Calhoun County Extension Office

10/15/2026

If you’ve ever spotted those big, bumpy, lime green balls lying under a tree and wondered what they are… It’s the fruit of an Osage orange tree (Maclura pomifera)!

Also called horse apple, bodock, hedge-apple, bodark, bois-d’arc, bow wood, or naranjo chino, this remarkable tree belongs to the Moraceae (mulberry) family.

Though it produces no sawtimber or pulpwood, Osage-orange has been planted more than almost any other tree in North America. Most of the fence posts that “fenced the West” came from Osage-orange trees.

Also, Native Americans used it for bows, and woodcarvers still prize its bright orange-gold heartwood today.

10/14/2026

🎉 Calhoun County Extension partnered with our local NRCS office to host the annual Soil & Water Conservation Carnival! 🌎🌿

This fun and educational event gave participants the opportunity to learn more about the importance of protecting our soil, conserving water, and caring for the natural resources that keep our communities growing! 🌱💦

A big THANK YOU to our local NRCS office for partnering with us to make this event a success! Together, we’re planting the seeds for a stronger, healthier future! 🌎

10/13/2026

🐄 Join us for our upcoming Beef Cattle Meeting!

📅 Tuesday, November 10, 2026
⏰ 6:30 PM
📍 Multipurpose Building | Pittsboro, MS

Please register by November 6, 2026.

To register, use the link below or call the Calhoun County Extension Office at 662-412-3177.

We hope to see you there!

https://forms.gle/3uHcHqgfoVSsgQHUA

10/12/2026

Please register for the Calhoun County Forestry Meeting by November 5th, 2026.

To register, use the link below or call the office at 662-412-3177.

We hope to see you there.

https://forms.gle/CjDJ8sK5DfQAxk2RA

10/12/2026

Those bright yellow flowers you’re seeing along the highways and ditches are called swamp sunflowers (Helianthus angustifolius)!

These plants appear in the fall and are native, herbaceous perennials. The flowers grow on single and multibranched stems, and their native habitats range from lowland sites such as bottomland and floodplains to drier upland areas. They prefer full sun but tolerate partial shade. These native beauties attract both birds for seed and bees for nectar and pollen.

10/06/2026

🌲 Join us for our upcoming Forestry Program: Natural Regeneration with Dr. Brady Self, MSU Extension Forestry Specialist!

📅 November 9, 2026
⏰ 6:00 PM
📍 Calhoun County Multi-Purpose Building

📞 Please call our office at 662-412-3177 by November 6, 2026, to register for this event!

A special thank you to our Calhoun County Forestry Association Silver Level Supporters, First South Farm Credit and Osaic Wealth, Inc., for their support! 🌲

10/06/2026

Mississippi sweet potatoes are more than a seasonal favorite. 🍠 They are an important crop for producers across the state and a focus of research and Mississippi State University Extension Service efforts.

10/06/2026

This is a great opportunity to increase timber tax knowledge and earn continuing education credits!

10/01/2026

Here’s your landscape checklist for October! Some tasks include:

Plant hardy annuals and perennials.
Fertilize and water fall mums.
Prune back annuals like blue salvia and dianthus to the ground and mulch.
Dig up caladiums and store for replanting next year.
Prune back dead or damaged tree limbs.
Plant spring bulbs.

Contact your county’s MSU Extension agent for localized guidance! Find yours here: https://extension.msstate.edu/county-offices

09/30/2026