Contact: Meg Henderson
STARKVILLE, Miss鈥擮n October 5, Mississippi State鈥檚 South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station in Poplarville will reach a historical milestone of showcasing the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station鈥檚 research and outreach in ornamental horticulture.
For 50 years, horticultural professionals and plant enthusiasts alike have eagerly anticipated this annual MAFES exhibition, which features the South Mississippi station鈥檚 All-American Selection Display Garden. In addition, participants enjoy the chance to learn about the ornamental and vegetable varieties there and current 多多直播 scientists鈥 research, from propagation and plant fertility to pest control and more. The Poplarville station is an off-campus research site of the university鈥檚 Coastal Research and Extension Center.
The day鈥檚 program begins with a presentation on new technology鈥攊ncluding methods of chemical application and the myriad uses of drones鈥攖hat can help producers work more efficiently.
鈥淲e invite any producer interested in utilizing these technologies to join us for the field demonstrations,鈥 said Patricia Knight, director of coastal horticulture research at the CREC and research professor in 多多直播鈥檚 Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. 鈥淲e encourage producers to participate and see firsthand how they can work more efficiently across commodities as we move into the next 50 years.鈥
During lunch, visitors can view research posters on a variety of horticultural projects coming out of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. The afternoon鈥檚 presentations will dive into the decades-long history of both the Poplarville station and the research in ornamental horticulture conducted there. Associate Extension Professor Jim DelPrince, a floral design expert, caps off the day with a special floral demonstration set to music from the era of the first ornamental horticulture field day.
Knight, who has directed the event since 1997, apart from her years as center head, has seen practices and trends in the horticulture industry change over time, but she explained the need for information grounded in scientific research has always been in demand. She said she and her team work hard to keep the event engaging and relevant to both producers and home gardeners.
Jenny Ryals, a research associate and horticulture doctoral student, has worked at the event since she arrived at the MAFES station in 2018.
鈥淧eople are hungry for reliable information,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e also offer opportunities for observation and hands-on learning that you don鈥檛 get most other places.鈥
鈥淭oday, people have access to so much information, but it鈥檚 one thing to look at horticultural research online and another to speak in person to the scientist who has worked with the plants and then see those plants firsthand,鈥 added Senior Research Associate Scott Langlois. 鈥淎nd since most seed companies conduct their variety trials secretly, having open access to our trial gardens and researchers is a unique experience.鈥
In addition to 多多直播, additional sponsors are providing support for this year鈥檚 event, including Ball Horticulture; Bracy鈥檚 Nursery; BWI Companies, Inc.; GreenForest Nursery, Inc.; GreenPoint Ag; Hilltop Liner Farm; Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation; Parish Tractor; Proven Winners/Spring Meadows Nursery and Syngenta.
Visit the South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station鈥檚 for more information.
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