News From 2005

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Weed control is synonymous with glyphosate use to many row crop producers, but a resistant weed in the Delta is making producers change their management strategies.

John Byrd, weed scientist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said mare's tail or horseweed has become resistant to glyphosate applications in the Delta. Tennessee and Arkansas are fighting resistant strains of this weed, too, and Arkansas has just confirmed glyphosate-resistant populations of common ragweed.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Nothing quite matches the freshness of home-grown vegetables, and gardeners can ensure a successful backyard crop of their own with proper planning.

Rick Snyder, vegetable specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said finding the right location is one of the first and most important steps in planning a vegetable garden.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi youth are applying for grants to help them gain pride in themselves and in their communities through an environmental improvement program.

Community Pride is a grants and awards program sponsored by the ChevronTexaco Companies and administered by Mississippi State University's Extension Service.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- When the new head of Mississippi State University's Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering assumed his duties in January, he already knew a lot about the department's work.

William D. Batchelor's background is in plant growth and development modeling.

"A lot of that technology was developed here at MSU," he said. "Most of my previous work has been with corn and soybeans, and I look forward to working with cotton."

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

It's rose-planting time all over the South, and garden centers are loaded with just about every type under the sun -- hybrid teas, floribundas, grandifloras, shrub roses, climbers, antiques, English roses and many others.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Lambs and goats sold for more in the state than ever before Thursday at the Dixie National Sale of Junior Champions, where an overall sales record also was set.

Thirty-six champion steers, hogs, lambs and goats sold at auction for $238,693, breaking the record set in 2004 by about $46,000. These much-higher-than market prices bring to just under $3 million the reward generous buyers have given youth for their efforts since 1970.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- More than 100 years of 4-H activities ranging from cattle to computers to Mississippi's youth created a lot of keepsakes. There's now a home for memorabilia associated with the organization.

The Pete Frierson Mississippi 4-H Museum, located on the grounds of the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum in Jackson, was dedicated just before Christmas 2004. The 2,000-square-foot facility now is ready for exhibits to be put into place.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The April 15 deadline sparks feelings of dread for many Mississippians, but tax season can be a much-needed financial boost for low- to moderate-income families.

Bobbie Shaffett, a Mississippi State University Extension Service family resource management specialist, said these families often are unaware of three tax credits that effectively could amount to a 40 percent raise.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The Jackson Garden and Patio Show March 11-13 is an opportunity for area gardeners and industry professionals to take a comprehensive look at what's new in the landscape.

The garden and patio show at the Agriculture and Industry Buildings on the State Fairgrounds in Jackson is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 11, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 12 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 13. Admission is $6 for adults and free for children 10 and under. There is no charge for parking.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Business development is important for every community, but encouraging entrepreneurship can be difficult for low- and moderate-income communities.

The Mississippi Microenterprise Association Network, the Association for Enterprise Opportunity and AmSouth Bank are sponsoring the Microenterprise Development Training Institute March 21-22. The national conference will be held at the Jackson Hilton Hotel.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

I was at an office complex last week when I noticed the Mahonias right outside the door were just beginning to open up their sprays of yellow blossoms. It's like a signal, groundhog or no, that spring is around the corner.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Authorities and scholars on quilt history, identification, conservation and preservation will speak at a March 4-5 public symposium at Mississippi State University's Mitchell Memorial Library.

Speakers during "Quilts: A Social and Cultural History of Rural Mississippi" will include Mary Elizabeth Johnson, author of Mississippi Quilts; Carol Vickers, chairman of the Mississippi Heritage Quilt Search Project; and Martha Ginn and Ollie Jean Lane, trained quilters and juried show participants.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Challenges in urban landscapes will be the focus of an upcoming Integrated Pest Management workshop in Raymond on March 22.

Mississippi State University's Extension Service is sponsoring the General Pest Management Workshop at the Central Mississippi Research and Extension Center. Registration is $10 and begins at 8 a.m. for the full-day event to be held in the auditorium.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Proper irrigation is a science, but implementing it on a farm is less precise.

Moisture for a crop serves two purposes; it cools the plant and transports nutrients needed for development. When nature doesn't provide the water through rain, technology can by irrigation. Jim Thomas, agricultural engineer with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said there are no fixed initiation or termination dates for irrigation in the state.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Greater access to educational and resource materials is coming to Northeast Mississippi child-care workers, teachers and parents.

Mississippi State University's Extension Service and Early Childhood Institute are receiving funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission to establish a Northeast Mississippi Childcare Resource and Referral system.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi's military families are finding a non-military organization in every county that is ready, willing and able to mobilize an army of volunteers to provide support for their children.

The Mississippi State University Extension Service 4-H program has received $30,000 for 2005 to expand youth development efforts among military families. The grant complements existing work taking place through a 10-year-old partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Army, as well as similar efforts in recent years with the Air Force.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Alternative heat sources used during extended power outages in the winter months can have deadly consequences without proper planning and supervision.

Herb Willcutt, a safety specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service, said kerosene heaters and other alternative heat sources are designed for use in well ventilated places, such as outdoor work areas. Houses with tight seals, caulking and vapor barriers are not good locations for extended use.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Last year I was giving a program in Oxford and just outside the building on campus was the most beautiful Kousa dogwood in full bloom. I muttered to myself that if everyone could see it, they would know why I put it high on my list.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Animals typically can care for themselves, but pets need owners' help to prevent illness or even death when temperatures drop.

Possibly the biggest threat to pets during the winter is antifreeze, said Dr. Mark Russak, a veterinarian in the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine's Primary Care Clinic. This sweet-smelling and sweet-tasting liquid is deadly to dogs and cats.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

Despite recent weather ups and downs -- by the time you read this, the temperature may be 75 or 17 degrees -- be assured that planting time is not too far away. Consider planting in containers this season for a fun, new gardening experience.