture

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- What comes first from the processing of corn − the ethanol in the car, the egg in the refrigerator or the enhancements in plastic lumber?

Mississippi State University researchers think that one manufacturing process can produce materials for all three products at the same time.

July 31, 2008 - Filed Under: Agri-tourism, Rural Development

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The third annual Miss-Lou Rural Tourism Summit, designed to educate rural tourism workers, is scheduled for Aug. 12-14 at Vicksburg’s Southern Cultural Heritage Center.

July 31, 2008 - Filed Under: Disaster Preparedness

By Steven Nalley
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Disasters can sever important lines of communication, leaving the hurt helpless and the missing lost.

Disaster preparation requires not only formulating a survival plan, but also informing distant relatives, local officials and neighbors about that plan to reopen broken lines of communication as soon as possible.

July 24, 2008 - Filed Under: Agriculture

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Several Mississippi State University faculty and staff members were honored for service at the recent summer celebration of the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine.

The division presented the 2008 Louis and Doris Wise Support Staff Awards, the Rosalind and Rodney Foil Teamwork Award and the William M. White Special Project Awards during the annual event at the Bost Center. Wise and Foil are former division vice presidents, and White was a dairy producer and MSU financial supporter.

July 24, 2008 - Filed Under: Forages, Livestock

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Livestock owners and hay producers have an opportunity to learn a lot of information about their business in a short amount of time at a Mississippi State University two-day short course in August.

The Mississippi Pasture and Forage Short Course will be held Aug. 26-27 at the Bost Conference Center at MSU. It is sponsored by the MSU Extension Service, along with company leaders in the forage field.

An injured mare has her leg wrapped as part of her medical treatment by, from left, large animal technicians Becky Harrison, Dana Miller, Terri Snead and Linda Jackson. (Photo by Tom Thompson)
July 24, 2008 - Filed Under: Animal Health

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Preparing large animal patients for evaluation, treatment and care is a huge responsibility.

Four technicians at Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine assume that role each day. Their ability to mobilize veterinary personnel helps the college maintain a high level of service and outreach.

July 24, 2008 - Filed Under: Agriculture

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Soaring fuel prices have reduced family spending on other things, cut into business profits and led to a dramatic increase in fuel thefts across Mississippi and the country.

Mississippi State University stallion Minister Slew, a grandson of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, was euthanized on July 11 after fracturing a leg during a sudden thunderstorm. Donated to the university in 2002, Minister Slew was alone in his paddock when he apparently spooked or took a misstep during the storm. (Photo submitted by MSU College of Veterinary Medicine/Terri Snead)
July 17, 2008 - Filed Under: Equine

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi State University’s equine reproduction program lost its top stallion to a catastrophic leg injury during a severe thunderstorm on the afternoon of July 11.

Minister Slew, a grandson of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, was alone in a paddock when he apparently spooked or took a misstep during a sudden thunderstorm and fractured a front leg above the knee. He was euthanized a short time later.

Dr. Joey Burt, a 1987 graduate of Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and this year's Alumnus of the Year, treats an injured bald eagle that was brought into his practice in Ohio. The 4-year-old bird was found on a golf course and was released back in the same area after recovering from a wing injury. (Photo by Brandi Stafford/Cincinnati Ohio Enquirer)
July 17, 2008 - Filed Under: Animal Health

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- At 8 years of age, Joey Burt assisted a prominent veterinarian with an emergency cesarean section on a cow, and a career was born that night.

Burt's family owned a small beef cattle farm in Columbia. Burt's father was away on an offshore job, and his mother called Dr. Cassie Price to deliver a calf. Assessing the situation, Price decided he had to operate.

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