News

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Livestock producers saw it coming, but the hay shortage is forcing some tough decisions that may have long-term repercussions on the health, performance and profitability of their animals.

Jane Parish, beef cattle specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said surplus hay is difficult to find in the state, and the traditional spring forage flush is not yet available. She receives calls daily from producers looking for more hay.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Corn has become a very attractive crop in Mississippi and nationwide, thanks mostly to the growing demand for corn-derived ethanol, an alternative fuel.

Erick Larson, grain crops agronomist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said producers have tremendous interest in planting corn this season.

“Prices are approaching twice the long-term average,” Larson said, and the state may have the largest corn crop it has had in more than 40 years.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Mention the word “hibiscus” and thoughts probably go immediately to those fancy tropical treasures visible on exotic island vacations. Most mental pictures of hibiscus do not include small shrubs with fiery red leaves like a Japanese maple. That may be about to change, thanks to Maple Sugar and Haight Ashbury.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Maracas and Veranda are a couple of great new shade plants coming to Mississippi this spring. If you don't see them at any of the spring garden shows, ask for them at the local garden center, so you can be the first to have them in your neighborhood.

By Robert H. Wells
Delta Research and Extension Center

STONEVILLE -- Research is proving what rice growers have suspected for years -- that a low rate of nitrogen applied to rice in the one- to three-leaf growth stage has a positive effect on production.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- It is a cold January morning, the sun is just breaking through the trees, birds are chirping, and Marvell Howard sits in his favorite tree stand; about 500 yards away, his teenage son occupies his own tree stand. 

Both father and son hope to get a shot at elusive white-tailed deer near their Oktibbeha County home.

Howard's father introduced him to rabbit hunting when he was 7 years old.  He in-turn introduced his son to hunting at the age of 7. 

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A March 1 Safety and Health Summit in Stoneville will highlight some of the concerns unique to Mississippians living in rural areas.

The event is targeting farmers, farm workers, health-care professionals and others with special concerns about health-care issues in their region.

JACKSON -- Records are made to be broken, but at the 38th annual Dixie National Sale of Junior Champions, they were shattered.

Dean Jousan, 4-H livestock specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said six records were set at Thursday's sale. Since the sale began in 1970, buyers have paid more than $3.5 million for the champion and reserve champion market animals exhibited at the Dixie National by Mississippi's 4-H and FFA youth.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Flying low across the water, looking for a good meal, the black-crowned night heron quickly caught the attention of Mississippi catfish producers.

Farmers first noticed the 22- to 28-inch, stocky-bodied bird in the spring of 2004. With its black cap, gray wings and red eyes, the bird concerned producers because it appeared to prefer feeding on 6- to 7-inch catfish fingerlings.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

We are in the dead of winter, but that does not mean gardens, patios, porches or decks have to be void of color. Primulas can provide the visual treat you crave.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Greenhouse tomato growers and people with an interest in this business should mark their calendars for the 17th annual greenhouse tomato short course to be held in Raymond March 6-9.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A one-day workshop for farmers, landowners and resource managers will provide the tools to start and manage a natural resource enterprise. 

The March 20 event will begin at 8 a.m. at Cato Baptist Church in southern Rankin County. Following lunch, the afternoon session will be located on and hosted by Springwater Ranch, which is 15 minutes southeast from downtown Brandon. Activities will conclude about 4 p.m.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Upcoming workshops in Jackson will address landowners’ potential to produce fruit and vegetables for a profit on small tracts of land.

Experienced and beginner farmers can benefit from a series of three workshops that will take place from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Feb. 10, 24 and March 10 at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum in Jackson. Sponsors of the workshops include the Mississippi State University Extension Service, the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, and the Mississippi Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Research by Mississippi State University scientists has yielded a new weapon in homeowners' battle with wood-destroying termites.

Terry Amburgey of MSU's Forest Products Laboratory and employees of the U.S. Forest Service were called to Hawaii by the U.S. Navy about 14 years ago to combat infestations of Formosan termites in wooden poles supporting communications antennas at a naval base.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Winter's coldest days drive most of us deep into the cushions of our easy chairs, and gardening is largely in the form of dreams about spring and summer plantings.

Permit me to do a little armchair quarterbacking by encouraging gardeners to consider growing an incredible sweet bell pepper called Tequila. The Mississippi Plant Selections Committee recently introduced it as a 2007 Mississippi Medallion award winner. 

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi producers are showing that working for peanuts is not a bad thing.

The state produced the second highest per acre peanut yield in the country in 2005 with between 1.7 and 1.8 tons grown per acre. Since 2001, Mississippi jumped from obscurity in peanut circles to No. 9 in the nation on the strength of about 17,000 acres of the crop. Peanut acreage is expected to increase about 10 percent this year.

By Robert H. Wells
Delta Research and Extension Center

STONEVILLE -- Rice producers will need to consider other variety options this year after losing the popular variety Cheniere to contamination.

“The discovery in August of Liberty Link Rice 601 contamination in U.S. commercial long-grain rice supplies will significantly affect variety selection for Mississippi rice producers in 2007,” said Tim Walker, assistant agronomist at Mississippi State University's Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

The Sweet Caroline series of ornamental sweet potatoes have become the variety of choice for landscape color.

Producers and professionallandscapers alike call them “behaved” sweet potatoes because they are a little less kudzu-like than other sweet potatoes. The series was bred to produce short internodes, which results in a more compact plant with shorter leaves and less aggressive growth.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Imagine this: It's late winter, you love growing flowers, your child is getting married this summer and the costs from required deposits are already mounting. As financial worry awakens you during the night, those 2 a.m. feedings of long ago seem like a pleasant dream.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The decision to use homegrown flowers may cut wedding costs, but at what price?

Julie Reeves of Starkville wanted to help with her son's May 1999 wedding.

“We wanted so many flowers that we knew we couldn't afford to pay a florist for all of them. It seemed like the effort would be worth it,” she said. “There really wasn't much cost involved, just a lot of effort.”