News

Celebrate Crosby Arboretum history at strawberry festival

PICAYUNE, Miss. -- The public is invited to celebrate part of the Mississippi State University Crosby Arboretum’s history during the Strawberries & Cream Festival April 13 in Picayune.

MSU Extension names Eubank rice specialist

STONEVILLE, Miss. -- Will Eubank’s new role as an assistant professor and Extension rice specialist at Mississippi State University’s Delta Research and Extension Center, or DREC, is a full-circle moment.

Purple Pixie loropetalum is a strong dwarf option

Loropetalums have a bold beauty in landscapes that I admire, but I’ve noticed that the traditional, large varieties can sometimes be a bit overwhelming in small garden spaces.

Try Rockin’ Deep Purple or Unplugged Pink salvia

If you’re looking for plants that are easy to grow, bloom nonstop and attract a flurry of pollinators, let me introduce you to two standout salvias: Rockin’ Deep Purple and Unplugged Pink.

These vibrant, long-blooming beauties not only add stunning color to the garden but also provide essential nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies and bees.

As legislators plan for new Farm Bill, growers seek input

Detection of plant disease leads to citrus quarantine

RAYMOND, Miss. -- A statewide citrus quarantine was issued recently for Mississippi after one of the most serious citrus plant diseases in the world was detected in the state. Citrus greening, also known as Huanglongbing or HLB, was confirmed earlier this year, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or USDA APHIS. There is no cure for the disease, which is caused by a bacterial infection spread by the Asian citrus psyllid, a gnat-sized insect. Infected trees die within a few years.

Careful management limits chemical resistance in weeds

An ongoing challenge in farming is finding a way to manage weeds without creating populations that are chemical-resistant.

The scale of modern farming requires the careful use of chemicals as part of the overall management plan to harvest good yields and make a profit. Although an array of government agencies regulate and oversee the use of these chemicals, farmers themselves are among the most cautious with their use.

Native weeping yaupon holly has multiple uses

I recently saw two grand weeping yaupon hollies growing at a business in Columbia, Mississippi, and was reminded of how useful these trees are in the landscape. Their graceful, cascading branches and finely textured foliage created an elegant presence.

4-H team goes undefeated, wins national horse bowl title

RAYMOND, Miss. -- A team of Union County 4-H members recently achieved a feat that has not been accomplished in 20 years for Mississippi competitors of the youth development organization’s national scholarly contests. The Quiz Bowl Team, made up of Maddie Willard, Abby Grant, Levi Thompson and Karley Harrison, is one of just a few teams in the state to ever earn an undefeated first-place win in the Western National 4-H Roundup Horse Bowl competition.