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News From 2012

October 24, 2012 - Filed Under: Family Financial Management

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Financial professionals and community leaders interested in maximizing tax credits are invited to attend a special statewide workshop Nov. 7.

The Mississippi State University Extension Service is hosting “The Great American Treasure Hunt: Finding and Using Tax Credits to Maximize Your Return.” The workshop is from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Locations include Room 409 in the Bost Extension Center on MSU’s Starkville campus and Extension offices in the following counties: Alcorn, Amite, Forrest, Grenada, Hinds, Lafayette, Newton, Tunica and Washington.

Images of Mississippi
October 24, 2012 - Filed Under: Community

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Thirty-eight photographs of life and agriculture in Mississippi form an exhibit on display through November at Mississippi State University’s Cullis Wade Depot Gallery.

Most of the photos are the work of Scott Corey and Kat Lawrence, photographers for MSU’s Office of Agricultural Communications. The exhibit, Images of Mississippi, was drawn from thousands of photos Corey and Lawrence have taken in support of the mission of the MSU Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine.

Mississippi State University researchers are monitoring the state’s bats, such as this Rafinesque’s big-eared bat, for white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease decimating bat populations in the Eastern United States. The disease has not yet been found in Mississippi. (Photo courtesy of Andrea Schuhmann)
October 23, 2012 - Filed Under: Environment, Wildlife

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Bats, an organic method of pest control, may become rare in the United States and Canada.

The primary predators of night-flying insects, bats reduce the need for chemical pesticides and save the agriculture industry an estimated $3 billion per year in pest-control costs. But bat populations across the Eastern United States are decreasing at alarming rates because of a fungus thought to be imported from Europe.

4-H, the youth development arm of the Mississippi State University Extension Service, took part in MSU’s Homecoming celebration Oct. 20. 4-H’er Sara Burns of Lauderdale County paints the face of Rachel Singleton of Leflore County at a pregame tailgate party.  (Photo by MSU Ag Communications/Kat Lawrence)
October 22, 2012 - Filed Under: 4-H
A two-row digger shaker donated to the Mississippi Peanut Growers Association by Kelley Manufacturing Company was demonstrated recently at Parrish Farms in Holmes County. On hand for the demonstration were, from left, Brad Burgess, Mississippi State University’s variety testing director; Malcolm Broome, Mississippi Peanut Growers Association executive director; Keith Weeks, KMC territory manager; Daniel Parrish, MPGA board member; and Reuben Moore, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station as
October 22, 2012 - Filed Under: Peanuts

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Just a few years ago, peanut production in Mississippi was mostly confined to home gardens, but this year growers planted an estimated 47,000 acres, placing the state No. 7 in the nation in peanut acreage.

Mississippi’s move into the top 10 peanut-producing states has caught the attention of at least one peanut equipment manufacturer. Georgia-based Kelley Manufacturing Company has donated a two-

For dramatic visual impact, slip a mum from the garden center into a decorative container such as this basket, and place it near your front door. (Photo by MSU Extension Service/Gary Bachman)
October 22, 2012 - Filed Under: Lawn and Garden, Flower Gardens

A sure sign that the garden season is changing from the warm summer to the cooler fall is the many colorful mums on display in garden centers across the state.

It’s easy to incorporate fall garden mums into the landscape. One of the most popular ways to display these beautiful plants is to simply place them on the front porch. The many warm colors available can fit into almost any home color scheme.

It seems the plants have hundreds of flowers, so the impact is immediate.

After 2011's bumper pecan crop of 5 million pounds, this year's predicted 2.5 million-pound harvest is more in line with historical averages. (Photo by MSU Ag Communications/Kat Lawrence)
October 19, 2012 - Filed Under: Agriculture, Crops, Nuts

MISSISSIPPI STATE – With prices and demand for the state’s pecans high, this year’s predicted average to above-average yield is good news for growers.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates the 2012 crop will yield 2.5 million pounds of pecans. While this yield is down significantly from the 5 million pounds harvested in 2011, it is more in line with the state’s historical average of 2.42 million pounds.

October 18, 2012 - Filed Under: Agriculture, Forages, Beef

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Nov. 9 is back-to-school time for cattle and hay producers when Mississippi State University hosts a daylong event in Meadville on topics related to cattle grazing and hay production.

The 2012 Southwest Mississippi Grazing School will be held at Sage Farms from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The school is limited to 80 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is free but must be completed by Nov. 2.

October 18, 2012 - Filed Under: Nuisance Wildlife and Damage Management

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Sixty-five people will have the opportunity Dec. 4 to learn ways to manage wild hogs that have become a serious problem for landowners.

The Wild Pig Management Workshop will be held in Raymond at Mississippi State University’s Central Mississippi Research and Extension Center. The program is provided by the MSU Extension Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

Extension agricultural agents review pumpkins recently harvested at County Pumpkins in Lowndes County. The fall tour participants include, from left, Jeff Wilson of Lowndes County, farm owner Dwight Colson of Caledonia, Kimberly Wilborn of Lamar County, Julie White of Oktibbeha County and Reid Nevins of Lowndes County. (Photo by MSU Ag Communications/Scott Corey)
October 18, 2012 - Filed Under: Agriculture, Crops, Pumpkins

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Just in time for Halloween and Election Day, fall decorations are available in red, white and warty.

David Nagel, horticulturist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said shoppers for fall arrangements are finding much more than the traditional jack-o’-lantern pumpkins. Designer breeders are giving growers selections of pumpkins that come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, textures and sizes. Other new varieties offer disease resistance, which is especially important in Mississippi’s humidity.

October 18, 2012 - Filed Under: Technology

Halloween is fast upon us, and many parents are looking for fun party alternatives to the scary side of this holiday.

Emory Williamson, a fourth-grade teacher at Hazlehurst Elementary School, instructs his students to write down names of plants they saw during the Youth Fall Gardening Fest Oct. 9 and 10 at the Truck Crops Branch Experiment Station in Crystal Springs. (MSU Ag Communications/Susan Collins-Smith)
October 18, 2012 - Filed Under: Agriculture, Community, Family

CRYSTAL SPRINGS -- More than 900 students from central Mississippi recently took part in a two-day festival aimed at increasing their knowledge about agriculture and how it fits into a healthy lifestyle.

Twelve schools brought 940 students to the Youth Fall Flower and Garden Fest on Oct. 9 and 10 at the Truck Crops Branch Experiment Station in Crystal Springs.

Lisa Pritchard, veterinary technician and mascot coordinator for Bully XX at Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, is MSU's 2012 Veterinary Technician of the Year.
October 18, 2012 - Filed Under: Animal Health, Pets

MISSISSIPPI STATE – To celebrate National Veterinary Technician Week, Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine has announced its Veterinary Technician of the Year.

Lisa Pritchard, the primary caregiver for MSU’s mascot Bully XX, is this year’s honoree. She may be MSU's most famous veterinary technician, but being the mascot coordinator is just part of her job.

When Pritchard first started working at MSU’s CVM nearly 20 years ago, she was the only veterinary technician on staff in Internal Medicine/Critical Care services.

October 16, 2012 - Filed Under: Animal Health

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Dr. James Peddie has treated some of Hollywood’s biggest stars and is coming to Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine to share his stories.

As veterinarians, Peddie and his wife, Dr. Linda Peddie, have cared for and treated animals on many major motion picture sets, including “Water for Elephants” and “Dances with Wolves.” Dr. James Peddie will speak on Oct. 25 at 4:30 p.m. in the Wise Center’s large auditorium as part of the MSU-CVM and Nestle Purina Human-Animal Bond lecture series. The event is free and open to the public.

Monica Morel, Hancock County robotics club volunteer leader, helps Luke and Rebekah Schilling of Oktibbeha County with a robot during 4-H Day at the Mississippi State Fair in Jackson on Oct. 13. The robotics exhibit was one of several hands-on science activities available to visitors. (Photo by MSU Ag Communications/Susan Collins-Smith)
October 16, 2012 - Filed Under: 4-H, Family

JACKSON -- Mississippi 4-H’ers from 42 counties put their talent on display at 4-H Day at the Mississippi State Fair on Oct. 13.

Exhibits by 4-H members totaled 1,225 this year, said Larry Alexander, 4-H youth development specialist with Mississippi State University’s Extension Service.

The Mississippi State University Horticulture Club sold a wide variety of flowering plants, trees, and vegetables at their annual fall plant sale behind Dorman Hall on Oct. 12. Students gain hands-on experience raising ornamental plants from seed and use funds raised by the plant sales to pay for educational conferences. (Photo by MSU Ag Communications/Kat Lawrence)
October 15, 2012 - Filed Under: Lawn and Garden
Stafne
October 15, 2012 - Filed Under: Fruit, About Extension

MISSISSIPPI STATE – A Mississippi State University Extension Service fruit crops expert recently received recognition for his work on a national project.

Eric Stafne was honored with the 2012 eXtension Community of Practice Individual Achievement Award based on his leadership as project director for the National Grape Community of Practice. The eXtension website is an online consortium of Extension Service experts with nearly 60 topical resource areas, called communities of practice.

October 15, 2012 - Filed Under: Agricultural Economics

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Owners and operators of the state’s agricultural businesses now have more agricultural economists to consult through the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

James Barnes and Brian Williams are located on MSU’s main campus in Starkville. Larry Falconer is based out of MSU’s Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville.

The South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station in Poplarville recently won first place in the All-America Selections' Landscape Design Contest. (Submitted Photo)
October 15, 2012 - Filed Under: Lawn and Garden, Flower Gardens, Landscape Architecture

POPLARVILLE -- A Mississippi State University experiment station recently won first place in a North American landscape design competition.

The South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station in Poplarville took top honors in the first annual All-America Selections’ Landscape Design Contest.

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