Mississippi Business Journal » grass

Hay and forage producers hoping for blue skies

MBJ Staff — Mon, 06 May 2013 22:23:17 +0000

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — As pastures transition from cool-season to warm-season grasses, the state’s hay and forage producers hope for sunny days that are better suited to growing and harvesting quality crops. “We’re finishing up with our cool season forages, which are annual ryegrass, wheat and oats with some clovers mixed in,” said Mark Mowdy, an [...]

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Scientist finding native grass best for livestock forage

MBJ Staff — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:14:10 +0000

STARKVILLE — Studies at Mississippi State University are finding that when it comes to providing forage for livestock, native grasses may be best. Sam Riffell, an associate professor of wildlife ecology and management in the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, is examining the benefits of replacing exotic grasses, commonly used in Mississippi grazing pastures, [...]

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Drought shrinking ranchers’ profits; consumers to feel impact

MBJ Staff — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 11:40:59 +0000

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — Pictures of wilting corn in the Midwest may dominate the evening news, but the 2012 drought is also shrinking livestock’s profit potential nationwide. John Michael Riley, agricultural economist with Mississippi State University’s Extension Service, said the drought means livestock, dairy and aquaculture producers will continue to see higher feed prices. “Cattle will [...]

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Invasive bug poses threat to crops, lawns, homes

MBJ Staff — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 15:01:23 +0000

MONTGOMERY COUNTY and WARREN COUNTY — The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) has confirmed the first positive identification of the kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria, in Mississippi. The insects were discovered in the past week in Montgomery and Warren counties. As its name suggests, the kudzu bug commonly feeds on kudzu, but it can [...]

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County’s beach replenishment program stopped due to grass

Associated Press — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 23:42:44 +0000

HANCOCK COUNTY — Hancock County officials say the state and federal governments don’t want to replenish a stretch of beach in area of Clermont Harbor. The Sea Coast Echo reports the beach stretches roughly from Buccaneer State Park to just past Bordages Street in Bay St. Louis. Officials want to pump in sand to create [...]

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MSU-developed grass being studied as renewable energy source

MBJ Staff — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 12:08:14 +0000

STARKVILLE — A variety of grass developed at Mississippi State University is getting its moment in the sun as a biofuel ingredient, thanks to a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture announcement. Freedom giant miscanthus, developed by Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station researcher Brian Baldwin and his colleagues, was selected as the crop of choice [...]

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Economy, weather hurting turfgrass industry

MBJ Staff — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:31:36 +0000

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — The continuing decline of the housing market and the lack of new construction are taking its toll on Mississippi’s turfgrass industry. Wayne Wells, Mississippi State University Extension turf specialist, said, “Sod production relies heavily on construction, so when there isn’t as much, sod producers feel the hit. There is some business to [...]

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