Marshall County Extension Office

Today, Ag Commissioner Andy Gipson announced that MDAC will begin accepting a new round of applications for its Wild Hog Control Program (WHCP) on Tuesday, Febr...uary 1. All Mississippi counties are eligible for the application period. The next trapping period will coincide with the upcoming crop planting season. I urge farmers that have experienced historical agricultural loss from wild hogs to submit an application, said Commissioner Gipson. We want to work with farmers and their neighbors to prevent agricultural loss by supplying the correct trapping equipment and technical guidance on how to successfully trap wild hogs. Read more at: https://agnet.mdac.ms.gov/msMarkets/uploads/530.pdf.

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork is delicious for lunch or dinner - with only four ingredients needed! #HappyHealthyMS #healthyfood #recipes #slowcooker #MSUExt http://happyhealthy.ms/recipes/slow-cooker-pulled-pork https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4BUAbHZ71I

Whether you are packing lunch for the day or being active after work, making the right choices about food and being active are a big part of HappyHealthy Living. Today is a great day to start! #HappyHealthyMS #healthylifestyle #MSUExt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxyQV0Q-4UQ

For a new twist on a tasty dish, check out this Spaghetti Squash with Tomato Sauce. It's also a great way to add vegetables to your meal. #HappyHealthyMS #healt...hyfood #spaghettisquash #MSUExt http://happyhealthy.ms/recipes/spaghetti-squash-tomato-sauce https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDEVBca3mL8

Mulch is important to the health of your landscape! When it is applied properly it helps hold moisture in the soil, prevents weed growth, regulates soil tempera...ture, and protects the trunks of trees and shrubs from lawn equipment. But when mulch is applied incorrectly, it can harm your plants. A common example of harmful mulch application is the mulch volcanoes you see around trees. When applying mulch around trees and shrubs in the lawn, don’t mound it up around the trunk. You want it to be 4 to 6 inches deep and extend from the trunk 3 to 6 feet around the entire tree. Don’t allow the mulch to touch the trunk. Pull the mulch 2 to 3 inches away from the trunk to prevent problems, including disease and rodent damage. If you would like to know about the proper way to mulch the landscape, read our Mulches for the Landscape Extension publication here: http://ow.ly/GtNV50HBZjr #LearnWithExtension #MSUext

One way to keep fresh home produce on your plate all winter long is by growing microgreens! It does not take a lot of effort or space, and the colorful and tast...y results can have a big impact at mealtime. Microgreens are immature, densely grown seedlings of selected vegetables and herbs. I’ve been growing them for over 10 years, and my favorites include leafy microgreens like kale, arugula and baby lettuce. You harvest microgreens in 7 to 21 days from germination when the tiny plants have reached 1 to 3 inches tall. Depending on the species grown, the harvested microgreens consist of a stem, cotyledon and developing true leaves. And let me clear up some confusion between microgreens and sprouts. Sprouts are seeds that are geminated in a high-humidity system, and the entire plant -- leaves, stems and roots -- are harvested and consumed. Microgreens are seeds grown as normal plants, and only the stems and leaves are harvested for consumption. Read my latest SG column here: http://ow.ly/23cQ50HCMt6 #GrowWithExtension #MSUext

January 2022 Forage Newsletter - Fertilizer Prices: How to Get Most of Your Application? Current and past issues of Forage News are available online at: http://extension.msstate.edu/newsletters/forage-news

Can you tell the difference between a termite and an ant? Termites and ants share a number of similar physical characteristics, and it can be hard to distinguis...h between the two at first glance! Since termites can be active long before they are properly identified, mistaking them for ants could be a costly error! There are a few ways to tell these two insects apart: Wings: A good way to tell the difference between the two is by examining the insect’s wings. Termites have front wings and hind wings that are the same length, and are twice as long as their body. Ants have shorter wings overall, and their front wings are longer than their hind wings. Antennae: Termites have straight antennae, while ants have bent antennae. Body: Termites have little to no visible waist, while ants have a narrow waist. If you notice tiny flying insects around your house or dead in the windowsill, it’s important to determine if they are ant swarmers or termite swarmers. ‘Swarmers’ is a term many entomologists use for reproductive ants or termites. Unlike the workers, these reproductive stages have wings and typically fly together in large numbers. After they swarm, termites and ants shed their wings. If you’re unsure about which insect has taken up residence in your home, it’s best to contact a professional exterminator. If you have termites, your exterminator will need to remove the pesky insects and determine if there is any structural damage to your home. An ant infestation is something you can typically treat on your own. Read the full blog post + find more resources here: http://ow.ly/wuqh50HA52P #LearnWithExtension #MSUext

Mulching your landscape beds should be at the top of that spring checklist. There are lots of options when it comes to mulching material, including pine bark, ...hardwood bark and pine straw. The choice really is up to the gardener. Newspapers, gardening magazines and landscape professionals tell us the best thing we can do for our trees and shrubs is to apply a layer of mulch around the base. But opinions vary as to how much mulch to spread. Many recommendations say 3 to 4 inches, and I’ve seen some suggest as deep as 10 inches, which is way too much. Never, ever use so much mulch around your trees and shrubs that it resembles a volcano. I think a 2- to 3-inch layer is sufficient for most applications. Bonus tip: A good mulching rule to remember is to always go out in diameter around the tree or shrub with mulch, do not go up. This means to spread mulch horizontally and not pile it vertically against the trunk. Read my full SG column here: http://ow.ly/sC2K50Hys7C #GrowWithExtension #MSUext

Pruning chores for January! Remove dead, diseased, or broken limbs on all trees. Lightly trim shrubs if they are creating a hazard. Dispose of clippings to ...prevent spread of disease or insect issues. When, how, and if you should prune depends on the type of plant or tree you have and your goal for the plant. Pruning should take place after the plant’s landscape feature has passed. In most cases, you want to prune after a plant has flowered or the berries have faded. Late winter to early spring, or February to April, is the best time to prune for size control. Read our full blog post on this topic + find more resources here: http://ow.ly/zNYk50HxaZI #GrowWithExtension #MSUext

For a traditional favorite that combines ingredients usually cooked separately, try this Greens and Cornbread recipe today: http://happyhealthy.extension.msstate.edu//greens-and-corn #HappyHealthyMS #healthyfood #recipes #cornbread #MSUExt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPPM0QyEHNI

Check out this SNOW DAY BUCKET LIST of things to do IF you get SNOW today like the forecast is predicting! Create family memories! #MSUext 1. Build a ...snowman. 2. Make hot cocoa. 3. Make a snow angel. 4. Make snow cream. 5. Make paper snowflakes. 6. Build a fire in your fireplace & have indoor s'mores. 7. Play a board game. 8. Put together a puzzle. 9. Go sledding. 10. Have a snowball fight. 11. Bake cookies. 12. Watch a movie. 13. Bundle up and go for a walk around your neighborhood in the snow and notice the differences. 14. Read a book. 15. Make a large pot of soup. 16. Count your blessings. 17. Build a blanket fort. 18. Make a craft. 19. Check on a friend or neighbor. 20. Take a nap. #MSUext

Try this tasty Granola that's great for breakfast or easy to pack as a snack. #HappyHealthyMS #healthyfood #recipes #granola #MSUExt http://happyhealthy.ms/recipes/easy-homemade-granola https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQNiKU5Ly3A

For a quick snack, Black Bean and Corn Salsa tastes great, and it's easy to make. http://happyhealthy.ms/recipes/black-bean-and-corn-salsa #HappyHealthyMS #healthyfood #recipes #salsa #MSUExt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycCvIX5rh3s

Every day, you have lots of ways to make HappyHealthy Living a priority! Focus on making the best decisions while shopping, cooking, being active and spending time with family. #HappyHealthyMS #healthylifestyle #MSUExt https://youtu.be/-reSmHxnHTY

Kale Salad is easy to make and full of flavor! Try this new recipe: http://happyhealthy.ms/recipes/kale-salad #HappyHealthyMS #healthyfood #recipes #MSUExt https://youtu.be/mVqJRiWKWM0

On this weeks NE FCS Minute Ensley Howell, Pontotoc County Extension Agent shares information about Alcohol Awareness Month.

A well-planned kitchen makes cooking easier. Learn how to stock a HappyHealthy kitchen, so your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer are always prepared and ready:... http://happyhealthy.ms/tips-vide/create-happyhealthy-pantry #HappyHealthyMS #healthyfood #kitchen #MSUExt https://youtu.be/eCWCuJa3m3s