This year has been nothing short of remarkable, characterized by resilience, hard work and a shared commitment to overcoming challenges. While the effects of drought loomed large over our fields, our farmers demonstrated unparalleled determination, turning what could have been a devastating year into one of triumph.

In the face of adversity, our farmers embraced innovation, implementing water conservation techniques, and leveraging advanced agricultural practices.

Our success is not measured by the quantity of our harvest alone, but by the strength of our community bonds and the joy we share in times of celebration. This year, our agricultural community came together to celebrate the richness of our shared experiences. From lively farmers markets to festive gatherings, we've witnessed the joy that comes from uniting in celebration of our shared agricultural heritage.

I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to all the farmers, agricultural workers and their families who have poured their hearts and souls into making this year a resounding success. Your dedication has not only sustained us through challenging times but has also set the stage for a future filled with promise and prosperity.

As we stand at the threshold of a new year, let us carry forward the lessons learned and the successes achieved. Let us look to the future with optimism, knowing that together, there is no obstacle too great, no challenge too daunting. The seeds we plant today will be the fruits of tomorrow, and I am confident that with our shared commitment, the coming year will bring even greater accomplishments and shared joy.

Andy Gipson

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce

MDAC DIVISION SPOTLIGHT

Regulatory Services: Consumer Protection

Director: Henri Fuselier

Pictured: Inspector Jefferson Anderson, who has over 17 years of experience at MDAC, inspects a grocery store's meat and seafood section.

The Mississippi Department of Agriculture & Commerce’s (MDAC) Consumer Protection Division is working diligently to ensure that during the holiday season, consumers are getting what they pay for when purchasing holiday meats and other food items.

Inspectors conduct package checking sweeps to check for proper labeling and weighment of holiday hams and turkeys during the holiday season, in addition to the day-to-day duties performed by the division.

If you suspect a problem during your holiday shopping, please contact the Consumer Protection Division at 601-359-1148.

All part of MDAC’s efforts to keep consumers safe throughout the holiday season.

Year-round the division’s inspectors routinely examine meat market sanitation, ensure food is stored at appropriate temperatures, confirm the availability of hot water and soap in restrooms, and monitor stores to ensure the absence of insects and rodents. They also ensure consumers receive the quantity of the goods they pay for by testing scales and UPC pricing for accuracy to make sure the consumer is not being overcharged or undersold when purchasing a product.

The division ensures catfish, shrimp, and crawfish being promoted as U.S. products are not being discreetly replaced with foreign substitutes.

The Consumer Protection Division also makes inspections in restaurants throughout the state, making sure to prohibit retailers from selling similar foods disguised or labeled incorrectly as U.S. products.

MDAC STAFF SPOTLIGHTS

MDAC Staff Selects the Agency's Christmas Tree

MDAC Market Development Team members visited Kazery Farm to select the agency's Mississippi-grown Christmas tree to display in the building lobby.

The tree was purchased with private funds and donated to MDAC by a supporter of the Genuine MS® Christmas Tree program.

Pictured left to right: Public Relations Specialist Emma Dotson, Market Bulletin Editor Claude Nash, Kazery Farm Owner Don Kazery Jr., Multimedia Coordinator Jared Vardaman and Agritourism Director Katie Sansing.

On behalf of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

MDAC Intern Ashton Luke Attends the Second Annual Pardoning of the Turkey at the Mississippi Governor's Mansion

MDAC Intern Ashton Luke attended the second annual "Pardoning of the Turkey" at the Mississippi Governor's Mansion November 16, 2023.

Ruffle My Feathers Felix was officially pardoned by Governor Tate Reeves. The Mississippi Poultry Association announced the donation of 500,000 servings of protein in the form of eggs and chicken meat to help feed hungry people in Mississippi through the ExtraTable food charity.

Pictured left to right, MDAC Intern Ashton Luke, Mississippi Egg Marketing Board President Ryn Laster, Ruffle My Feathers Felix and Greg Crosby from Morning Dew Pastures.

NOTEWORTHY NEWS

Foreign Purchase of Farmland Study Committee Releases Final Report

Pursuant to House Bill 280 of the Mississippi Legislature’s 2023 Regular Session, the Study Committee on Foreign Purchase of Farmland in Mississippi has released its report containing the committee’s findings and recommendations. The Mississippi Legislature has been provided the report as a resource to use as legislation is being crafted for the upcoming 2024 legislative session.

The report contains the official findings of the Foreign Purchase of Farmland Study Committee including USDA foreign ownership of land data, a comprehensive list of public comments and testimony submitted to the committee, current Mississippi laws and regulations as set by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and the Mississippi Public Service Commission related to foreign ownership of water rights and energy facilities.

The following are highlights from the December 2021 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency “Foreign Holdings of U.S. Agricultural Land” report. In 2021, 757,816 agricultural acres were held by foreign interests in Mississippi. This is an increase from 600,456 acres in 2011. Nationally, as of December 2021, 40,031,308 acres of all private agricultural land in the U.S. had foreign ownership. This was an increase of 2.4 million acres from Dec. 31, 2020, and an increase of 14.3 million acres since 2011.

The Study Committee issued the following observations and recommendations as part of its final report:

• It is clear that current Mississippi law restricts foreign ownership of land by “nonresident aliens” except for the purpose of industrial development. However, the law lacks a clear, workable enforcement mechanism.

• Continued unrestricted foreign ownership of Mississippi’s agricultural land and water rights especially by foreign adversaries as defined in 15 CFR 7.4 presents a serious concern to Mississippi and to national security, including food security.

• The Legislature should act to address these concerns. At a bare minimum, the Legislature should pass an enforcement mechanism with any appropriate reporting requirements and legal enforcement procedures, along with any exemptions as may be necessary or appropriate tailored to Mississippi needs and based on the experiences of other States. In order to accomplish this, the Study Committee highly recommends that the Legislature review and receive guidance from legal experts within the National Agricultural Law Center.

Final Report

2024 Dixie National Rodeo Parade Registration is Open

As part of the annual Dixie National Rodeo and Livestock Show, the Dixie National Parade is an outdoor event that kicks off rodeo competitions and features the famous Dixie National Wagon Train. The Mississippi Fire Academy Elite Honor Guard leads off the procession, followed by Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson and an array of antique cars, rodeo queens, decorative floats, mounted horses and marching bands through downtown Jackson.

The upcoming 2024 Dixie National Parade will follow a mile-long route starting at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 10th, and ending around 11:30 a.m. to 12 noon. Spectators can enjoy the best views along President, High and West Streets.

The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) is now offering electronic registration online to participate in the Dixie National Parade. Click the button below to register or learn more.

Mississippi Fairgrounds Announces Newest Artist Scheduled for 2024 Dixie National Rodeo

The Mississippi State Fairgrounds announced the newest artist scheduled for the upcoming 59th annual Dixie National Rodeo, which runs February 9-17, 2024. Conner Smith and Colin Stough will perform as the musical entertainment portion of the Friday, February 9, Dixie National Rodeo.

“The Dixie National Rodeo is a great, family-friendly event held at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds every year,” said Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson. “Following rodeo competitions, each performance includes a concert, and we’re excited about the lineup of nationally recognized artists slated for the 2024 rodeo. We’ve already sold many tickets to the upcoming Dixie National Rodeo, so I encourage everyone to purchase their tickets in advance while they are still available. Tickets can now be purchased online or at the Coliseum Box Office.”

Jameson Rodgers was previously scheduled to perform February 9, and fans who purchased tickets prior to the artist change announcement can request a refund at the point of purchase up until the scheduled event performance time.

Dixie National Rodeo performances are as follows:

Friday, February 9, at 7:00 p.m. – Conner Smith and Colin Stough
Saturday, February 10, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. – Tracy Byrd
Sunday February 11, at 2:00 p.m. – Chris Cagle
Wednesday, February 14, at 7:00 p.m. – Megan Moroney
Thursday, February 15, at 7:00 p.m. – Sammy Kershaw
Friday, February 16, at 7:00 p.m. – Corey Kent
Saturday, February 17, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. – Parmalee

To purchase tickets to the Dixie National Rodeo, visit https://www.ticketmaster.com/dixie-national-rodeo-tickets/artist/848320.

For more information on the Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo, visit www.dixienational.org, “like and follow” the Dixie National Livestock Show & Rodeo page on Facebook or call 601-961-4000.

MDAC Hosted the Second Meeting of the 2023-2024 Mississippi Agriculture Youth Council

The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce hosted the second meeting of the 2023-2024 Mississippi Agriculture Youth Council (MAYC) on November 9, 2023. Members of the MAYC attended the study committee meeting on the Foreign Purchase of Farmland in Mississippi to learn how this issue could impact their future as landowners and farmers in our state.

After lunch at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, the council members volunteered at the museum's Harvest Festival by working in the general store, serving biscuits, assisting at the filling station, serving lunch to other volunteers, operating the carousel and running the corn maze.

MDAC and Partners Host Agriculture Day at Mississippi State University

Ag Day at MSU was held November 4, 2023, at the Mississippi State vs. Kentucky football game at Davis-Wade Stadium in Starkville.

The Genuine MS® Cooking Team served up Mississippi catfish and chicken, along with MSU Ice cream and sweet potato pies.

More than 400 tailgaters were welcomed by the giant Egg Marketing Board egg and Buford the Cow from the Mississippi Cattlemen's Association.

The event was sponsored by Mississippi Land Bank, the Mississippi Egg Marketing Board, MS Sweet Potato Council, Mississippi Poultry Association, FOAM Packaging of Vicksburg and the College of Agriculture and Life Science.

Ag Museum Hosted Harvest Fest

The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum had thousands of visitors attend Harvest Fest November 7-11, 2023.

Live demonstrations throughout the museum grounds gave visitors a glimpse of Mississippi’s past and showed the impact agriculture has made within our state.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Ag Museum's Annual Homestead for the Holidays to occur December 7 & 8

The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum's annual Homestead for the Holidays event will take place on December 7 & 8, 2023, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. for this joy-filled holiday event.

Enjoy a sampler breakfast for supper, storytime with Mrs. Claus and get your picture made with Santa and Rudolph! Take a stroll through Small Town and see the demonstrators, visit the Fortenberry-Parkman Farmstead and experience Christmas during the late 1800s. Carousel, train and wagon rides will be available as well as hands-on historic crafts and live music throughout the grounds.

Learn More

Mississippi Farmers Market to Host Merry Market

December 9, Santa is coming to town! (The Mississippi Farmers Market more specifically.) Visit the market for face painting, complimentary cups of hot cocoa or apple cider, letters to Santa, and a Santa photo opportunity before he heads back to the North Pole. The market will also carry seasonal specialty items such as handcrafted evergreen wreaths! RSVP to their Facebook event for a reminder.

RSVP