Spring has sprung. Farmers are getting back into the fields preparing to plant this year’s crops. The days are longer, giving us more time in the afternoon for gardening and other outdoor activities.

The spring season means busy days ahead, and we are busy at the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce. I invite you attend one of our many spring events. We will be hosting the Easter at the Ag Museum event on April 16 with a bunny trail to collect candy and toy-filled eggs. We will round out the month with the second annual Mississippi Mudbug Festival at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds April 27 – May 1. Nothing says spring more than a plate of some good crawfish and outdoor concerts.

I think that you will enjoy reading about our Agriculture Workforce Development division in this edition of MDAC Ag Matters. Those seeking or needing to fill jobs in the agriculture sector should check out MS Ag Works. Let our office assist with your ag workforce needs.

Andy Gipson

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce

It's time for the 2nd annual Mississippi Mudbug Fest!

The Mudbug Festival will include live entertainment featuring Blue Oyster Cult, Laine Hardy, Bobby Rush, Shake the Bucket, Hannah Everhart, and Sullivan’s Hollow. There will be crawfish cooking and eating contests, amusement rides provided by North American Midway Entertainment with daily ride specials, and crawfish plates provided by The Back Porch restaurant. Admission at the gate is free and parking is $10 per car.

Get your tickets here for the 2022 Mississippi Mudbug Fest or visit www.msmugbugfestival.com for more information.

MDAC Grant Opportunities

Garden Grants

Growing Lunch

Growing Lunch is a school garden grant that is a great interactive and educational tool for teachers to incorporate agriculture and healthy eating into their everyday classroom. Schools and early childhood learning centers can apply for a grant of up to $500 to purchase supplies needed to develop a school garden or to further enhance an existing school garden. All schools, K-12, and pre-schools providing appropriate documentation, in the state of Mississippi are eligible to apply.

Let’s Plant

Let's Plant is a new community garden grant program that is designed to encourage community involvement and interest in growing fresh produce. Community organizations, local governments, and non-profits are eligible to apply for funds, up to $750, to purchase supplies needed to develop or expand an existing community garden.

Find more information on Growing Lunch or Let's Plant here.

GAP/GHP Cost-Share Program

MDAC's GAP/GHP Cost-Share Program will reimburse farmers that have successfully passed a GAP/GHP certification for 75% of the cost up to a maximum of $750 per year; farmers can submit the combined amount of the actual audit and the USDA service charge. Find more information here.

Seafood Processors Grant

The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce and the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is managing a $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support seafood processors, processing facilities, and processing vessels through the Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant Program. This program, funded by the Pandemic Assistance provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, will assist in defraying the expenses of preparing for, preventing exposure to, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic for seafood processing facilities and processing vessels. Find more information here .

Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program

The deadline for accepting proposals from potential partners and collaborators for the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program is approaching. The purpose of the program is to assist in exploring new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of the U.S. agricultural marketing system. FSMIP projects should benefit multiple producers or agribusinesses. FSMIP will not award grant funds for projects that solely benefit one individual or one agribusiness. Applications must be received by MDAC by 5:00 p.m. on April 15, 2022. For additional information about this program, contact Susan Lawrence at susan@mdac.ms.gov or (601) 213-7542. For more information, visit here.

Division Spotlight: Ag Workforce Development

Agriculture is Mississippi's largest industry, employing 17 percent of the state's workforce, either directly or indirectly. Having a strong and reliable workforce is key to ensuring that ag commodities can get from the gate to the plate. One of MDAC's newest divisions, Agriculture Workforce Development, is dedicated to growing Mississippi agriculture through workforce education, outreach, and development.

Agriculture Workforce Development strives to help the agriculture industry and businesses meet employment demands of Mississippi’s agriculture workforce and to create a pipeline of quality educational and training opportunities for high school and college students pursuing a career in agriculture. This program partners with Mississippi agricultural businesses, industries, educational institutions, and agricultural youth development organizations to promote awareness and increase the number of qualified applicants for agricultural jobs.

Two of the key initiatives of Agriculture Workforce Development is MS Ag Works and the Ag Youth Council.

MS Ag Works connects job seekers to available positions throughout the agriculture and forestry industry in Mississippi. Agricultural employers can post open positions on this online portal, and anyone looking for work can submit their contact details, resume, and letter of interest here as well. Our staff will review applicant information on a weekly basis and connect the applicant directly to the potential employer. Find more at this website.

The Ag Youth Council was created to provide future leaders of the agriculture industry an experience that cultivates leadership and career development and broadens horizons while developing the potential workforce for Mississippi. Council members visit Mississippi agricultural companies and organizations, learn about the legislative process and how it affects the agriculture industry, shadow industry professionals, and hone professional skills. Members serve a one-year term on the Council. All public, private and homeschool students are eligible. For more information, visit this site .

USDA NASS Conducting Ag Labor Survey

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct its biannual Agricultural Labor Survey during April. The survey will collect information about hired labor from more than 400 Mississippi farmers and ranchers. NASS will publish survey results May 25 in the Farm Labor report available on the NASS website. In the survey, NASS asks producers to answer a variety of questions about hired farm labor on their operations, including total number of hired farm workers, the total hours worked, and total wages paid for the weeks of Jan. 9-15 and April 10-16. Survey participants can respond online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail.

Expanding Ag Trade

Ag Commissioner Gipson, along with members of the Mississippi legislature, met with a Taiwan delegation including Director General Robert Lo of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office from Houston to discuss agricultural trade partnerships.

Upcoming Events

Easter at the Mississippi Ag Museum

The Mississippi Ag Museum

April 16, 2022

The Mississippi Egg Marketing Board is hosting this event featuring egg hunting and activities. It will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Get more information here.

Mississippi's Best Deviled Egg Contest

Runs April 1-30, 2022

The Mississippi Egg Marketing Board and the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association have created an exciting opportunity for restaurants to promote a deviled egg recipe. The public is encouraged to nominate their favorite Mississippi restaurant’s deviled egg dish. Visit this site to vote today!

Mississippi Raiders Arena football

Next home game is April 23, 2022.

The Raiders are the only arena football team in the state and play at the Mississippi Coliseum. This is their first season in Jackson. The Raiders hometown had been Hattiesburg. See the schedule and buy tickets here .

Commissioner Gipson Celebrates Four Years in Office

It's been four years since Commissioner Andy Gipson took office at the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce. MDAC staff met with Commissioner Gipson to discuss the accomplishments in their respective divisions during those four years.

Thank you to everyone who made 2022 Spring Farm Days a success.

The Ag Museum would like to thank everyone who brought the Ag Museum to life during the three days of Spring Farm Days three days. Visitors enjoyed the cooking demos, lessons on farmstead life and gardening, and a display of live animals and farm equipment.