Feature Story from 2025

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Row crop growers in Mississippi expect to plant more corn in 2025 than they did last year, but not as much cotton or as many soybeans.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service, a unit of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, released its annual prospective plantings report March 31. Surveys are conducted with farm operators nationwide during the first two weeks of March each year to collect data on which row crops they plan to plant and how many acres.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Row crop producers who reported financial loss in 2024 may be eligible for economic assistance through a U.S. Department of Agriculture resource.

USDA’s Farm Service Agency has made $10 billion available through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program, or ECAP, for growers to offset increased input costs and lower prices for their commodities.

Artificial intelligence is the most recent tool in the toolbox for the Mississippi State University Extension Service in its ongoing efforts to provide the best research-backed information to the residents of the state.

MSU’s Agricultural Autonomy Institute, or AAI, hosted the National AI in Agriculture and Natural Resources Conference on March 31-April 2 in Starkville. ExtensionBot was the first item to be addressed at the conference.

Many Mississippians take steps to live sustainably, but they may not be aware of the impact their clothing choices have on the environment.

Beyond material sourcing and item manufacturing, what happens when the piece of clothing is retired from the closet can have a significant environmental impact. Textile waste is unwanted clothing and fabrics that are thrown away rather than recycled.

RAYMOND, Miss. -- With a renewed interest in home canning in recent years, advice and recipes are abundant, but experts remind home canners to be sure they use safe practices. The foundation of safe home canning begins with research-tested recipes and the correct equipment.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Sheep and goat producers, researchers and industry professionals will convene at Mississippi State University June 13-14 for the sixth annual Small Ruminant Conference.

The two-day event, hosted by the MSU Extension Service and the MSU Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, highlights cutting-edge research and practical applications in small ruminant production.

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Concern has spread among Mississippi landowners who have recently noticed extensive pine needle browning and loss among their mature loblolly pine trees recently. Kristy McAndrew, a forestry health specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said brown spot needle blight, or BSNB, is widespread in Mississippi right now and may be the culprit.

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Many older adults want to remain in their own homes and communities as they age, but deciding to age in place should be carefully considered. Some of the first factors to consider are the home itself, finances, personal health and the community.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi’s first confirmed rabies case in a decade is a reminder that proper vaccination of domestic animals is helpful in preventing infection.

The Mississippi Board of Animal Health, or MBAH, announced May 6 that a bat in Tippah County tested positive for rabies, a fatal viral disease. Two potentially exposed puppies were quarantined.

While Mississippi high school students have history, English and algebra on their schedules, several are now adding advanced animal husbandry skills to their academic load.

Brandi Karisch, beef cattle specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said Extension began offering a youth stockmanship competition this year to improve young participants’ knowledge and skills in beef cattle handling.