News

Cypress vine is fast-growing non-native garden highlight

I enjoy plants that not only bring beauty but also attract pollinators, and one of the most striking plants is the exotic cypress vine.

This is not a native plant, but it has earned its place in many Southern landscapes for the charm it adds and the visitors it draws.

MSU Extension launches Walk Mississippi challenge

Walk Mississippi and Live Healthy … One Step at a Time is a six-week wellness program developed by the Mississippi State University Extension Service that encourages youth and adults to be more physically active and adopt healthier nutritional habits.

Deer depredation is a row crop concern

Insects, disease and weather are the typical challenges to row crops, but Mississippi growers also have to consider deer when analyzing what can harm a crop.

Mississippi, home to an estimated 1.75 million white-tailed deer, has the densest deer population in the U.S. The entire state is the deer’s natural habitat, and they are found in cities, forestland and cropland. Hunters help control the deer population, harvesting about 280,000 deer annually. Yet many drivers encounter deer on the state’s roadways year-round.

Fig trees thrive in the South’s warm climate

Figs have always been one of my favorite fruit trees, and I find there’s something special about having one in the home landscape.

These fruit trees provide beauty, shade and a steady supply of delicious fruit year after year. I have several varieties growing in my own yard.

MSU Extension Head Start expands to Hancock County

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State University Extension Head Start is excited to announce that it will increase opportunities for children and families to access high-quality Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Hancock County.

State’s cotton crop less than in 2024

Rains wreaked havoc with Mississippi’s crop planting this spring, leaving cotton and all the state’s row crops in various stages of crop maturity and condition.

Pontotoc 4-H’ers place first in prestigious cook-off

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Noah Parmer and Brooklyn Kilpatrick cannot believe they brought home the first-place trophy from the 4-H edition of the Great American Seafood Cook-Off held on Aug. 3.

Native elderberries have multiple landscape uses

Elderberry is a plant native to North America that has received a lot of attention lately from people who claim health benefits from drinking its berry juice.

American elderberries have been growing wild across the South for centuries, as they are naturally adapted to our climate and soils. They thrive in full sun, love consistent moisture, and grow best in our rich, loamy soils without needing much fuss.

New beef cattle scientist joins MSU Extension

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Genevieve D’Souza joined the Mississippi State University Extension Service May 1 as a beef cattle scientist specializing in ruminant nutrition. D’Souza, a native of Texas, brings her experience in ruminant nutrition to cattle producers in the central region as well as statewide. She is based at the Brown Loam branch of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station in Raymond where she also conducts research.