Feature Story

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Students struggling with ideas for school projects or future careers may only need to look at their newspaper to find topics that interest them.

Many Mississippi State University faculty members can trace their research careers back to science fair projects on topics that were new at the time but have continued to hold their interest for many years. One such topic this year could be the Deep Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

VERONA – The North Mississippi Research and Extension Center’s biannual Agronomic Row Crops Field Day will present the latest research to the area’s row-crop farmers and consultants.

The field day will be held from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 5 at the Lee County Agri-Center on Highway 145 South in Verona.

The program will include educational and industry exhibits and field research plot tours. This year’s featured speaker will be Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Lester Spell.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Mississippi cattle producers have until Aug. 17 to register for a Aug. 24-25 pasture and forage short course being offered by Mississippi State University.

The two-day workshop costs $100 per person or $75 each if two or more people from the same farm or organization attend. The fee covers the training, the Mississippi Grazing Manual and other educational materials, and meals. The event will be held at MSU’s Bost Conference Center.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Gardeners can literally reap the fruits of their labor by planting fruits or vegetables in a small space in their landscapes.

Many gardeners tend to their landscapes as a hobby, which requires hours of manual labor and a big financial investment. But this does not have to be the case. Many existing home landscapes are well suited for growing fruits and vegetables.

Bob Brzuszek, associate professor of landscape architecture at Mississippi State University, said people do not need to build a farm to get fresh food from their yards.

By Karen Templeton
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Homemade baby food gives parents the advantage of controlling what goes into their babies’ sensitive stomachs and provides health benefits for the entire family.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Mississippi remains completely free of soybean rust, and conditions as of June 30 were not favorable for the development of the disease.

Tom Allen, plant pathologist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said soybean rust recently has been detected in the United States in southern Texas, outside Mobile, Ala., and in the Florida Panhandle.

“Over the past few weeks, conditions throughout most of Mississippi have not been conducive for the development of the disease,” Allen said.

BILOXI – Recreational boating in the Gulf and along coastal waterways is becoming more of a challenge, especially during high-traffic weekends, as the oil spill expands to impact more than just fishing opportunities.

Dave Burrage, Extension professor at Mississippi State University’s Coastal Research and Extension Center, said there are no restrictions to prevent pleasure craft on the Gulf, but boaters need to use common sense.

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Mississippi dairy farmers have been good mentors to youth who participate in the 4-H Dairy Cattle Project, but the continuing decline in dairy farms across the state has reduced the number of people who serve as sources of information.

By Karen Templeton
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Many people are finding that raising backyard chickens can be an easy way to provide their family fresh eggs, and also to enjoy a rewarding pastime.

“Raising poultry for egg production has become increasingly popular during the last few years,” said Danny Thornton, a poultry specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. “With the current economic situation, a lot of people are hoping to save money on food by raising their own birds for egg production.”

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

POPLARVILLE – Butch Smith grew up on a dairy farm, chose a different career path and then found helping his daughters with their 4-H Dairy Project made him yearn to go back to working with cows.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Mississippi State University, long recognized for making delicious cheese, will conduct a workshop dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and others with their own interest or appreciation for cheeses.

Focusing on small processing industries, the July 28-29 first-of-its-kind workshop will be hosted by MSU’s Extension Service and the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion.

By Karen Templeton
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Mississippians are finding that beekeeping can be a challenging hobby, a profitable business or a good way to learn more about one of nature’s most interesting insects.

There are close to 1,000 people in Mississippi who keep bees for profit or for hobby, and the number is steadily growing.

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

YOCONA – Current economics have forced many Mississippi farmers out of the dairy business, but a strong work ethic, savvy marketing ideas and help from Mississippi State University allowed Billy Ray Brown to start a unique dairy operation in Lafayette County.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The odds of being hit by lightning may seem remote, but the threat is real, and outdoor -- and some indoor -- activities should be altered when thunderstorms are nearby.

Mike Brown, associate professor in geosciences at Mississippi State University, is a seasoned storm chaser. When he is educating new storm chasers, he emphasizes the threats that come from lightning.

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Participants at Mississippi State University’s Intergenerational Summer Camp on insect and plant ecology may attend because of the bugs, but they soon discover that looking for plants is equally interesting.

Among the camp’s goals are the exploration of the interactions between plants and insects. These relationships, whether positive or negative, can reveal how nature stays in balance said camp director John Guyton of the MSU Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture.

By Karen Templeton
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Many pet dogs encounter venomous snakes during the hot summer months, but tragic consequences can be avoided when owners know what to do when their dogs get bitten.

“More dogs and snakes are out in warmer summer months, creating a situation where they will encounter each other,” said Dr. Kari Lunsford, assistant professor with Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “Dogs, curious by nature, agitate snakes and can end up getting bitten.”

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Equipped with latex gloves and masks, participants at Mississippi State University’s Intergenerational Summer Camp for basic entomology and plant ecology became forensic scientists for an hour.

BAY ST. LOUIS – An upcoming conference will offer tips on how rural communities can increase their tourism and thrive during these challenging economic times. 

The fifth annual Regional Tourism Summit of the Miss-Lou Rural Tourism Association can help community leaders, small business owners and tourism professionals identify local opportunities and design creative marketing plans to bring visitors to small, rural areas.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Mississippi State University is offering two deer management workshops in late July and August to hunters, land managers and foresters working with white-tailed deer populations.

Register by July 9 for the first course, offered July 24 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Forrest County Extension Office in Hattiesburg. Register by Aug. 13 for the second course, offered Aug. 28 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Thompson Hall on the campus of MSU. The $50 fee for the course covers lunch and educational materials.

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

OXFORD – Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi have teamed up to make Oxford and the surrounding community an even more beautiful place through an educational partnership.

Mississippi Master Gardeners is an educational exchange program offered through the county offices of MSU’s Extension Service. Individuals who have an interest in plants and gardening sign up for the program, go through basic training, and receive certification in horticulture and its related areas.