News

Tractor seat plant is a tough shade performer

There is an unusual looking plant with a descriptive name that performs well in shade gardens in the state.

The tractor seat plant has oversized, thick and leathery foliage shaped like the curved iron seats once found on old tractors. Known also as leopard plant, the Farfugium japonicum is native to the stream banks, moist woodlands and coastal regions of Japan and eastern Asia.

MSU Extension Head Start to hold Hancock Co. job fair

HANCOCK COUNTY, Miss. -- The Mississippi State University Extension Service is holding a job fair for individuals interested in working with young children and families at its new Hancock County Head Start location.

Simple steps can deter kissing bugs around homes

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Triatomine insects are not new to the United States, but they’ve recently gotten a lot of attention because of their ability to transmit a rare, but serious disease. 

Invasive pest confirmed in Mississippi cotton

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Specialists with the Mississippi State University Extension Service are monitoring the spread of a newly detected invasive pest in the state that has the potential to severely impact future cotton yields.

Big state corn harvest in 2025 is nearly complete

Mississippi’s corn crop is much bigger than expected this year, and favorable conditions in the Delta are producing a very good crop on many acres.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, or NASS, increased its estimation of state corn acres in September to 880,000 acres.

MSU field day hosts turf professionals

The 2025 Turfgrass Research Field Day was held Sept. 18 at the R.R. Foil Plant Science Research Center. The MSU Extension Service, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, and the MSU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences showcased their ongoing research projects to turfgrass managers, lawn care operators, golf course superintendents, sod producers, turf and landscape students, and landscape architects during the event.

Thoughtful planning makes garden slope a major asset

Sometimes what moves a landscape from interesting to outstanding is a change in elevation.

Precision conservation offers alternative to traditional farming

Developed through the Forest and Wildlife Research Center at Mississippi State University, the Precision Conservation Tool, or PCT, is a decision-making software that identifies exact locations where conservation practices will be the most economically beneficial to farmers on specific areas of their land. 

Cypress vine is fast-growing non-native garden highlight

I enjoy plants that not only bring beauty but also attract pollinators, and one of the most striking plants is the exotic cypress vine.

This is not a native plant, but it has earned its place in many Southern landscapes for the charm it adds and the visitors it draws.