News

PONTOTOC – A new sweet potato specialist has joined forces with Mississippi growers as they produce and promote one of the state’s favorite vegetable crops.

Stephen Meyers, a native of northern Indiana, is working with growers whose fields are largely centered in or around Calhoun and Chickasaw counties. He earned his bachelor’s degree in horticultural production and marketing, with a minor in weed science, from Purdue University. He received master’s and doctoral degrees in weed management from North Carolina State University.

Backing up computer data is not only a smart move; it can save the files, time and money in the long run.

I cannot count the number of times computer users have said to me, “I know I saved it, but I can’t find it anywhere on my computer. It just vanished.” While there is a small chance that your computer is evil and out to get you, the more likely scenario is that you saved the file incorrectly.

VERONA – When agricultural producers speak, Mississippi State University listens.

About 300 commodity producers, crop consultants and MSU representatives met on Feb. 21 at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center in Verona for the annual Producer Advisory Council meeting. The meeting has been held for more than half a century to give farmers the opportunity to express agricultural needs to their land-grant institution.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Beekeepers and those who work with bees are taking steps to prepare for the arrival of Africanized honeybees in the state.

Jeff Harris, apiculture specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said that although Africanized bees are more defensive than European bees, it is wrong to think of them as aggressive.

By Kaitlyn Byrne
MSU Office of Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Teen dating violence occurs more often than most people realize, but there are usually warning signs.

Cassandra Kirkland, family life specialist with Mississippi State University’s Extension Service, said one out of every three teenagers has experienced some form of abuse in a dating relationship.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Some people never stop looking for opportunities to advance their goals, especially those recruited for leadership classes.

Ryan Akers and Chance McDavid are two representatives of the Mississippi State University Extension Service who are taking part in the Leadership Mississippi program. Lynn Darling, director of the MSU Early Childhood Institute, is also in the 2013 class. After one meeting, they have set their sights on expanding their professional agendas across the state.

By Alicia Barnes
MSU School of Human Sciences

MISSISSIPPI STATE – To prepare children for kindergarten and beyond, child care providers rely on professional development programs to ensure best practices.

GRENADA – As part of America Saves Week, which ends March 2, Mississippi State University Extension Service is spreading the saving message to promote automatic savings to help people reach their savings goals.

“America Saves Week is a great opportunity to help people in our community to set a goal, make a plan and save automatically,” said Rita Green, a financial management Extension agent based in Grenada County.

OXFORD – Northwest Mississippi parents, early-care and education providers and community members will be closer to educational materials when the Mississippi Child Care Resource and Referral Network opens new offices on March 5.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – A department head with the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine was selected to fill a national role with the American Association of Veterinary Clinicians.

The AAVC has elected Dr. Ron McLaughlin, head of the college’s Department of Clinical Sciences, to serve as president. In this role, McLaughlin works with the organization to enhance the quality of veterinary instruction in the United States.

I think all gardeners love to see butterflies visit their gardens in the summer months. If you want more butterflies this year, start planning now what to plant this spring to attract them.

I want to tell you about two of my favorite plants that are guaranteed to attract these garden visitors.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – An experienced communications professional and administrator recently joined the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

Elizabeth Gregory North became the department head for MSU’s Office of Agricultural Communications February 1.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – About 200 volunteers who care deeply about the state’s young people will gather in Starkville for leadership training Feb. 22 and 23.

The annual 4-H Volunteer Leaders Conference will be held at the Bost Extension Center at Mississippi State University. Mississippi 4-H is the youth development program of the MSU Extension Service.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Horticulture students at Mississippi State University recently brought home multiple awards from the Southern Region meeting of the American Society for Horticultural Sciences.

Seven undergraduate students competed in commodity evaluation and plant identification in four categories: woody ornamentals, greenhouse crops, vegetable crops, and fruit and nut crops.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi State University showcased top graduate students in a competition described by organizers as “American Idol for agriculture.”

Jason Bond, associate Extension and research professor at MSU’s Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, said the recent “Future of Agriculture Graduate Student Competition” was a win-win-win for students, industry representatives and farmers.

By Kaitlyn Byrne
MSU Office of Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – The path to healthy teeth begins in childhood, and two Mississippi State University programs are working to teach proper dental hygiene.

The Mississippi Childcare Resource and Referral Network, part of MSU’s Extension Service, trains childcare providers to teach healthy dental practices through the Cavity Free Kids program.

Cabin fever seems to hit me earlier each year, and it doesn’t help that we haven’t had much of a winter the past couple of years.

I already have tomato transplants ready to put in the ground even though it’s still two months from the traditional last frost date here on the coast. I saw blooming annuals for sale this weekend at a local garden center. I think I’m feeling a little warm.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – A Mississippi State University graduate student in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences continues to bring home awards for research he conducted on chemical control of an invasive weed.

Zach Reynolds of Starkville recently won first place in the Master of Science Poster section at the 2013 Southern Weed Science Society annual meeting. His poster was titled “Control of Palmer amaranth with sequential herbicide applications.” Coauthors in MSU’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences were Darrin Dodds, Tyler Dixon and Chase Samples.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Registration for the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine’s annual open house is under way.

School groups are invited to attend the open house on Friday, April 5 from 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Wise Center in Starkville. In the past, pre-registration was optional. This year, school groups are required to sign up for the event in advance.

Registration is free. CVM staff will send registered groups parking, schedule and rain date information. Teachers and administrators may order lunches for groups through CVM.