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New science program targets skills, scores

An innovative partnership between Starkville School District and Mississippi State University teaches key science concepts in a week-long intensive immersion program for fourth and fifth graders.

"Our goal is to give students a fun, safe and educational forum in which to generate enthusiasm and interest in science and the environ...

9/8/2011

Aid available to prevent Southern pine beetles

Pine beetles are a threat when trees are stressed, but a cost-share program can help Mississippi private forest landowners keep trees healthy.

Andy Londo, professor in MSU's Forest and Wildlife Research Center, said proactive management activities, such as periodic thinning, can increase overall forest health and reduce the threat of a...

8/18/2011

MSU study finds market exists for timber insurance

The tornadoes that ripped through Mississippi this April damaged about 74,000 acres of forestland in 22 counties, racking up timber losses of more than $30 million. Most of that timber was uninsured, but the results of a survey conducted by Mississippi State University may help change that trend.

Steve Bullard was one of those uninsur...

8/11/2011

Poor forestry prices mean growing supply

It’s not the heat or drought but the economy, specifically poor housing starts, that are causing grief for Mississippi’s forestry industry in 2011.

James Henderson, forestry economist and management specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said the slow economy is hurting the industry.

&...

8/5/2011

Manage land, herd for bigger, better deer

Trophy bucks and high-quality deer herds are not the result of random chance, but of planned management of habitat and harvests.

"The white-tailed deer is likely the most economically and ecologically important animal in Mississippi," said Bronson Strickland, wildlife management specialist with the Mississippi State Universit...

8/4/2011

MSU expert to provide fisheries support

A Mississippi State University Extension associate will be supporting landowners and fisheries resources throughout Mississippi.

Bill Maily began his new duties as an Extension associate in MSU’s Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture on Aug. 1 and will work from the Central Mississippi Research and Extension Center ...

8/3/2011

MSU study determines realistic duck call materials

Most duck hunters look forward to the thrill of mimicking duck calls to attract members of the flock.

James Callicutt, a former Mississippi State University graduate student, has spent much of his life as a duck hunter and call maker. Most recently, he has studied the sounds of female mallard ducks and compared them to sounds from man...

7/28/2011

Hopper selected for expanded MSU ag and forestry leadership role

The dean of Mississippi State University’s College of Forest Resources and director of the Forest and Wildlife Research Center will take on an expanded leadership role.

Effective Aug. 19 and pending formal approval by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, George M. Hopper will also serve as the dean of t...

7/26/2011

Pine bark beetles taking advantage of drought

With most of the state needing rain and south Mississippi under exceptional drought, landowners are watching as their trees deal with stress.

Glenn Hughes, forestry professor with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said dead or dying trees, both pine and hardwood, are becoming a common sight in south Mississippi. This ...

7/21/2011

Native plants may help save taxpayers money

Two Mississippi agencies are working together to determine if growing native plants along highway rights of way will reduce maintenance costs while maintaining visibility and safety.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation and Mississippi State University’s Forest and Wildlife Research Center have sown native plant seeds a...

6/30/2011

MSU classes teach how to manage white-tailed deer

Mississippi’s 2 million white-tailed deer have an estimated $1 billion economic impact on the state, so knowing how to manage this wildlife resource is a common goal among landowners and hunters.

Two Mississippi State University short courses in July will teach those wanting to manage white-tailed deer populations on their land. ...

6/16/2011

Study finds landowners unaware of incentives

Financial incentives for property owners to plant and manage their lands for timber production have been around since the 1930s, but many private landowners in Mississippi do not know about them.

These incentives, called cost-share programs, were developed to offset the initial costs for site preparation, tree planting and forest stand...

5/26/2011

Animals fleeing floods cause people problems

Flooding from the Mississippi and other rivers is disrupting even the wildlife as it brings activities to nearly a standstill in many areas of the Delta.

The river flooding is already displacing wildlife, moving them to higher and drier areas, where they sometimes cause problems as they interact with humans. Deer, raccoons, opossums, s...

5/19/2011

Flooding can stress and damage trees

The overflowing Mississippi River is threatening the Delta’s trees, but with the proper care and maintenance, many can and will recover.

The Delta’s forests are exclusively bottomland hardwood, and the trees range from tolerant to very intolerant to flooding. For example, baldcypresses generally fare better than white oaks ...

5/19/2011

Spring pond work yields summer fishing fun

Landowners with ponds have a checklist of spring maintenance chores that will result in quality fishing, swimming or boating experiences, and a newly updated Mississippi State University publication can help.

Spring is a great time to get a jump on aquatic vegetation control, said Tom Holman, fisheries biologist with the Mississippi De...

5/18/2011

Biloxi hosting world conference in June on tree improvement

A major international venue for presenting and discussing new research developments in tree genetics and biotechnology will be held June 13-16 in Biloxi.

The 2011 Southern Forest Tree Improvement Conference is being organized by Mississippi State University’s forestry department and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fore...

5/10/2011

State timber losses estimated at $8.4M

Tornadoes that swept through Mississippi and much of the southeast April 27 caused an estimated $8.4 million of timber losses.

The Mississippi Forestry Commission compiled the estimate April 30 based on aerial surveys conducted after the storms. Russell Bozeman, director of forest protection and forest information with the commission...

5/5/2011

Girls discover outdoor careers at MSU event

Eleven young women visited Mississippi State University to learn how to turn their passion for wildlife into rewarding jobs at the first Conservation Careers Discovery Day.

The young women went to the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge to get hands-on experience in GPS technology, orienteering and conservation of endangered species. Memb...

4/14/2011

Four summer camps provide learning, fun

Students interested in the diverse world of natural resources, science and conservation can take advantage of four camps offered this summer by Mississippi State University.

The Natural Resources Summer Camp will be held June 5-9 at MSU. The $190 fee covers lodging, meals and all activities. Campers will spend time on campus, at Dorman...

3/24/2011

Preservatives help wood weather southern climates

The climate of Mississippi and the Gulf South region presents challenges for wood preservation, making water repellents and the environment top considerations.

David Jones, assistant Extension professor in Mississippi State University’s forest products department, said wood treatments can lengthen the performance of timber by dec...

3/17/2011

MSU announces Discovery Day for girls

The College of Forest Resources at Mississippi State University is holding the first-ever all-girls Discovery Day on campus to introduce female high school students to careers in wildlife and fisheries.

Discovery Day will take place on April 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free for 24 students in the ninth through 11th grades. Partic...

2/28/2011

Furniture summit to be held at MSU

A March 8-9 summit will provide those in the furniture manufacturing business with the tools needed to succeed.

Furniture and bedding sales rose nearly three percent from 2009 to 2010, and manufacturing has expanded for the past 18 consecutive months. It is becoming increasingly important for industry members to learn how to keep up wi...

2/24/2011

MSU professor awarded high honor

Bruce D. Leopold, Ph. D., of Mississippi State University, was honored with the prestigious Henry S. Mosby Award at the National Wild Turkey Federation’s 35th annual National Convention and Sport Show in Nashville, Tenn.

The Mosby Award is named for Henry S. Mosby, Ph. D., whose research during the mid-1900s set the standard for ...

2/22/2011

Biofuel facilities use state timber

Five new facilities that can transform wood into fuel will soon be built in Mississippi.

The facilities will further increase timber’s already-important role in the state’s economy. Mississippi’s forests cover nearly 20 million acres and generate more than $1 billion worth of timber each year. The forestry and forest ...

2/10/2011

MSU studies alternative grasses for airport safety

It has been two years since U.S. Airways Flight 1549 made an emergency landing in the Hudson River when a flock of Canada geese struck the engines just minutes after the plane took off.

Bird and airplane collisions cannot be completely avoided because the two share the same flying space. But scientists at Mississippi State University a...

2/3/2011

Youth offered chance to go squirrel hunting

Youth through age 15 have the opportunity to learn how to squirrel hunt during a special event Feb. 5 at the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge.

Extension Service personnel in Mississippi State University’s Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture Department are offering the hunting opportunity to a limited number of youth. To participa...

1/27/2011

Forest harvest value rebounds from 2009

The estimate for this year’s forestry year-end harvest value is better than last year’s dismal showing, and if the forecasted improvement in the overall economy is accurate, this trend could continue for the next few years.

The preliminary estimate for forestry’s overall harvest value is $1.078 billion, which is compa...

12/16/2010

MSU wood technology offers new possibilities

Mississippi State University scientists have found a new way to turn wood into highly absorbent charcoal and automobile parts.

While wood has been used to manufacture charcoal since the early 1600s, the new technique can create charcoal and other carbon-based products with a higher absorption capacity. Charcoal has been used widely to ...

11/23/2010

Major gift establishes wetland education theater at MSU

A major bequest from a West Point native and longtime conservationist will establish a demonstration wetland, outdoor classroom, and associated upland prairie in the heart of Mississippi State’s Starkville campus.

"The bequest from Carsie Clark Young Sr. provides resources for developing a site expected to become one of the ...

11/19/2010

Franklin Institute offers manufacturing workshop

A Nov. 16 workshop will teach manufacturers how to serve their customers better.

Mississippi State University’s Value Stream Mapping workshop is a one-day course that will teach manufacturers how to make their work flow more efficiently and eliminate unnecessary steps by mapping their work processes.

The 9 a.m. to 4 p.m...

11/4/2010

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