News

By Susan Collins-Smith, MSU Extension Service Many of the practices associated with sustainability, such as recycling, can be extended into the garden. Composting is a way to help reduce organic waste that goes to the landfill and helps feed gardens. These organic materials, which include grass clippings, leaves, and other yard wastes, account for about…

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks’ Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is gearing up for an unforgettable spring break filled with scientific wonders, outdoor adventures, and artistic flair. Families, art and nature enthusiasts, teachers, and Scouts are invited to dive into a celebration of curiosity, discovery, and pure fun at the museum’s spring break…

Two famous Lawrence County cowboys have been selected and honored as pioneers of the rodeo performance event of trick and fancy riding, and inducted into the Canadian Trick Riding Hall of Fame. Honored as trick riding pioneers, Earl and Weldon Bascom lived in Canada before moving to Mississippi in the 1930s. The Bascom brothers lived…

By Eddie Smith, MSU Extension Service A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of visiting Coach’s Cedar Creek Farm in Lucedale where I was awestruck by the brightly blooming Amstel begonias growing in one of their greenhouses. These begonias, also known as Rieger begonias, are a unique blend of tuberous and wax begonias. As…

Mississippi’s newspapers have been trusted with publishing legally-required government notices for decades – centuries, in fact. Of course we publish news about cities, counties, and schools in our communities, but newspaper media also provides a valuable service to government and the public by independently distributing required legal notices to audiences far and wide. Public notices…

By Eddie Smith, MSU Extension Service Did you know there is a tree that produces fruit in late winter and early spring? That tree is the loquat and as I drive around Mississippi on these cold winter days, I have noticed many of them in gardens and landscapes. With their evergreen elegance and delectable fruit,…

Registration is now open for the UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute’s See, Test and Treat event where free cervical, breast, and oral cancer screenings will be offered for qualifying uninsured and underinsured women. The Institute and the College of American Pathologists Foundation are hosting the event from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., Saturday, April…

Fossil enthusiasts are invited to pack up their rock and fossil discoveries and head to MDWFP’s Mississippi Museum of Natural Science (MMNS) for the 21st Annual Fossil Road Show from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., Saturday, March 2. “Bring your fossil discoveries to get expert opinions about their ages and identities from our team of…

By Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson Fresh farm-raised food from the garden usually follows a simple and inexpensive path, and often the farmer is also the cook and the consumer. On the larger and more common commercial scale, farm-to-table food is a bit more complicated: traveling over local roads, state highways, and federal…

By Susan Collins-Smith, MSU Extension Service As drought takes its toll on Mississippi’s trees, foresters encourage landowners and homeowners to be on the lookout for pine bark beetles as spring arrives. Butch Bailey, a forester with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said most of the tree death people are seeing across the state is…