Feature Story from 2010

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

WEST POINT – More than 60 years have passed since Clay County 4-H agent Elizabeth Miller chose young Norman Armstrong to lead Rally Day, and his participation in the organization that helps young people develop their potential is not yet over.

RALEIGH -- Poultry and cattle farmers will gain the latest production recommendations from state and national experts during educational seminars and a trade show set for April 8 in South Mississippi.

The Magnolia Beef and Poultry Expo will take place at the Smith County Agricultural Complex on Highway 35 South in Raleigh.

By Amy Taylor and Karen Templeton
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Farm women with a passion to succeed are increasing their business knowledge and skills through the Mississippi Women in Agriculture program.

VERONA – Almost 300 producers of agricultural products ranging from goats to sweet potatoes met at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center in Verona Feb. 18 to discuss services they need from Mississippi State University.

Each year since 1953, North Mississippi agricultural producers have come together to discuss their research and educational needs. They then report those needs to Extension Service and Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station administrators.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – A new program at Mississippi State University is looking at new ways to stop a pest that kills an estimated 12 million cubic feet of the state's pine forest annually.

Research efforts usually focus on early-detection methods and control mechanisms for the southern pine beetle. But MSU experts believe preventive measures will better control this destructive pest.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Students at Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine will welcome thousands of school children to campus on the second weekend in April.

MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine will open its doors from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on April 9 and from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. on April 10 for the 26th annual open house. “Treat Them All, Big and Small” is the theme for this year’s event at the Wise Center, located on the south side of campus off Spring Street.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Two Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine graduate students were awarded top honors at the recent MidSouth Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Society Conference.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Many Mississippians don’t mind unusually cold and wet winters because they think the weather is killing insects, but that is rarely what actually happens.

The state’s moderate climate is ideal for growing crops and multiplying insects, and the insects that live in Mississippi are suited to weather fluctuations. An insect’s ability to survive the winter is called overwintering, and it determines how quickly their numbers increase in the spring.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Each year, replacing deteriorated wood in U.S. homes costs billions of dollars, but research at Mississippi State University is helping protect homeowners’ wallets and the environment.

“Since 1988, scientists in the Forest and Wildlife Research Center have been studying the development of totally organic biocides,” said Tor Schultz, MSU forest products professor.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Intercollegiate rodeo competition will return to Mississippi State University on April 9 and 10 when students host the first events on campus in several years.

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – A group of Mississippi State University students has spent two years breathing life into the inactive chapter of Collegiate 4-H on campus, and for those doing the hard work, recognition from the National Collegiate 4-H organization feels great.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Local seed companies and growers depend each year on Mississippi State University to provide quality foundation seed of improved varieties.

MSU established Mississippi Foundation Seed Stocks in 1959 as a unit of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. At its peak production in the early 1980s, the unit supplied about 110,000 bushels of foundation seed each year of mostly soybeans, cotton and rice.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Citizens, developers and policymakers in the renewable energy industry across the South who want a clean, vibrant and secure energy future can explore options at an upcoming two-day conference in Tunica.

The Ninth Annual Southern BioProducts and Renewable Energy Conference will be April 13-14 at Harrah’s Resort Hotel. The Mississippi Biomass and Renewable Energy Council hosts the annual state conference.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Mississippians looking for gardening tips and advice can now turn to Gary Bachman, the new Southern Gardening horticulturist. 

Southern Gardening is produced by the Mississippi State University Extension Service and consists of a weekly newspaper column, and radio and television segments. For the past 15 years, MSU horticulturist Norman Winter wrote the columns and appeared in the segments. Bachman was selected for the role after Winter left to become vice president for college advancement at Brewton-Parker College in Mount Vernon, Ga.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Two one-day workshops will provide the tools for farmers and landowners to start and manage a natural resource enterprise.

Fee fishing, fee hunting, agritourism, and wildlife watching are examples of enterprises based on the natural resources commonly found on Mississippi’s private lands.

By Karen Templeton
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Wild pigs are digging up trouble across the state and causing major crop damage, so Mississippi State University and federal experts are helping landowners and farmers eradicate the troublesome beasts.

Wild pigs are a highly adaptable species that is not native to North America. They are seen throughout the country, causing vast agricultural and environmental damage.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – When Nancy Bearden accepted a job at the Winston County Extension office in 1960, she never realized she would be a part of the Mississippi State University family for the next 50 years.

Bearden has the distinction of being the university’s longest-tenured employee. She will celebrate the anniversary in August, but she was honored Feb. 26 by throwing out the first pitch at the MSU versus Southeastern Louisiana baseball game. The event was part of MSU’s 132nd birthday celebration.

FLOWOOD -- Private practice veterinarians are partnering with Mississippi State University to provide around-the-clock emergency care and referral services for critical cases in the Jackson area.

The Animal Emergency and Referral Center at 1009 Treetops Boulevard in Flowood opened on March 17. From 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. on weekdays, the center’s veterinarian and three veterinary technicians handle critical surgery, orthopedic and neurological cases that are referred to them from practicing veterinarians. No elective surgeries, primary care or routine treatments are provided.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Nearly 200 Mississippi 4-H youth are learning science, technology and engineering skills as they work with robots and meet monthly via videoconferencing to learn new skills and take on new challenges.

Mariah Smith, an instructor with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, is coordinating the program for Mississippi 4-H. She said the youth learn basic science, technology and engineering concepts behind robots and make simple robotic elements out of non-traditional parts.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Research by the Southern Rural Development Center at Mississippi State University has been included in a new book about positive approaches to community development.

“Mobilizing Communities: Asset Building as a Community Development Strategy” includes a chapter by SRDC director Lionel “Bo” Beaulieu and his colleague Mark Harvey, assistant sociology professor at Florida Atlantic University. Harvey completed his post-doctoral work at SRDC and was an assistant research professor at MSU.