News

JACKSON -- Social media is often thought of only as a way to keep up with friends and family, but electronic communication is an essential part of today’s farming operations.

Angus Catchot, Extension professor and entomology specialist with Mississippi State University’s Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, said the number of farmers and consultants who use social media and other online platforms might surprise many people.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – A career interest developed in Mississippi State University’s School of Human Sciences led one student to Nigeria, where she spent a week teaching agriculture.

Alyssa Barrett, a senior agricultural science major from Wiggins, spent spring break in the West African nation teaching Nigerians how to plant and use moringa trees. Her team used Extension Service techniques to share practical information designed to improve lives.

Many gardeners try to give their landscape the feel of an informal cottage garden. This garden concept has a loose, flowing feel, kind of like you just let plants grow wherever they happen to pop up in the landscape.

I had a professor way back in college who had a unique cottage garden planting method: He would walk through the landscape and just toss plants over his shoulder. We planted them where they landed. And you know what? His gardens looked awfully good.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Mississippi’s catfish farmers continue to address production challenges as the industry works to reclaim markets lost to imported fish.

Jeremy Robbins, vice president of The Catfish Institute based in Jackson, said farmers have struggled in recent years with high feed prices, their No. 1 expense, while dealing with increased competition from imports.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Cattle producers wanting to improve their herds’ genetics recently turned to Mississippi State University for an advanced, hands-on reproduction workshop.

“If producers want to make rapid progress in herd genetics, the economic benefits of artificial insemination are there,” said Jane Parish, beef specialist with the MSU Extension Service. “Producers can have access to a top-quality bull in another part of the country or one that has been injured or died after its semen has been collected.”

By Karen Templeton
MSU College of Veterinary Medicine

COLUMBUS – Regular eye exams are an integral part of animal health maintenance, so the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine is providing free eye screening to service animals throughout the month of May.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Planting the right trees in the best locations is a good investment that can also pay dividends in energy savings for home and business owners.

Bob Brzuszek, associate professor in Mississippi State University’s Department of Landscape Architecture, said planting trees that block the summer sun on the south and west sides of buildings and roofs can substantially reduce air-conditioning costs.

One of the best things about life today is the way technology allows people to stay connected across long distances.

Recently, a friend was unable to travel to a grandfather’s funeral. Along with other friends and family, we huddled around an iPhone and watched the funeral live using an app called FaceTime. We did it up right with flowers, food and stories galore. It was a unique way to bring family together to celebrate the life of a loved one.

JACKSON -- As the number of female leaders in agriculture increases, a program dedicated to their success prepares to expand.

Annie’s Project teaches women in agriculture-related fields problem solving, record keeping and decision-making skills. Facilitated by Mississippi State University’s Extension Service, organizers plan to train educators across the state to deliver the program. Extension educators in the 25 Mississippi counties with the highest number of female landowners and principal operators will learn to teach the workshops.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – When kids react to the natural world, Leslie Burger wants them to say “Oh, wow!” instead of “Oh, gross!”

“I want people to understand what is happening around them and to appreciate it,” said Burger, an Extension instructor at Mississippi State University’s Forest and Wildlife Research Center. “When they hear a bird singing in a tree, do they stop and listen? Do they try to find it? Do they run over a snake in the road because they think all snakes are evil, or do they swerve to give it life?

JACKSON – Getting routine health care for family pets is just as important as having a fully-stocked emergency kit and a home evacuation plan when preparing for disasters.

If we ever move into the warmer – even hotter – summer season, I’m looking forward to the prolific flowering of calibrachoa. These plants are commonly known as “million bells,” which is a good description because it seems these plants have a million flowers.

Many selections of million bells are sold under different series names, and they seem to come in every color of the rainbow. One of the best qualities of these plants is that they are self-cleaning, so deadheading in not required.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- As pastures transition from cool-season to warm-season grasses, the state’s hay and forage producers hope for sunny days that are better suited to growing and harvesting quality crops.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi State University architecture students designed a sustainable home that can provide its own electricity, water supply and food for a family of four.

In the final project of a sustainable design class, the students turned theoretical principles into a practical home and landscape. They designed all aspects of a self-supporting, modern homestead, including features like solar energy use, rainwater harvesting, wastewater management, and gardens, trees and shrubs to provide a year-round food supply.

By Alicia Barnes
MSU School of Human Sciences

MISSISSIPPI STATE - Families who use child care may want to pick up an extra bouquet while shopping for Mother’s Day.

While the second Sunday in May is a day to honor mothers, the Mississippi Child Care Resource and Referral Network encourages families to also celebrate Provider Appreciation Day on Friday, May 10. This annual event recognizes early care and education providers for their contributions.

By Sarah Shields
MSU School of Human Sciences

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Recognizing that learning is not confined to the classroom, the Mississippi State University Extension Service is promoting quality learning environments in programs for school-age children.

“A child’s learning doesn’t stop at the end of the school day,” said Brittney Rye, project manager of the Out-of-School Project.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Two Mississippi State University scientists have set the standard for the state’s future food scientists by completing an international certification program.

Sam Chang in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Hart Bailey in the College of Veterinary Medicine recently received the Institute of Food Technologists’ Certified Food Scientist credential.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Mississippi State University is offering four different conservation camps in June and July for young people interested in science, outdoors and the environment.

The camps are offered through MSU’s Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Extension Service.

GOODMAN -- Both traditional and organic farmers can learn how to recognize and control pests, weeds and diseases during a May 17 field day.

Experts from the Mississippi State University Extension Service; the Mississippi Agricultural, Forestry and Experiment Station; and several partner organizations will be on hand at the Alliance for Sustainable Agricultural Production Demonstration Farm in Goodman to help producers learn to scout their crops and chose the best integrated pest, weed and disease management program.

PURVIS -- Teachers interested in learning more about conservation education can register for the 50th annual Teachers Conservation Workshop, to be held twice this summer.

Instructors at the six-day event include foresters from the Mississippi State University Extension Service, Mississippi Forestry Commission, private industry and consulting firms, as well as biologists, historians and landowners. The workshop will be in Booneville at Northeast Mississippi Community College June 2-7 and in Ellisville at Jones County Junior College June 16-21.