Delta Research and Extension Center

06/08/2026

Although recent scattered rains have brought some relief to our Delta crops, almost all parts of the Delta is still in a drought. Hopefully this program from USDA can give additional relief. Click the link below and go see the folks at your local FSA office for assistance.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DUJsBssfD/?mibextid=wwXIfr

This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a disaster designation for Mississippi due to drought. Four counties – George, Hinds, Warren and Washington – have been designated as primary natural disaster areas, with 15 additional counties named as contiguous disaster counties.

A Secretarial disaster designation makes farm operators in primary counties and those counties contiguous to such primary counties eligible to be considered for Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loan assistance, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of a Secretarial disaster declaration to apply for emergency loans. FSA considers each emergency loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of production losses on the farm and the security and repayment ability of the operator.

For more information, farmers are encouraged to visit their local FSA office. Additional details on USDA’s disaster assistance programs can be found at www.farmers.gov/recover.

05/26/2026

Please make plans to join MSU Extension for the 2026 Ag and Natural Resource Educational Training sessions. This event is designed to educate producers and community-based organizations about resources and opportunities available to you. Registration is free, lunch is provided, and the sessions will be offered on the following days at these locations:
Thursday, June 4, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Raymond, MS
Tuesday, June 16 , 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Stoneville, MS
Thursday, June 18, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Macon MS

Please see the flier or scan the QR code for more information. You can register by clicking on this link: https://reg.extension.msstate.edu/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0081-0004-17288a5243034f719b14ab0faa2e9959

For additional questions, call Dr. Steve Martin at (662) 418-8118.

04/16/2026

It’s not too late to join us this week for MPB’s Antique Showcase on April 17th (1:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.) and 18th (10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.). The Showcase will be held at the Delta Research and Extension Center, Capps Entrepreneurial Center, 300 Stoneville Road, Stoneville, MS.

If you have heavy or oversized items to be appraised, help will be available to move these items.
Here’s the ticket information. For a $100 donation, you can be a part of the live filming of the event, bring one item for appraisal, and receive food, cocktails, and membership to MPB. For a $60 donation, you can observe the filming and enjoy all the other perks!

If you are interested in supporting the program, please visit mpbonline.org/television/MS-Antique-Showcase/ for more information or call MPB at 888-874-6874. For questions about local resources, call Kenner Patton at 662-394-1919.

MS Antique showcase logo

04/08/2026

DREC is still looking for motivated individuals (18 years old or older) for hands-on summer work focusing on crop protection (plant pathology and entomology) research located in Stoneville, Mississippi. Responsibilities include field sampling, crop scouting, data collection, and general plot maintenance. Extremely competitive pay. This is a great opportunity for students who wish to pursue degrees in agriculture, biology, or related fields. Apply today to gain valuable field experience and work in a friendly, team-oriented environment!
For more information, click on this link https://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/en-us/job/506242/intermittent-worker or call Dr. Tyler Towles at (662) 820-4217.

Apply now Job no: 506242 Position type: Intermittent Worker Department: 013200 - Delta Research and Extension Center Location: Stoneville, MS Categories: Support Staff, Intermittent Worker Position Open Date: Sep 21 2023

04/01/2026

Big News for Delta Research and Extension Center!
In October of 2022, Mississippi Public Broadcasting and the MPB Foundation introduced a traveling version of their appraisal show, giving Mississippians the opportunity to receive professional opinions about their family heirlooms and treasures. Hundreds of people gathered at the MPB studios in Jackson for the first Mississippi Antiques Showcase, bringing everything from paintings and vases to tapestries and music boxes. Since that first season, MPB has filmed in key locations across the state, including Columbus, Biloxi, Natchez, and Oxford.

Now is your chance to join MPB Stoneville on April 17th (1:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.) and 18th (10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.) to share your magical Delta antique and treasures! The Showcase will be held at Delta Research and Extension Center in the Capps Entrepreneurial Center at 300 Stoneville Road, Stoneville, MS. Here’s the ticket information.
• For a $100 donation, you can be a part of the live filming of the event, bring one item for appraisal, and receive food, cocktails, and membership to MPB.
• For a $60 donation, you can observe the filming and enjoy all the other perks!
If you are interested in supporting the program, please visit mpbonline.org/television/MS-Antique-Showcase/ for more information or call MPB at 888-874-6874. For questions about local resources, call Kenner Patton at 662-394-1919.

03/26/2026

Seeking motivated individuals (18 years old or older) for hands-on summer work focusing on crop protection (plant pathology and entomology) research located in Stoneville, Mississippi. Responsibilities include field sampling, crop scouting, data collection, and general plot maintenance. Extremely competitive pay. This is a great opportunity for students who wish to pursue degrees in agriculture, biology, or related fields. Apply today to gain valuable field experience and work in a friendly, team-oriented environment!

For more information, scan the QR code or call Dr. Tyler Towles at (662)820-4217.

03/03/2026

How does the general public really view pesticides and modern agriculture—and where do those perceptions come from? From December’s Row Crop Short Course in Starkville, Tom and Jason are joined by John Byrd of Mississippi State University Extension and Eric Prostko of the University of Georgia to unpack common misconceptions, public concerns, and the communication challenges facing today’s agricultural professionals. The conversation explores how media narratives, social values, and scientific literacy shape opinions about pesticide use and why transparent, science-based outreach has never been more important.

02/24/2026

Spray drones are moving fast from novel to normal—but how do we keep pace on safety and regulation? From the 2025 MS Row Crop Short Course, Terry Spurlock (University of Arkansas) and Madison Dixon (MSU Agricultural Autonomy Institute) sat down with Jason and Tom to break down the current regulatory landscape and practical safety considerations surrounding agricultural spray drones. From FAA rules to risk reduction, this conversation cuts through the confusion to help ag professionals understand what responsible drone-based application really looks like—and where it’s headed next.

02/18/2026

Drew Gholson and John McKee of Friars’ Point, Mississippi, sat down with us last December at the MS Row Crop Short Course to share a grower’s perspective on irrigation innovation in the Mississippi Delta and the value of working closely with Mississippi State University Extension. They discuss how on-farm trials, new irrigation technologies, and data-driven approaches are improving water-use efficiency while protecting yield and profitability. This episode offers real-world insight into how collaboration and innovation help producers make confident decisions in an increasingly resource-conscious agricultural landscape.

02/17/2026

Back in the Crop Doctors' Podcast studio in Stoneville, Jason and Tom make a first run at unpacking some of the details on the newly released labels for the dicamba products for use in Xtend crops. A press release appeared February 6 with information on information on those labels. Notable updatetes include changes to the total application rate, use of volatility reducing agents, conservation practices, application cutoffs based on temperature.