Lowndes County Extension Office

08/12/2026

08/12/2026

The Hitching Lot Farmers Market in Columbus is seeking local produce farmers to sell their products at the market. This is a great opportunity. Please contact Chelsea at the Columbus Main Street office for information.

08/12/2026

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.

08/12/2026

Master Gardener registration is officially OPEN!!! If you have any questions about registration, contact your county's MSU Extension office! Find yours here: https://extension.msstate.edu/county-offices

Wait, what's a Master Gardener??? It's a great way to learn more about plants, make friends with similar interests and volunteer in the community!!

Take the leap and sign up: https://extension.msstate.edu/community/leadership/master-gardener

08/07/2026

Free and open to the public!! Don’t miss it!

08/05/2026