News From 2010

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- On the surface, Mississippi and Northern Ireland are worlds apart, but Dr. Philip Robinson found that if he digs a little deeper, there are many similarities.

Robinson came to Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine as a Fulbright Scholar from Jan. 5 through April 9. He is a government veterinarian specializing in epidemiology in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

“We have many of the same animal diseases, similar economic difficulties in agriculture and a lot of producers who are part-time farmers, just like here,” he said.

By Karen Templeton
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE --  A cold winter may have delayed strawberry harvesting, but it did not affect the quality or taste of berries.

Mississippi strawberry harvest usually begins in mid-March, but this year, cold weather pushed harvest back to the second week in April.

“Temperatures were about 10 degrees lower than normal, which pushed planting back a week and in turn, delayed harvesting by a few weeks,” said Wayne Porter, Mississippi State University Extension Service agent in Lauderdale County.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – There is no known soybean rust in Mississippi thanks to the cold winter that killed kudzu, a common rust host, across the state.

“This is the first year since soybean rust was initially detected in the U.S. that we have essentially started at zero in regards to soybean rust,” said Tom Allen, Extension plant pathologist at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville. “None of us truly knows what to expect of the progression of the disease this season.”

Many folks have been waiting for this moment. It is after Easter, and it is time to plant our warm season vegetable crops. Let’s start with heirloom tomatoes. 

Heirlooms are not your typical grocery store tomato. They come in every shape, size and color imaginable. The fruits are treasured as having more flavor, increased nutritive value and greater natural beauty. 

What makes an heirloom tomato different?  In a word: tradition. 

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE –Many plants contribute to the beauty of Mississippi State University’s landscape, but no sight is more universally welcomed on campus than the daffodils bursting into bloom once a year.

“Daffodils are the harbingers of spring,” said Lelia Kelly, consumer horticulturist with MSU’s Extension Service. “After a long winter without much color, people enjoy the bright, yellow flowers that signal the appearance of even more flowers as plants establish and mature.”

MISSISSIPPI STATE –While the climate change debate is heating up worldwide, researchers at Mississippi State University are examining recent changes in duck migration patterns.

“In the past few years, we have observed that ducks are not migrating to southern latitudes in abundance or are doing so generally only during severe weather,” said Rick Kaminski, waterfowl ecologist and the James C. Kennedy Endowed Chair in Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Research by the Southern Rural Development Center at Mississippi State University has been included in a new book about positive approaches to community development.

“Mobilizing Communities: Asset Building as a Community Development Strategy” includes a chapter by SRDC director Lionel “Bo” Beaulieu and his colleague Mark Harvey, assistant sociology professor at Florida Atlantic University. Harvey completed his post-doctoral work at SRDC and was an assistant research professor at MSU.

When a plant with pretty flowers is advertised as easy to grow, it always catches the gardener’s eye. While plants may not live up to this billing, pinks deliver in the landscape.

You can call them cottage, cheddar or just plain pinks, but this group in the Dianthus genus are composed of several species and hybrids. Pinks are close relatives of the florist carnation and the wildflower Sweet William.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Nearly 200 Mississippi 4-H youth are learning science, technology and engineering skills as they work with robots and meet monthly via videoconferencing to learn new skills and take on new challenges.

Mariah Smith, an instructor with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, is coordinating the program for Mississippi 4-H. She said the youth learn basic science, technology and engineering concepts behind robots and make simple robotic elements out of non-traditional parts.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – When winter is finally over and warm weather sets in to stay, Mississippians can put their warm things safely away for next year by taking a few precautions.

Some people think of storing winter clothes as a simple task of moving items from one closet to another or placing them in a box in the attic. However, improper storage can lead to stains, insect problems and an unpleasant surprise when cold weather returns.

By Patti Drapala
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Well-kept yards and gardens require seasonal maintenance, a task that Mississippi State University horticulturists have simplified with a new online instructional video series.

The series, “Gardening through the Seasons,” addresses gardening tasks to be done at different times of the year. Each video is about 5 minutes long and features MSU horticulturists demonstrating techniques, examples and problem solving.

By Linda Breazeale
MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Cotton will not be returning to the throne in Mississippi, but growers are slightly more enthusiastic about this former king than they have been in recent years.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its annual prospective plantings report March 31, and Mississippi producers are predicted to plant 340,000 acres of cotton. That is an increase of 11 percent from 2009 but is a far cry from the 1.2 million acres planted in 2005 and 2006.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – When Nancy Bearden accepted a job at the Winston County Extension office in 1960, she never realized she would be a part of the Mississippi State University family for the next 50 years.

Bearden has the distinction of being the university’s longest-tenured employee. She will celebrate the anniversary in August, but she was honored Feb. 26 by throwing out the first pitch at the MSU versus Southeastern Louisiana baseball game. The event was part of MSU’s 132nd birthday celebration.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi's winter wheat crop is smaller and later than normal because of fall rains, and a colder-than-normal spring may limit the crop's yield.

Erick Larson, grain crops specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said Mississippi's wheat acreage is expected to be well short of the 10-year average of 225,000 acres.

FLOWOOD -- Private practice veterinarians are partnering with Mississippi State University to provide around-the-clock emergency care and referral services for critical cases in the Jackson area.

The Animal Emergency and Referral Center at 1009 Treetops Boulevard in Flowood opened on March 17. From 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. on weekdays, the center’s veterinarian and three veterinary technicians handle critical surgery, orthopedic and neurological cases that are referred to them from practicing veterinarians. No elective surgeries, primary care or routine treatments are provided.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Two one-day workshops will provide the tools for farmers and landowners to start and manage a natural resource enterprise.

Fee fishing, fee hunting, agritourism, and wildlife watching are examples of enterprises based on the natural resources commonly found on Mississippi’s private lands.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Mississippians looking for gardening tips and advice can now turn to Gary Bachman, the new Southern Gardening horticulturist. 

Southern Gardening is produced by the Mississippi State University Extension Service and consists of a weekly newspaper column, and radio and television segments. For the past 15 years, MSU horticulturist Norman Winter wrote the columns and appeared in the segments. Bachman was selected for the role after Winter left to become vice president for college advancement at Brewton-Parker College in Mount Vernon, Ga.

MISSISSIPPI STATE – Citizens, developers and policymakers in the renewable energy industry across the South who want a clean, vibrant and secure energy future can explore options at an upcoming two-day conference in Tunica.

The Ninth Annual Southern BioProducts and Renewable Energy Conference will be April 13-14 at Harrah’s Resort Hotel. The Mississippi Biomass and Renewable Energy Council hosts the annual state conference.

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Local seed companies and growers depend each year on Mississippi State University to provide quality foundation seed of improved varieties.

MSU established Mississippi Foundation Seed Stocks in 1959 as a unit of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. At its peak production in the early 1980s, the unit supplied about 110,000 bushels of foundation seed each year of mostly soybeans, cotton and rice.

With flowers suspended on thin, wiry stems, bobbing along in the breeze as if floating on water, the columbine makes the perfect addition to any garden or landscape.

Columbine foliage is reminiscent of maidenhair fern, being attached to the plant by long petioles. The flowers are an interesting landscape addition with colors ranging from purple and blue to yellow, white and red. Columbine bi-colored varieties of red and white, red and yellow, and blue and white are spectacular. The flowers either turn up or nod downward.