Lincoln County Extension Office

Calling All Future Wildlife Biologists and Habitat Managers!

If you know a young person who loves hunting, wildlife, or spending time outdoors, the Mississippi 4-H Food Plot Contest is an opportunity they won't want to miss.

This hands-on project gives youth ages 8-18 the chance to learn the fundamentals of wildlife habitat management by establishing and monitoring their own food plot.

Participants will:
✅ Collect and submit a FREE soil sample
✅ Receive their food plot seed at no cost
✅ Prepare and plant a food plot of up to ⅛ acre
✅ Install an exclusion cage and monitor rainfall
✅ Observe wildlife use through tracks, trail cameras, and other signs
✅ Keep records just like professional wildlife managers and researchers

This is more than a contest. It's a chance to experience the science behind managing habitat for deer and other wildlife while developing skills in record keeping, observation, and stewardship.

Whether they dream of becoming a wildlife biologist, working in natural resources, or simply want to improve the hunting property they enjoy with family and friends, this project offers real-world experience and a deeper understanding of how quality habitat is created.

🏆 Prizes will be awarded at both the district and state levels, and registration is only $10.

Stop by your local Extension office for more information or scan the QR code below to register.

Celebrating Glenda Kees for 27 years of outstanding service with MSU Extension as Lincoln County’s Office Associate. Your work has strengthened our programs, supported our people, and made a lasting impact. Thank you for your excellence and dedication.
Wishing you all the best in your next chapter... retirement.

Congratulations to our Family Health and Wellness Agent Latoya Evans!!

📣Join us today as we celebrate LATOYA EVANS as part of the 🎉NEAFCS 31 Days of Magic Member Spotlight Campaign! Help us recognize this magical member by sharing your congratulations in the comments! 💙

If you’ve heard an unusual buzzing or droning sound outdoors lately, or come across a few large cicadas, you may be seeing early emergers from Brood XXIII.

Periodical cicadas are different from the annual cicadas we hear every summer. These insects spend 13 years underground as nymphs, then emerge in large numbers during their scheduled brood year. For our area, the next major emergence of Brood XXIII is expected in 2028.

Why are some showing up now?

A small number can emerge early due to soil temperature, weather patterns, tree removal, soil disturbance, or natural developmental variation. It does not mean the full brood is arriving yet.

What to know:

• They are harmless to people and pets
• They do not sting or bite
• Their loud calls are males attracting mates
• Birds, wildlife, and curious dogs may see them as free snacks

Should you worry about trees?

A few scattered early emergers are usually not a concern. Large brood years can cause minor twig injury on young trees when females lay eggs, but 2028 would be the time to watch for that.

Making the Most of a Dry Spring: Ryegrass Hay Season

While an unseasonably dry spring presents challenges for many producers, it has offered one silver lining, excellent weather for putting up ryegrass hay.

Ryegrass can produce high-quality forage, but it requires a different approach than harvesting warm-season grasses like bermudagrass or bahiagrass.

What Makes Ryegrass Hay Different?

• Higher moisture content means it takes longer to dry.
• Tedding or fluffing is essential to promote air circulation and speed curing.
• Ample drying time is critical to prevent mold and preserve forage quality.
• Cool-season growth habits result in softer stems and dense windrows that require careful management.

Unlike summer hay, ryegrass demands patience and favorable weather but the payoff is worth it.

Why It Matters

When properly cured and stored, ryegrass hay provides high-quality winter forage with excellent palatability and nutritional value for cattle. It’s an investment that can reduce supplementation needs and support herd performance during the colder months.

A dry spring may not be ideal for every crop, but it certainly makes for outstanding hay-making conditions.

Join the Challenge!

At Mississippi State University Extension Service, we believe movement is medicine—and walking is just the beginning!!

Magnolia Moves Activity Challenge is an individual or team‑based health and wellness program that encourages people of all ages to increase physical activity and adopt healthier eating habits.

There is no cost to join this 6-week activity program, and you set the pace and choose the activities that you participate in throughout the six weeks. Open to participants of all ages, the program invites you to connect with your community, explore creative ways to stay active, and rediscover the joy of everyday movement.

The challenge officially kicks off on April 20!

Just download the MoveSpring app and it will seamlessly sync with a wide range of wearable devices, including your iPhone, Apple Watch, Apple Health, Android, Google Health Connect, Fitbit, and more. With automatic tracking, your movements and activities are captured by default, giving you a clear, real-time view of your progress and achievements. An alternative to the app is a desktop version that is available.

Need some encouragement? There will be weekly drawings for prizes!

Also, 4-H’ers and other young people who participate in this Magnolia Moves program can count their activity hours towards our nation’s highest youth honor, the Congressional Award.

Find out more about joining the Magnolia Moves Activity Challenge: https://extension.msstate.edu/magnolia-moves

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.

We have an Extension office in all 82 counties! Find yours here: https://extension.msstate.edu/county-offices

Ag Camp 2026 registration is LIVE!

We’re going things a little different this year and are doing an online form!

https://form.jotform.com/260785673540060

Cabbages can be both red and green.

Red cabbage contains the powerful antioxidant anthocyanin, this antioxidant gives red and purple fruits and vegetables their bright colors. Anthocyanin can help prevent certain cancers.

A great way to enjoy cabbage is in a fermented form such as sauerkraut and kimchi. These fermented cabbage products are full of probiotics. Because of the abundance of probiotics in these fermented foods, they can be one of the best foods to eat for your immune and digestive systems.

Easy tips for eating more cabbage:
• Add shredded cabbage to a fresh green salad.
• Add chopped cabbage to any soup or stew near the end of cooking.
• Add sauerkraut or kimchi as a condiment to add acidity, heat, and flavor to a meal.

Movement

Winter walking outdoors can help you get exposure to sunlight, which may help ward off seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression that some people experience during the winter months. Try adding five more minutes to the end of today’s mile.



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