News From 2024

Blue-blooming plants bring a serene beauty to my garden, and two of my favorites -- Blue My Mind and Blue Plumbago -- each offer unique qualities.

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Mississippians who want to deck their holiday halls with a locally grown Christmas tree will have no problem finding one. Although weather conditions have tested the state’s growers over the last two years, tree inventory is strong.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- For agricultural producers, careful planning in advance of each planting is critical to making a profit or breaking even, but the practice will be especially necessary going into 2025 due to a confluence of unfavorable economic conditions.

Kevin Kim, Will Maples and Brian Mills, agricultural economists with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, are part of an effort to help producers make sound business decisions as they enter what will likely be a difficult year financially across the country for agriculture.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Agriculture and forestry are Mississippi’s top industries, but their significance to the state’s economy extends beyond the revenue they generate on their own.

An analysis produced by agricultural economists with the Mississippi State University Extension Service found these sectors combined were an estimated $46.2 billion industry in 2022, accounting for 185,744 jobs and more than 14% of the state’s total economic activity.

Cool-season hanging baskets are one of my favorite ways to bring vibrant color and texture to my outdoor space when temperatures start to drop.

Mississippi appears to have a decent-sized pecan crop this year, but quality may have been reduced by the dry summer.
James Callahan, president of the Mississippi Pecan Growers Association, said the organization estimates Mississippi has about 18,000 acres of pecans in production with 400 growers.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Individuals who are interested in running for municipal office in 2025 have three opportunities to learn more about the roles of elected officials and the election process during a free, virtual workshop. The Mississippi State University Extension Center for Government and Community Development is offering Ready to Lead: A Workshop for Aspiring Municipal Leaders in Mississippi.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- As the holidays approach, consider three ways to share the joys of the season by supporting local food pantries. Gifts of money, time and food items are all welcome.

With their beautiful colors and massive amounts of blooms, chrysanthemums have always been one of my go-to choices for fall decorations.

While many people use them as temporary, potted decorations, they’re also incredibly rewarding to grow in the landscape. Chrysanthemums, also known as mums, are relatively easy to care for. With the right attention, they can thrive in a variety of settings.

I love pairing mums with other fall decor like pumpkins, gourds and hay bales to create a cohesive look that celebrates the harvest season.

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Frustration is mounting for deer hunters across Mississippi whose cool-season food plots died or never got planted because of drought conditions. Although it’s November, hunters still have time to replant.

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Despite another year of dry, hot conditions during the growing season, Mississippi’s sweet potato crop looks excellent overall as producers head into the final weeks of harvest. Lorin Harvey, sweet potato specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said 85% of the crop has been harvested as of Oct. 30. He has been surprised by the yields that many producers are seeing.

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Mississippi’s peanut producers are close to wrapping up harvest for 2024. Producers planted 25,500 acres of peanuts, a 30% increase from last year. This year, growers returned between 4,000 and 5,000 acres to peanut production.

I recently visited Buds and Blooms Nursery in Wesson, Mississippi, where they were growing some gorgeous leafy greens in raised beds.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- A Mississippi State University Extension professor of wildlife sciences has earned the top individual honor for excellence in Extension.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Agricultural producers and consultants are encouraged to register for the annual Mississippi State University Row Crop Short Course.

Hosted by the Mississippi State University Extension Service and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, the 2024 Row Crop Short Course will be held Dec. 9-11 at the Mill Conference Center in Starkville.

PICAYUNE, Miss. -- History enthusiasts of all ages can try their hand at traditional skills and crafts at a festival hosted by the Crosby Arboretum.

The 22nd Annual Piney Woods Heritage Festival will take place on Nov. 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Crosby Arboretum, located at 370 Ridge Road in Picayune. This yearly event celebrates traditional skills and crafts, providing a platform for artisans to show their expertise in various heritage activities.

I recently visited Rosie’s Garden in Brandon, a community space where volunteers cultivate a deeper appreciation for how food is grown while also helping to provide fresh produce to those in need.

The garden features 36 raised beds arranged in the shape of a cross, offering a diverse array of vegetable crops, herbs and flowers designed to attract pollinators.

Retired state specialist Larry Alexander was honored by being inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame for his career spent serving young people through the Mississippi State University Extension Service 4-H Youth Program.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- A Mississippi State University associate Extension professor of water and wastewater systems is one of nine recipients of annual awards presented by the Universities Council on Water Resources, or UCOWR.

Jason Barrett, interim director of the Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute, or WRRI, was honored with the UCOWR Institute Mid-Career Award for Extension, Outreach and Engagement. The award acknowledges outstanding contributions to water-related efforts in each of these areas.

Plants have always sparked my curiosity, and I am not alone in this. The Rankin County Master Gardeners have beautifully captured that sense of wonder with their Garden of Curiosity at the Brandon Public Library in Brandon, Mississippi.