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Feature Story from 2014

The blue mass circled over a map of Alabama indicates a high concentration of mayflies that swarmed Sept. 4, 2014, and were caught on weather radar. (Submitted Photo by WHNT/Jason Simpson)
October 22, 2014 - Filed Under: Pests

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Southern storms mean a lot of unusual things show up on weather radar, but swarming insects usually are not the first thing that come to mind.

Jason Simpson, chief meteorologist at WHNT-TV in Huntsville, Alabama and a 2001 geosciences graduate of Mississippi State University, noticed some trends on live radar Sept. 4 that made him and other professionals wonder if they were seeing insects. Colored areas that typically indicated precipitation appeared on screen on a sunny day.

Bridget Fulton, left, a child care provider from Meridian, talks with Karen Ponder and Chad Allgood, Mississippi State University Early Years Network consultants. The Early Years Network went on the road in October to discuss changes in the program made to better serve child care providers across the state. (Photo by MSU School of Human Sciences/Amy Barefield)
October 23, 2014 - Filed Under: Family, Children and Parenting

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The Early Years Network was well received during its recent tour across Mississippi to introduce the new one-stop shop for child care providers and families.

The Early Years Network is a system of support services that is approved by the Mississippi State University Extension Service and its partners and receives funding from the Mississippi Department of Human Services, Division of Early Childhood Care and Development.

October 23, 2014 - Filed Under: Health, Rural Health

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The Mississippi State University Extension Service is promoting diabetes awareness in a series of health fairs.

October 24, 2014 - Filed Under: Community

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A Mississippi State University plant virologist has been invited to join the prestigious executive committee of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, or ICTV.

Sead “Sejo” Sabanadzovic, a professor in the MSU Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, was elected to the elite group of 18 international experts who serve as the leading authority on describing, identifying, naming and classifying viruses. Sabanadzovic is one of only three plant virologists on the executive committee.

October 24, 2014 - Filed Under: Economic Development

INDIANOLA -- The Mississippi Make it in America team is providing a free Reshoring Opportunities Workshop Oct. 30 at the Capps Center in Indianola, Mississippi.

The workshop’s goal is to assist companies in bringing advanced jobs back to Mississippi by enhancing skills and building competitiveness. Several units within Mississippi State University are part of this effort, including the Franklin Furniture Institute in the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine.

Bill Hamrick, a wildlife associate with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, constructs a corral trap, which wildlife biologists contend is the most effective method for reducing rapidly growing numbers of pigs. (Photo by MSU Ag Communications/Brian Utley)
October 28, 2014 - Filed Under: Nuisance Wildlife and Damage Management

RAYMOND -- Many Mississippians enjoy the sport of hunting wild pigs, but trapping is a better way to control the rapidly growing population that is destroying forests, damaging agricultural resources and threatening native wildlife in the state.

October 29, 2014 - Filed Under: Animal Health

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine veterinary resident has received a national award for neurological research.

Karen Coats, a lab technician at the Mississippi State University Plant Disease and Nematode Diagnostic Laboratory, begins testing a soil sample to detect nematodes on Oct. 23, 2014. (Photo by MSU Ag Communications/Kevin Hudson)
October 30, 2014 - Filed Under: Insects-Crop Pests

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Soil-dwelling nematodes cannot be seen with the naked eye, but the damage they do to crops shows up in dollar signs.

“We have a tremendous problem in Mississippi soybeans since multiple nematode species can impact soybean producers,” said Tom Allen, Extension plant pathologist at Mississippi State University’s Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville. “Nematodes can bring a soybean crop to its knees, and other crops in the state suffer losses from these parasites as well.”

October 31, 2014 - Filed Under: Crops

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Producers who register by Nov. 26 will attend the annual Mississippi State University Row Crop Short Course for free and gain information to make them more productive and profitable.

The 2014 Row Crops Short Course will be held at the Bost Extension Center at MSU Dec. 1-3. Those who register after Nov. 26 must pay $40 to attend.

Jeff Parrett, currently of Wheeler Lumber and past president of the Railway Tie Association, left, presents Terry Amburgey, Mississippi State University professor emeritus and Giles Distinguished Professor, with the association's lifetime merit award. (Photo by Gary Coleman/Coleman Photography)
November 3, 2014 - Filed Under: Wood Products

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A Mississippi State University professor emeritus recently received a national honor for his lifetime of service.

The Railway Tie Association, or RTA, executive committee gave Terry Amburgey, a Giles Distinguished Professor, the 2014 Award of Merit for his contribution to the industry. The award is given at the executive committee’s discretion and has been awarded only two other times since the association was formed in 1919.

November 3, 2014 - Filed Under: Community

PICAYUNE -- The public can look back at the early days of Mississippi’s Piney Woods region during the 12th annual Piney Woods Heritage Festival on Nov. 14 and 15.

The traditional skills, crafts and arts of the region’s people will be displayed at the Mississippi State University Crosby Arboretum in Picayune.

Visitors will view educational displays and skills demonstrations including blacksmithing, quilting, spinning, basket-making and more.

Mississippi State University Extension Service regional agronomic crops specialist Dennis Reginelli shows students cotton at the FARMtastic Mighty Crops station on Nov. 11, 2013. The third annual FARMtastic will take place this year from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Nov. 10-15 at the Mississippi Horse Park near Starkville. (File photo by MSU Ag Communications/Scott Corey)
November 4, 2014 - Filed Under: Agriculture, Agri-tourism, FARMtastic

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Third-graders attending an agricultural event at Mississippi State University Nov. 10-15 will be able to tell their parents about the sources of food, clothing and other common products.

November 4, 2014 - Filed Under: Commercial Horticulture, Fruit

GOODMAN -- Fruit and vegetable growers can get information to help them prepare for spring planting during a Nov. 21 field day.

Experts from Mississippi State University Extension Service, the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, and Alcorn State University will present several educational sessions at the Alliance for Sustainable Agricultural Production Demonstration Farm Field Day in Goodman.

November 4, 2014 - Filed Under: Agri-tourism

NATCHEZ -- Owners of agritourism enterprises can learn new ways to market their businesses during an upcoming meeting in Natchez.

The Mississippi Agritourism Association Meeting will be held on Nov. 17 and 18 at the Natchez Grand Hotel. The Mississippi State University Extension Service is sponsoring the educational event.

Topics include organizing a media day, merchandising and retail tips, hosting a farm-to-table dinner, and marketing and advertising.

Dr. Linda Farris of the Animal Health Center in Brookhaven examines an artificial insemination rod during a Mississippi State University reproduction workshop for cattle producers on March 15, 2013. (File photo by MSU Ag Communications/Linda Breazeale)
November 6, 2014 - Filed Under: Beef, Equine

PRAIRIE -- Buyers shopping the Mississippi State University horse auction may be surprised to see bulls in the online photo lineup this fall.

This is the second year for horses in the annual Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station’s production sale to be auctioned online with eBay-style bidding. All the animals are available for viewing at http://www.auction.msucares.com.

Dr. Cyprianna Swiderski, an associate professor with the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, works with an equine patient in this file photo. Swiderski is the next chair of the Morris Animal Foundation's Large Animal Scientific Advisory Board. (Photo by the College of Veterinary Medicine/Tom Thompson)
November 7, 2014 - Filed Under: Animal Health, Equine

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The Morris Animal Foundation has named Dr. Cyprianna Swiderski, associate professor in the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, chair of its Large Animal Scientific Advisory Board.

Swiderski, an equine internist who studies airway disease in horses, credits Morris Animal Foundation with the early support of her research that helped to give it credibility. The foundation is a nonprofit organization and is the largest private funding source for research to advance the health of companion animals, horses and wildlife.

Handmade food gifts, such as jars with ingredients for a pot of soup or batch of cookies, are thoughtful ideas during the holiday season. (Submitted photo)
November 13, 2014 - Filed Under: Family, Family Financial Management

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Holiday gift giving can feel overwhelming when everyone seems to have the necessities and the budget is tight.

Natasha Haynes, a Mississippi State University Extension Service agent in Rankin County, said one easy solution is to give homemade food gifts.

“Everybody has to eat, and food gifts do not have to be expensive or high in calories,” Haynes said. “From homemade granola to jars filled with ingredients for a pot of healthy soup, good gifts are limited only by your creativity.”

Consumers can keep financial and personal information safe by following a few simple guidelines when shopping this holiday season. (Photo by MarsBars/iStockphoto)
November 13, 2014 - Filed Under: Family, Family Financial Management

RAYMOND -- Consumers who take a few precautions while shopping this holiday season can avoid the unwanted surprise of empty bank accounts and stolen identities.

Rita Green, family financial management specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, recommends shoppers follow some guidelines when making purchases in stores and online.

November 14, 2014 - Filed Under: 4-H, City and County Government

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Four young Mississippians will have the opportunity to represent 4-H and the Mississippi State University Center for Government and Community Development as pages in the 2015 State Legislature.

All senior 4-H’ers are encouraged to apply for the positions with the 2015 Lt. Governor Tate Reeves 4-H Senate Page Program. Selected applicants will serve in the Mississippi Senate the week of Feb. 9-13. To be considered, applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. Dec. 3.

Appreciate holiday food displays, but do not get carried away with unhealthy options, including the beverage choices. (Photo by Getty Images/iStockphoto)
November 14, 2014 - Filed Under: Family, Food and Health

MISSISSIPPI STATE -- ’Tis the season to forget troubles and be happy, but Mississippians top the list of groups who cannot ignore a life-threatening concern lurking around their tables and lifestyles.

Mississippi leads the nation in obesity and ranks second in diabetes, and Mississippi State University Extension Service health specialist David Buys said the two go hand in hand.

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