Tunica County Extension Office

Please contact us if you believe you have spotted one!

662-363-2911

Keep your eyes open for the spotted lanternfly!

This VERY invasive species is spreading in the United States and has made its way as far south as Tennessee. It is likely to find its way into at some point, and any observations should be reported immediately. Although not considered a "structural pest," there is a good chance that a sharp-eyed PMP might be the first to find them here. Samples and collection data are required. Below is a short article for more information.
https://extension.msstate.edu/newsletters/bug%E2%80%99s-eye-view/2023/spotted-lanternfly-vol-9-no-15

There is still time to register! Tomorrow at Mid South Ag in Tunica! There will be a lot of good and useful information! All are welcomed, please register today by scanning the QR code or following the link!

https://reg.extension.msstate.edu/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0081-0004-7a7aa101ba334eb4acde412893233e9d

We will truly miss Dr. Layton! Enjoy your retirement!

What a BEE-sy week!! The last day of The Tunica County SWCD Teacher Workshop, our agent, Sam Floyd went out to help the teachers identify insects and creatures after they collected water samples from Beaver Dam. Then she gave a quick tour of the local Eagle’s nest we have in Tunica County! These workshops were so fun and a great hands on way for the teachers to gain knowledge and skills to take back to their students in the upcoming school year! We had some teachers go ahead and sign up for our Hatch-out program and many teachers are excited to get their upcoming students and themselves involved in our local 4-H! We have a feeling that this school year will be a GREAT one! Tunica County SWCD did a wonderful job putting on this year’s workshop and we look forward to working with them again in the future!

Deadline to register is Tomorrow! Please call us if you would like to register your children! Ages 8-13! A friendly competition for the children to participate in! Call us today! 662-363-2911

We joined up with The Tunica County SWCD for their BEE-nefits of pollinators teacher workshop and presented a program on ecosystems. Our Agent, Sam Floyd, spoke about the importance of our ecosystem and how everything has a purpose and place. We got to create mini ecosystems from material collected outside for the teachers to put in their classrooms. Sam also taught the teachers how they can make mini ecosystems for free with their students out of materials that they already have in their classrooms and outdoors. The future looks bright with this group of teachers! We are looking forward to working with them in the future and adding some new 4-H kids and Volunteers!!

Just finishing up our soybean test plot! Excited to see the results come harvest season! If you are interested in learning what type of soybean works best for your land check into doing a test plot next year!

Friendly reminder that the registration deadline for Plant Science Experiments is this Friday, May 24th!

Periodical cicadas have been getting all of the attention lately, but did you know Mississippi has annual cicadas, too?

Annual cicadas are found across the state and are big, tough-bodied insects about an inch long. They are greenish insects with large eyes and transparent wings that fold alongside their bodies.

Annual cicadas usually begin appearing in June, making their presence known by the loud singing of the males. Unlike 13-year cicadas, annual cicadas occur every year, but this does not mean they have a one year life cycle. Depending on the species, it takes two to three years, or more, for them to complete a generation, but the generations overlap so that some adults emerge every year.

Most of the annual cicadas here in the state belong to the genus Tibicen, but there are many different species of Tibicen cicadas, and their songs vary considerably. Pay attention to the cicadas you hear singing this summer and you will probably notice several different types of songs.

Although annual cicadas can be found throughout the state every year, periodical cicadas emerge every 13 years and only in certain areas. 2024 is one of those years that Brood XIX periodical cicadas, also known as the Great Southern Brood, appears. These cicadas look dramatically different, with red eyes, black bodies and orange-veined wings.

Brood XIX is the largest of all broods, with cicadas emerging in parts of 15 states, including Mississippi, but they will only be found in about 17 counties on the northeast side of Mississippi. Before this year, they have been living underground as nymphs, feeding harmlessly on the roots of hardwood trees. The males sing to attract mates.

Here in Mississippi emergence began in late April and the thrum of periodical cicadas will be heard through much of May, with numbers declining toward the end of the month. By mid-June the songs of periodical cicadas will be replaced by those of annual cicadas.

Our Last Private Applicator Training of the year will be April 30th at 9:30 AM! Call us to sign up before Tuesday! 662-363-2911

The Dundee Weather Station is up and running! We Should have data collected by the middle of next week, which is when you will see it up on the website. A huge thank you to Mr. Pat for getting it all together! This link that I have attached is how you can check the station and the other one located North of Tunica.
Link: http://deltaweather.extension.msstate.edu/stations

We teamed up with Tunica County SWCD to show appreciation to all the teachers in Tunica County with a "Kind Cart". We truly appreciate you all and thank you for teaching our future leaders and helping them grow!

Call us to sign up for a fun free science project for your child to do this summer! 662-363-2911

We have another PAT this Wedneday at 9:30 AM. Call us to sign up, we still have a few spots available!

Tunica County Extension Office: 662-363-2911

We will be closed on March 29 for Good Friday! We will reopen on Monday, April 1. We hope everyone has a safe Easter holiday weekend!

Don't Forget, We have a PAT tomorrow morning at 9:30 AM! Give us a call to register! 662-363-2911

Private applicator training dates. Please call our office to register. You do NOT have to live in Tunica County to come to the class and get certified/recertified. If you aren't sure when yours expires we can look it up for you! Give us a call 662-363-2911

RSVP TODAY!! Our next Garden Club workshop will be March 20, 2024 from 4:00PM to to 5:00 PM. This work shop subject is called "Know What To Grow". We will talk about how to start your garden and what to start planting NOW!

If anyone would like to purchase a ham through Logan Farms, $10 will go directly to our local 4-H Club!!

2024 Mississippi 4-H Wildlife Art and Photography Contest! We have the registration forms at our office, come by to pick one up!

We look forward to seeing everyone at the County Row crop meeting tomorrow!!

If you missed the 4-H shooting sports meeting, the safety meeting for 4-H shooting sports Is today from 5:30 to 6:30 at our office! You and your child can come and still participate! We will be offering archery, rifle, and shotgun! This is a great opportunity for grandparents to participate in an activity with their grandchildren also! However, To be able to participate in shooting sports the child and an adult MUST attend this meeting today! This is for ages 8-18! Call us If you have any questions 662-363-2911 ! Look forward to seeing everyone and getting our 4-H shooting sports up and running 🍀

Congratulations to our Tunica County ANR Agent for being recognized as the extension specialist in the winter 2024 edition, Delta Ag Journal! If you haven’t already read the article, take a look. We are looking forward to this year with Sam!

Don't forget to call and register for our Multi-County Row Crop Meeting! Lunch will be provided! This event is free for all our farmers in Tunica, Tate, Quitman, Panola, Desoto, and Coahoma County! We have exciting news to share! Call our office to register 662-363-2911

See you tonight at 5:30PM!

Our shooting sports interest meeting is still on for tomorrow! Excited to get our 4-H Shooting sports up and running. If you can't make it please reach out and let us know so we can still get you the information! We are also still in need of volunteers. If that is something you would be interested in please come to the meeting as well! Stay warm and dry, we will see you tomorrow!

Calling all farmers! Please join us for our Annual Multi-County Row Crop Meeting! Lunch will be provided. Please call our office to register. Lets get this planting season started off right!

Merry Christmas, from our family to yours!