Feature Story from 2015

RAYMOND, Miss. -- The kitchen pantry is a prime target for pests looking for an easy meal, but a little spring-cleaning can stop them in their tracks.

“It’s a good idea for cooks to empty the pantry at least once a year and check items that have gotten pushed to the back of the cabinet,” said Natasha Haynes, Mississippi State University Extension Service agent and host of “The Food Factor.” “Throw out any expired food or food that has been open for several months.”

Haynes recommended storing any opened food items in airtight glass or plastic containers.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Spring is a busy time for bees and beekeepers, as longer days and warmer weather bring the first flowers into bloom.

Jeff Harris, Mississippi State University Extension bee specialist and Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station researcher, said bees are growing rapidly during the months of February and March.

PURVIS, Miss. -- A project intended as a one-time demonstration earned a southern Mississippi gardening group an international award for excellence.

The Pine Belt Master Gardeners placed second in the 2015 International Master Gardener Search for Excellence Program for their volunteer efforts in constructing, donating and teaching people to use salad tables. They competed in the special needs audience category.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Six locations across the state will host “Mississippi Shred Day” events on March 6 and 7 to help consumers avoid identity theft by shredding personal papers.

Rita Green, family financial management state specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said people need to protect personal information, especially when it is time to get rid of certain papers.

“Shredding documents is the best way to prevent personal information from being used by identity thieves,” Green said.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- A Mississippi State University graduate student in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is the first-time recipient of a national weed science award.

Drake Copeland placed first in the master of science category of the inaugural student poster contest at the recent Weed Science Society of America annual meeting. He won for his poster on the evaluation of pre-emergence herbicides and insecticidal seed treatments on thrips infestation in cotton.

POPLARVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State University beef cattle and forage research will be featured during a field day in Pearl River County March 28.

Beef cattle producers are encouraged to attend the event hosted by the White Sand Branch Unit of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- People around the world can learn what land-grant university researchers and Extension professionals have accomplished through a new online resource.

Mississippi State University and its partner institutions in the national Association of Public and Land-grant Universities launched a new website to highlight research and Extension impacts on March 2.

PICAYUNE – Home gardeners and nature lovers can learn how to create a beautiful and functional landscape during the Mississippi State University Crosby Arboretum Lecture Series March 28.

Rick Darke, a horticulturist, published author, lecturer and photographer, will discuss how to strike the ultimate balance between beauty and function in the home landscape with an emphasis on conservation.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Two Mississippi State University graduate students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences received accolades from a regional weed science organization.

Garrett Montgomery and Andrew Denton were honored at the Southern Weed Science Society of America’s annual meeting in Savannah, Georgia, in January.

Montgomery won the outstanding master’s student award, and Denton placed second in the master’s poster contest.

GRENADA, Miss. -- The Grenada Early Learning Advantage Center recently received the Star Award from the Grenada Chamber of Commerce for its invaluable contributions to the children, families and future of the community.

Dolly Marascalco, past president of the Grenada Chamber of Commerce, presented the award to Early Years Network Director Louise Davis and consultant Deborah Bailey at the Grenada site on Feb. 23.

The center opened in November 2012 and has grown to serve approximately 80-100 families per month.

JACKSON, Miss. -- Students, teachers and community members can learn more about the ecosystems in their area during two separate events.

The Mississippi State University Extension Service will join the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science and the National Park Service in hosting the state’s second annual BioBlitz workshops.

The 2015 BioBlitz events will kick off April 11 in Jackson at the museum. The second workshop will be April 18 in Tupelo near the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor’s Center.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- When is knowing about a family history of colorectal cancer a good thing?

Clark Roman of Starkville said knowing his family’s increased incidence of colon cancer prompted him to have regular screenings. The result was early diagnosis and a relatively easy treatment. Almost five years after surgery, he is an advocate for people getting screened according to their doctors’ recommendations.

TUPELO, Miss. -- Mississippi State University freshmen and 4-H alumnae Alivia Roberts and Laken Lyons, both of Lee County, recently earned recognition for essays promoting community service in memory of Martin Luther King Jr.

Roberts received the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. scholarship, and Lyons received the Modern Beautician Club scholarship. The 2014-2015 scholarships were presented by the King Committee and the Modern Beautician Club of Tupelo.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Pi Day comes around every March 14 to help emphasize the importance of math, but the Mississippi State University Extension Service works year-round to give young people the strong educational foundation that will carry them through life.

Mariah Morgan, a professor in the MSU Extension Center for Technology Outreach, recently teamed up with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority as part of its educational enrichment program.

JACKSON, Miss. -- Individuals interested in learning about Mississippi’s fish and wildlife as well as techniques to conserve them are welcome to attend an in-depth training workshop presented by regional experts.

The Mississippi State University Extension Service and the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science will team up April 21 through June 16 to offer Master Naturalist training. Nine weekly classes are planned from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the museum, located at 2148 Riverside Drive in Jackson.

FLOWOOD, Miss. -- March is National Poison Prevention Month, and March 15-21 is National Animal Poison Prevention Week.

The Animal Emergency and Referral Center, an affiliate service of the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, is reminding pet owners to take extra precautions to protect their pets.

Most owners take precautions to keep their pets safe. Leashes, fences, microchips and vaccinations are all routine purchases for responsible pet owners. But for many pets, the average home hides many dangers that sometimes are not obvious.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Registration is open for one spring and three summer camps for young people interested in conservation, natural sciences and wildlife.

The Mississippi State University Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, MSU Extension Service and MSU College of Forest Resources are hosting these camps.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- With planting time approaching quickly, Mississippi gardeners are in the middle of their “planning season.”

Spring garden expos are underway with three major events remaining in Jackson, Starkville and New Albany.

Gary Bachman, a horticulturist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said March and April are good months for Mississippians to plan their 2015 gardens.

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Eleven 4-H members from around the state spent part of spring break sharpening their photography skills while learning about Mississippi history.

“We had interest from some of our 4-H’ers who compete in the photo track to do some in-depth training, so we decided to open it up to all 4-H members in the state,” said Kat Lawrence, a photographer with the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Students who want to make a difference in the world should consider careers in agriculture.

“Careers in agriculture are as diverse as the farming profession they support,” said George Hopper, dean of the Mississippi State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “College degrees are the keys to success in this industry that feeds and clothes the world.”

Hopper said preparing students for real-world challenges is a priority for faculty in the nine departments of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.