Lowndes County Extension Office

10/23/2026

Happy Maroon Friday!

Happy Maroon Friday from Jatonya, Angelina, Stephanie, Josh, and Vivian at the Lowndes County Extension Office!

10/22/2026

You can plant blueberries in Mississippi between November and February!

Be careful not to plant them too deeply. The rootball should be just below the surface -- one-quarter to one-half inch.

Rabbiteye and Southern Highbush blueberry varieties both grow well in Mississippi. Rabbiteye varieties are native to Mississippi and have been improved to grow quickly and produce large amounts of berries. Fruit ripens in June and July. These bushes require cross-pollination to produce fruit, so you’ll want to plant at least two varieties close to one another.

Southern Highbush varieties produce fruit during May. Several varieties of each kind produce a range of bush sizes and fruit types.

Blueberries prefer a moist, well-drained soil enhanced with organic matter. Ideal pH is 4.5 to 5.5, so plants can be successfully planted with acid-loving ornamental landscape plants, such as azaleas, camelias and gardenias. Blueberry plants are evergreen with a pretty, pink bloom in the spring.

Blueberries have shallow root systems and can’t compete well with weeds, so mulching with pine bark, pine needles, grass clippings, or leaves is recommended. Do not use barnyard manure.

Keep the plants well-watered to help establish the root system. Consistent watering is especially important once a fertilizer schedule is begun, otherwise the plant won’t take up those nutrients.
Soil testing helps determine soil pH and soil nutrient levels.

10/21/2026

This is a great opportunity for students who are interested in finding out what Extension is really like. The internship program is how we found our very on Angelina Sanders!!!!

We are looking for juniors and seniors in college who are eager to gain firsthand experience as Extension agents this summer! This is a paid internship where they will learn about the diverse roles and responsibilities of an Extension agent.

Why Apply?
Gain valuable insights into community-focused work.
Enhance your resume with practical experience.
Network with professionals in the field.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/eXxa50ZZ8Wt

10/19/2026

10/17/2026

We are getting ready for the Lowndes County forestry field day at Hildreth Farm. Come out and join us. Registration is at 9:30 am. We will have three presentations on forestry and wildlife management. We will also be giving away several door prizes including a Stihl chainsaw. Hope to see you soon.

10/06/2026

Here's your veggie planting guide for October! Some of the vegetables you can plant in the garden this month include...

Spinach
Garlic
Green onions
Mustard
Leeks
English peas
Beets
Carrots
Radishes
Spinach
Lettuce
Beets
Celery

Planting times will vary by area.

Read our Mississippi Vegetable Gardener's Guide for TONS of great info: https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/mississippi-vegetable-gardeners-guide

Contact your county's Extension agent for localized guidance: https://extension.msstate.edu/county-offices

10/06/2026

August would typically be too early to accurately forecast Mississippi’s soybean crop, but this year, it is a month ahead of schedule – far enough along to predict a promising harvest.

Mississippi State University Extension soybean specialist Justin Calhoun anticipates a state record-breaking yield in 2026. The previous record, 57 bushels per acre, was last reached in 2023.

Growers in the state planted about 2.3 million acres of soybeans this year. As of Aug. 17, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated 66% of the state’s soybeans are in either good or excellent condition, with another 31% described as fair.

Widespread early planting helped give this year’s soybean crop a head start, Calhoun said, and timely rainfall brought about the possibility of record-breaking yields.

“The Delta soybean crops look average. What’s really going to make up the ground, I think, is the beans on the eastern side of the state,” he said. “Most of that ground that has normally been planted in May, maybe even June, got planted in late March or early April, on into that optimal window of mid-April.”

He also discussed ongoing research at MSU examining planting dates, seeding rates and replant thresholds. One study is evaluating soybean populations as low as 45,000 seeds per acre to determine how effectively modern soybean varieties can compensate for thinner stands.

“We have been overseeding soybeans, especially with some of these newer, more aggressive varieties,” Calhoun said. “The recommendation of 130,000 to 140,000 seeds per acre is a little high. In some scenarios, different tillage practices, cover crops, the more factors we throw in there, we might have to adjust some, but we’re seeing some of those extreme low seeding rates being able to fill in.”

10/06/2026

Join us for our upcoming Lowndes County Cattlemen's meeting on October 22nd at the Lowndes County Extension Office. Please call 662-328-2111 to RSVP by October 20th.

10/05/2026

Our Lowndes County Office is kicking off 4-H week by wearing our green to support 4-H!!!! Go Green Day!!!