News

Reflect and make plans for new gardening year

Happy New Year! As we embark on a new year, gardeners and plant enthusiasts alike are gearing up for a fresh season of growth, color and the promise of a bountiful harvest. Whether you’re a seasoned green-thumb gardener or a novice with dreams of a flourishing garden, the new year is the perfect time to sow the seeds of your botanical aspirations. Let’s explore essential tips and resolutions to help you cultivate a vibrant and thriving garden in the coming months.

Snaptastic snapdragons bloom in cold weather

Snapdragons are some of the most beautiful plants that grow in cold weather. They may not seem like holiday plants, but their festive colors make them a great selection.
These annuals love the cold fall, winter and spring weather we have in the South. Their colorful flower spikes brighten up any landscape, making them important additions to dreary winter scenes.

Mississippi agriculture posts second highest dollar value

Poultry retains state’s top ag spot at $3.1B

Mississippi’s poultry took an estimated 23% loss in value in 2023; though production was strong, a failure to meet the previous year’s record high prices was responsible for the hit. Poultry generated an estimated $3.1 billion to Mississippi agriculture in 2023, down from the $3.9 billion generated in 2022.

Timber value ranks third with increased harvest

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Mississippi’s 2023 timber harvest is expected to set a record for the 21st century. “We are on pace to exceed 36 million tons of timber harvested, which would be the highest level we have experienced this century, surpassing the previous high set in 2005 prior to the Great Recession,” said Eric McConnell, an associate professor of forest business at Mississippi State University. The increased harvest helped Mississippi’s forestry industry remain in third place among the state’s agricultural commodities, with an estimated production value of $1.5 billion. That is a 9.6% increase from 2022.

Pansies are sure winners in dreary winter gardens

Merry Christmas! While I take time to be with loved ones, the garden is not far from my mind. I’m dreaming of a winter wonderland with enchanting, cold-hardy plants.

As the new season settles in, casting its chilly embrace over gardens and landscapes, many plants surrender to the frosty grip, leaving behind a muted canvas of browns and grays.

MSU Extension hosts agricultural outlook conference

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Agricultural specialists with Mississippi State University will share updates and forecasts for 2024 on the state’s largest industry during a conference in January.

Miss. Food Network awards AIM for ChangE

JACKSON, Miss. -- For five years, AIM for CHangE has turned federal dollars into park updates, playgrounds, food pantries, ride-sharing programs and community produce gardens for underserved areas in Mississippi.

MSU greenhouse vegetable short course set for Feb. 27-28

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Current and prospective greenhouse vegetable growers can learn about the specialized production method during Mississippi State University’s 2024 Greenhouse Vegetable Short Course on Feb. 27-28. The course will be held at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center’s Magnolia Building in Verona from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. It is open to greenhouse vegetable producers throughout the Southeast.