News

Philodendron varieties add inspiration to indoor space

Philodendrons are indoor plants that seem to tell their own story with unique colors, textures and shapes. I recently felt inspired by varieties that made me imagine how they could enhance different spaces in my home and garden.

MSU Extension program helps transform in-home childcare

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Yahala Devine has been an in-home childcare provider in Mendenhall for two and a half years, but her career trajectory changed when she joined the Nurturing Homes Initiative, or NHI, program. The NHI program is dedicated to enhancing the quality of early education experiences in family childcare homes. By offering resources, training and support, NHI equips providers with the tools they need to improve child development outcomes and advance their own careers.

MSU advises on insect control

Insect pests are ongoing issues in row crop farming, and deciding when, how and whether to treat is never a simple decision.
Offered by the Mississippi State University Extension Service, the Row Crop Short Course in December featured sessions informed by MSU’s ongoing research that helps growers make management decisions. Several sessions addressed insect control from a variety of angles.

Biosecurity can keep backyard flocks safe

With highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, in the environment in Mississippi, owners of backyard flocks have to take extra steps to keep their chickens healthy.

Avian influenza poses an extremely low risk to human health and none to food safety in Mississippi, but its presence poses a risk to backyard flocks and the state’s $3 billion commercial poultry industry.

Game bird workshop teaches management

Landowners working to improve game bird habitat can sign up for Feb. 28 and March 1 weekend events that provide practical information for property management.
The Mississippi State University Extension Service is hosting the turkey and quail management social and workshop in Shannon, Mississippi.

Unusual lichens do not hurt plants

Throughout the year, I often receive calls from concerned individuals about gray, fuzzy growths appearing on plants that seem to be causing harm. The culprit that raises the alarm is usually lichen.

Clients share needs with MSU agents, specialists

BILOXI, Miss. -- A large group of agricultural producers gathered at the 2025 Producer Advisory Council meeting Jan. 14 at the Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi. The annual meeting serves as a forum for agricultural producers to discuss their needs with Mississippi State University personnel, including administrators, researchers, specialists and Extension agents with the MSU Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and MSU Extension Service.

MSU invites growers to north, central PAC meetings

MSU is studying UAVs’ usefulness in ag settings

Crop dusters are a familiar sight in the skies over agricultural regions, but much smaller versions, unmanned aerial vehicles, are joining them.
Unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, are commonly called drones. Unmanned aerial systems, known as UAS, include the vehicle itself, payload, operator and control modules.