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A cucumber leaf with disease lesions rests on a hand.

Did you know the Mississippi State University Extension Service has a laboratory that is designated to diagnose plant diseases and nematodes? Yes, it does! Learn how the Mississippi State University Extension Service Plant Diagnostic Laboratory and its scientists protect the crops that provide our food and fiber along with other home and garden crops.


A kale plant grows in a garden.

Keep Your Vegetable Garden Growing This Fall

August 25, 2023

Fall is around the corner, but you don’t have to give up fresh produce from your garden.

Fridge with food in it.

How to Keep Food Safe If You Lose Power

August 23, 2023

Mississippians know how unpredictable the weather can be. One day it’s sunny, and the next there is severe weather in the forecast.

marigolds planted with other ornamentals.

Companion Planting: Myth or Truth?

August 18, 2023

You’ve likely heard of companion planting, but do the principles work?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no; and other times maybe.

A woman holds a muffin tin full of Peanut Butter Muffins.

The Food Factor: Peanut Butter Muffins

August 15, 2023

These Peanut Butter Muffins are a great grab-and-go option to have on hand for busy mornings.

Boy with blue backpack.

Tips for Back to School Success

August 14, 2023

Now that school is back in session for many of us, everyone is getting back into the swing of things.

A woman in a kitchen with food products on the counter

Adolescents and Energy Drinks: Know the Dangers

August 8, 2023

Energy drinks are popular among many age groups, including adolescents. However, energy drinks can be especially unsafe for adolescents. Get the facts about energy drink consumption among adolescents.

Carolina Chickadee.

Bird of the Month: Carolina Chickadee

August 4, 2023

If you hear a bird call that sounds like a fast, high pitched “chick-a-dee-dee-dee,” you can confidently say it’s coming from a Carolina chickadee– they get their name from this distinctive call.

A woman holds a bowl of berries and banana cream.

The Food Factor: Berries with Banana Cream

August 1, 2023

This is the perfect summertime recipe to help you get your fruit servings for the day. Banana cream tops sweet berries for a guilt-free dessert.

Blue hydrangea bush.

August Landscape Checklist

July 31, 2023

August is typically a busy month for many people! The kids are back in school, and people are returning to their fall routines after summer.

A dog sits in a swimming pool

How Do I Get Rid of These Horseflies?

July 24, 2023

If you’ve ever had an encounter with a horsefly, you know they are annoying. If you’ve ever been bitten by one, you know it hurts! So, how can you keep these pesky critters from spoiling your outdoor summer fun? The answer probably isn’t what you want to hear. 

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About Extension for Real Life

Extension for Real Life is a product of the MSU Extension Service’s Office of Agricultural Communications.

That’s a long way of saying we are professional communicators who get to talk about food, families, 4-H, flowers, and farming for a living.

Blog content is created by a core team of communicators, including Susan Collins-Smith, Ellen Graves, Natasha Haynes, Qula Madkin, Michaela Parker, and Jonathan Parrish. But we get by with a lot of help from our friends in Ag Comm and Extension!

You can reach us at 662-325-2262 or extreallife@msstate.edu