News

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Homeowners and growers should not overreact to potential damage to plants in home landscapes caused by extreme cold snaps, such as the one that hit Mississippi the last week of February.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

As vegetable gardening season rapidly approaches, it's time to decide whether to use transplants or direct seed. If you are as anxious as I am to get underway, then you might consider growing transplants.

Almost everything can be sown directly into the garden, but there are some vegetables that do better when transplanted. These include several of the most popular vegetables.

By Ashley Crawford

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Granting outdoor wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses was a dream Bruce Brady never saw materialize, but the program developed in his memory carries out his dreams.

Catch-A-Dream is a wish-granting program that was founded to memorialize Brady, a long-time resident of Brookhaven. The program grants once-in-a-lifetime outdoor experiences to children under the age of 18 who have life-threatening illnesses.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A report from the National Science Foundation ranks Mississippi State University fifth in the nation in funding for research in the agricultural sciences.

The university generated $68.4 million in research and development expenditures for the agricultural sciences in fiscal year 2000, an increase of almost 18 percent over fiscal year 1999 figures. MSU previously ranked eighth in agricultural sciences research.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi manufacturers, agricultural producers and economic developers can learn ways to reduce dependence on fossil fuels during an April 30 to May 1 conference in Starkville.

Mississippi State University and the Mississippi Biomass Council are sponsoring the Mississippi Alternative Fuels Conference, which includes a tour of a local paper mill. Registration fees are $140 for the conference and tour, $95 for the conference and $45 for the tour.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Cotton producers can learn about the latest developments in disease, insect and weed control during an upcoming Advanced Cotton Pest Management Short Course.

The seminar will take place March 20 at Mississippi State University's Bost Extension Building. The program will feature topics related to weed science, plant pathology and entomology. Sessions will address weed control, diseases affecting cotton production, nematodes in cotton, plant bug biology and discussion of stink bugs.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Clarence E. Watson Jr., interim head of the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at Mississippi State University, has been named associate director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station effective Feb. 19.

As associate director, Watson will be responsible for planning and managing the Experiment Station's research efforts. He joins Marty Fuller, MAFES associate director for external affairs, and Vance Watson, MAFES director, in leading the research organization.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

With all the new neighborhoods springing up everywhere, I'm sure I'm not alone in the panic that we will soon miss out on the floral displays of this spring's azaleas. Some disparage the azalea, but I am not one of them; I need azaleas at my new home.

By Charmain Tan Courcelle

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The pooled resources of the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences and the College of Veterinary Medicine may help establish Mississippi State University as a leader in imaging technologies for the agricultural and veterinary sciences.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- An intense summer program aims to entice high school juniors into family medicine as Mississippi approaches a critical need for medical professionals.

With one out of five Mississippi physicians over the age of 60, the Rural Medical Scholars program's aim is to identify the state's future primary care doctors and help them become members of the medical school class of 2011.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi is one step closer to a better diagnostic facility for the state's $1.5 billion poultry industry.

Groundbreaking for a $500,000 Poultry Research and Diagnostic Laboratory took place on March 18 in Rankin County. Following the construction of this 2,000-square-foot building, officials plan to begin the second phase of the project which will culminate with the construction of a 40,000-square-foot diagnostic facility for all animal species with a total cost of more than $18 million.

By Charmain Tan Courcelle

BILOXI -- Any visitor to Mississippi's Gulf Coast can attest to the quality of its seafood, and scientists at the Coastal Research and Extension Center are working to ensure the continued availability of this food crop and the sustainability of Mississippi's seafood industry.

One such effort is led by marine resources specialist David Burrage, who is studying the inshore shrimp industry for the Mississippi State University Extension Service and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station.

JACKSON -- Greenhouse tomato growers should mark their calendars for a tomato short course to be held in Jackson on March 14 and 15.

The 2002 Greenhouse Tomato Short Course will be held at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum in Jackson. It is sponsored by the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

My 11-year-old son, James, went for a bike ride late last spring in our new neighborhood filled with forested areas, creeks, bogs and even deer. He came back out of breath from riding to tell me with excitement about a patch of flowers he discovered.

Though he had never seen them before, he immediately recognized them as something special. He was right. They were native Indian Pinks, known botanically as Spigelia marilandica.

By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center

The past couple of years have proven something to me; geraniums are back! Perhaps they have not recaptured the flower border, but they have taken over the front porch and perhaps the patio.

Last year, there were large containers of geraniums welcoming visitors to front doors everywhere I looked. Whether the container was all geraniums or mixed with other spring bloomers, you have to admit these are showy flowers that can be admired from a great distance.

By Linda Breazeale

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Therapeutic riding is gaining in popularity with therapists, community volunteers and among people with disabilities.

"The primary focus of therapeutic riding is to foster independence for people with special needs.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Blue ribbons and trophies may be the most recognized goals of Dixie National livestock exhibitors, but the top 4-H and FFA members walk away with much more.

Twenty-five scholarship recipients and the youth owners of 37 market animals received almost $197,000 during the 2002 Dixie National Sale of Junior Champions on Feb. 7.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi's in-home child-care businesses can take part in training to advance them to the next level in quality child care and in business techniques.

Mississippi State University's Extension Service offers the Nurturing Homes Initiative for home child-care providers. The Mississippi Department of Human Services' Office for Children and Youth funds the project, which is entering its second year in Mississippi.

By Ashley Crawford

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The Internet provides new opportunities for the expansion of businesses, and for a Mississippi woman's hair-bow business, the benefits come in the shape of dollar signs.

Darlene Seals began selling hair bows from the trunk of her car in her North Mississippi hometown of Holly Springs in 1991. Today, her business has expanded to the Internet with the help of Mississippi State University's Extension Service.

"About two years ago, I tried to put my business on the Internet, but it didn't work very well," Seals said.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Most pet owners put away the paper towels and the disinfectant when their pet is housebroken, but some must keep them handy because their trained dog continues to have accidents in the house.

Dr. John Harkness, animal behaviorist at Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, said many dogs urinate inappropriately from submissiveness or excitement. Other causes include fear, separation anxiety, territorial marking and medical problems.