Humphreys County Extension Office

08/10/2026

Honey bee swarms are part of the natural process colonies go through when they outgrow their current living space! Honey bees are not usually aggressive when swarming because they don’t have a hive to protect.

They are simply splitting off from the original colony. They land on a bush or other object temporarily, and from the protective ball of bees, they send scouts to find the ideal location for their new home.

As the scouts return to the swarm -- that brown mass of bees hanging from a tree branch or porch -- they lobby for their choice in an intricate dance. Often, several scouts have found potential new homes, and other workers are recruited to investigate each spot.

Each returning bee may dance, and the process continues until they reach consensus and lead the rest of the swarm to the new location. In some ways, they resemble real estate agents convincing prospective buyers to select the location they think is best.

They’re relatively vulnerable during this stage because the queen is with them and they need her to survive the relocation so she can lay eggs once they’ve built enough comb in their new spot. If she doesn’t survive, they’re doomed.

So, what should you do if you find a honey bee swarm?
1. Don't panic. The first thing people need to do is stay calm and let nature take its course. If you see a swarm of bees hanging in a tree, on a fence post or in a bush, just leave it alone.

2. Don't spray them with a pesticide. Avoid spraying the bees with pesticide, especially if someone is coming to catch the swarm. Once the bees have been sprayed, a beekeeper will not be able to save them.

3. Contact your local MSU Extension office. The swarm likely will move on in a matter of hours if the weather is good. However, if you want to get the swarm removed, call your local Extension office to see if they have a list of local beekeepers who are interested in swarm catching.

08/03/2026

08/03/2026

Humphreys County 4-H'ers Shine in 2026 Dairy Poster Contest
Hard work and creativity paid off for Humphreys County 4-H'ers who participated in the 2026 4-H Dairy Poster Contest. This year's theme, "Milk's Got Game™. Do You?", challenged youth to creatively promote the importance of dairy through educational artwork.
Humphreys County was proudly represented at the state level, with Aiden Evans and Grayson Hood earning First Place in their respective age divisions for Best Theme Interpretation.
Additional county award recipients included:
Khloe Snyder – Outstanding Visual Impact and Honorable Mention for Most Creative Design
Emma Farish – Best Educational Poster
Lily Farish – Best Use of Color
Krislyn Hood – Excellence in Dairy Promotion
The Humphreys County 4-H Program extends sincere congratulations to all of the participants for their outstanding effort, creativity, and willingness to learn while promoting Mississippi's dairy industry.
A special thank-you is extended to Mrs. Stephanie Snyder for bringing her Humphreys Academy students to participate in this summer's Humphreys County 4-H activities and events. Her support and encouragement helped provide youth with valuable opportunities to develop creativity, communication skills, and confidence through 4-H programming.
The Humphreys County 4-H Program is proud of each participant and looks forward to seeing even more youth showcase their talents in future 4-H educational contests.

07/22/2026

Youth in Humphreys County, MS who are interested in showing rabbits can call the Humphreys County Extension Office at 662-247-2915.

07/21/2026

Can you handle the heat?! Have you ever been in the grocery store or farmers market and wondered how hot a certain pepper was? This helpful guide breaks down the heat level of several common peppers.

The Scoville Heat Units (SHU) scale is used to measure the amount of capsaicin in peppers. Capsaicin is a chemical compound that gives peppers their heat.

So, how hot is that pepper? Here’s a list of a few common peppers and where they fall on the Scoville scale:

Bell peppers: 0 SHU
Poblano: 1,000–1,500 SHU
Jalapeño: 2,500–5,000 SHU
Serrano: 5,000–23,000 SHU
Tabasco: 30,000–50,000 SHU
Cayenne: 30,000–125,000 SHU
Habanero: 100,000–350,000 SHU
Ghost pepper: 1,000,000 SHU

If you're interested in growing your own peppers, check out our Mississippi Vegetable Gardener's Guide Extension publication: https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/mississippi-vegetable-gardeners-guide

07/15/2026

The Humphreys County 4-H Program invites youth ages 8–18 to participate in our final 4-H Summer Event. Join us for an afternoon of hands-on art activities designed to encourage creativity, build confidence, and develop new skills and have fun!