Feature Story from 2016

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Homeowners may be wary of wasting water by allowing faucets to drip as a precaution during freezing weather, but they must weigh the cost of higher water bills against the much larger expense of repairing burst pipes.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- A new technique developed by a Mississippi State University veterinarian may improve the long-term management of obstructive hydrocephalus, or water on the brain, in small animals by reducing the rate of surgical complications.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Beef cattle producers are not seeing the record high prices from a year ago, but strong export numbers are providing reasons to hope 2016 will be profitable.

“Per capita consumption is predicted to be higher in 2016, beef production is expected to be up, and, most importantly, exports are projected to be significantly better than in 2015,” said Brian Williams, agricultural economist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Individuals interested in greenhouse tomato production can learn how to successfully grow and market the crop during the Greenhouse Tomato Short Course March 1 and 2 in Raymond.

Experienced growers and experts with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, the University of Tennessee Extension Service and Auburn University will present seminars on all aspects of production during the 26th annual workshop.

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Zika virus is now among the list of mosquito-borne viruses Mississippians should guard against, but standard defenses can help prevent spread of the disease.

A suspected link between the infection and certain birth defects, including microcephaly, prompted the World Health Organization to declare a public health emergency of international concern on Feb. 1. Babies with microcephaly are born with smaller-than-usual heads due to interrupted brain development.

GREENVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi River flooding in January set all-time records, but dropping water levels may mean the river will have enough capacity to accept typical spring rains without triggering atypical flooding.

Peter Nimrod, chief engineer with the Mississippi Levee Board in Greenville, said the Greenville January gauge reading of 56.2 feet set a record. The normal depth for that month is about 30 feet.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Spring is still several weeks away, but now is a good time to prevent unsightly weeds from invading home lawns when the weather warms up.

A common weed control method during late winter and early spring is the use of herbicides. Preemergence herbicides are sprays or granular formulas -- many of which also include fertilizer -- that can be used to kill weeds before they start to grow. Postemergence herbicides are best for use on weeds not controlled by the preemergence treatment.

ROLLING FORK, Miss. -- Landowners and hunting clubs eager to earn extra income while improving land management for wildlife are invited to attend a Natural Resource Enterprises Business Workshop.

The March 1 event will be at the Community Center in Rolling Fork.

With extremely warm weather in the fall and so far this winter, many of our flowering landscape plants are really confused. I’ve seen fantastic spring displays of color in December and January.

This weather pattern creates a few problems, none of which we can solve as gardeners. We can’t control the weather, like the cold snap that came through the first week of February. When flowers begin to open too early, a quick dip into the low 30s or upper 20s will quickly turn them into mush.

COWART, Miss. -- Mississippi farmers can safely get rid of unusable agricultural chemicals and old tires during a free disposal event on Feb. 24 in Tallahatchie County.

Event organizers will accept insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and other pesticide products at the Cowart Gin Yard and Tallahatchie Farmers Supply located at 3990 Tippo Road between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.

No rinsates, household waste pesticides or products in bulk containers will be accepted.

GULFPORT, Miss. -- Teachers from four Mississippi schools will go back to college this summer through a partnership with the Mississippi State University Extension Center for Technology Outreach.

The Mississippi Department of Education selected the Gulfport School District and Picayune School District for participation in the In-Depth Mathematical Practices and Content Teacher Training (IMPACT2) program during the 2016-2017 school year.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Landowners who manage pine plantations can simplify tree thinning by using a new app created by the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

Guide to Thinning Southern Pines, or Pine Thin, was developed to allow landowners and foresters to quickly determine if a pine stand needs thinning by taking advantage of smartphone technology.

James Henderson, associate Extension forestry professor, said thinning is a way to maintain timberland growth rates.

PICAYUNE, Miss. -- Artists and craftsmen can enter their work in the Crosby Arboretum Foundation Art Show set for April 2 and 3 in Picayune.

The show will depict the heritage of the Piney Woods region, and art entries should represent the area’s features, flora, fauna and culture. Artwork showcasing the arboretum is welcome and encouraged. The Crosby Arboretum Foundation sponsors the show.

JACKSON, Miss. -- Alex Deason made members of his 4-H livestock judging team a deal they could not resist.

“I told them if any of them could get a hog in the Dixie National Sale of Junior Champions, they could shave my head,” said Deason, 4-H agent with the Mississippi State University Extension Service in Sunflower County.

The 4-H’ers took this wager seriously. They not only got one hog in the sale. Team members got four hogs in the sale. And Deason? He has a freshly shaven head.

BILOXI, Miss. -- Floral enthusiasts can learn about the formal Japanese tea ceremony, Japanese floral design and Mississippi tea production during an upcoming demonstration in Biloxi.

In honor of International Women’s Day, Jim DelPrince, floral design specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, along with Judson LeCompte and Chieko Iwata will present Tea and Floral Design: The Art and Science of Tea from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on March 8.

The program will be at the MSU Coastal Research and Extension Center located at 1815 Popps Ferry Road.

JACKSON, Miss. -- The Mississippi Animal Disaster Relief Fund (MADRF) received a grant from the nonprofit organization GreaterGood.org.

The MADRF was established during Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. As the number of displaced or injured pets and livestock increased after the disaster, the relief fund was established to help pay for the animals’ care. The fund later became a permanent resource to help animals affected by natural disasters.

CANTON, Miss. -- Families in the Canton area have a new place to visit and borrow educational books, toys and games.

The grand opening of the Central Mississippi Resource and Referral Center will be Feb. 22 at 3 p.m. The center is located at 175 North Union Street in The Grand Old Post Office.

The Early Years Network, in collaboration with Excel By 5, invites parents, community members, and early education and care providers to stop by and meet the staff, see the resources available and learn more about services offered.

By Karen Templeton
MSU College of Veterinary Medicine

Flowood, Miss. -- Bridget Monk of Pearl has dealt with and overcome a great deal in her 16 years. But all difficulties were forgotten when her new puppy, Princess Paisley, was placed in her arms.

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Approximately 180 central Mississippi agricultural producers and Mississippi State University experts met on Feb. 16 to discuss research and educational priorities for the upcoming year.

The Central Mississippi Producer Advisory Council Meeting provides a formal setting for producers and industry professionals to present input on research and educational programs offered by agents, specialists and researchers with the MSU Extension Service and Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station.

VERONA, Miss. -- Mississippi entrepreneurs with agritourism or food enterprises are invited to take advantage of training Mississippi State University will offer March 10 and 11 in Verona.

The two-day workshop is “Growing Your Brand: Marketing Tools for Mississippi Agritourism and Local Foods.” To be held in conjunction with the Mississippi Agritourism Association annual meeting, the event will be conducted by the MSU Extension Service and other partners.