Summertime is here, and our farmers are busy tending and caring for the crops that will go on to provide for populations in our state, country and beyond.

Last year, 10.4 million acres of land were farmed in Mississippi. As the largest industry in the state, agriculture remains a significant part of daily life for many Mississippians.

That is why I encourage the public to continue to support our farmers, ranchers and producers by shopping local. Visit GenuineMS.com to learn where you can find all things grown, raised, crafted and made right here in the Magnolia State. Shop at your local farmers market for all your fresh produce needs; visit msfarmersmarket.com to find a farmers market near you. Don't forget to check out the Mississippi Farm Marketplace to advertise your crops for sale or to find local crops to purchase. Read more below on ways to find local products.

Andy Gipson

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce

MDAC STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Pictured L-R: Greg Wilcox, MS Fairgrounds Midway Manager, and Conor Bond, MS Fairgrounds Security & Event Manager.

Congratulations to MDAC's own Greg Wilcox and Conor Bond for receiving this year's Honorary State FFA Degree!

This past May, Wilcox and Bond were recognized by the Mississippi FFA Association with an Honorary State FFA Degree at the 90th annual Mississippi FFA Convention. The purpose of the honorary degree program is to recognize individuals who have rendered outstanding service to the Mississippi Agricultural Education/FFA Program.

Wilcox and Bond were nominated by State FFA Sentinel Kade Bradshaw, who has worked as an intern at MDAC headquarters and the Mississippi Fairgrounds over the past year. They were honored in a ceremony during the FFA Convention and recognized with an Honorary State FFA Degree in the form of a special certificate and FFA lapel pin.

Wilcox, Midway Manager for the Mississippi State Fairgrounds, currently resides in Flowood and Bond, Security & Event Manager for the Mississippi State Fairgrounds, lives in Brandon. Both men have worked at MDAC for two years.

NOTEWORTHY NEWS

MDAC Hosts Listening Sessions for Local Food Systems Infrastructure Grant

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced that the Mississippi Department of Agriculture of Commerce (MDAC) will host two more outreach listening sessions to obtain feedback from the public and key stakeholders on middle-of-the-supply-chain infrastructure needs for the federal Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI).

“This is an exciting time for Mississippi agriculture,” said Commissioner Gipson. “The pandemic reminded us of the importance of having a strong, resilient food supply chain and the ability to feed ourselves. I am happy to announce that the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce has an opportunity to help strengthen our state’s food supply chain which will increase marketing opportunities for our farmers and increase consumers’ access to local foods.”

Recently, MDAC entered into a cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture to administer the RFSI Program for Mississippi. The purpose of this program is to assist states in building resilience in the middle-of-the-supply-chain and strengthening local food systems by creating new revenue streams for producers.

The public is invited to attend one of two remaining listening sessions:

Tuesday, July 11, at 10:00 a.m. in the Forestry Building at the MS Ag & Forestry Museum, 1150 Lakeland Drive, Jackson, MS 39216
Tuesday, July 18, at 10:00 a.m. at the Forrest County Extension Office, 952 Sullivan Drive Hattiesburg, MS 39401

Learn More

Ag Commissioner Andy Gipson Addresses Local Food Opportunities & Resources

Recently, Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson addressed local food opportunities and resources available for consumers and farmers. As Mississippi enters its peak produce season, Commissioner Gipson reminded consumers of the benefits of purchasing local foods and ways consumers can find local products.

“As I travel the state, people want to know ‘Where can I buy local food?’ I want consumers to know that Mississippi has an abundant and available local food supply that can be found across the state right now such as in farmers markets that are currently in their prime season,” said Commissioner Gipson. “We are excited about promoting farmers markets and other local food opportunities. Farmers are hardworking people, working and persevering through tough times like the pandemic and storms that we have faced, and buying from these local farms also benefits our families.”

Commissioner Gipson discussed sources of local food and five resources available through the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce that consumers can use to find local products:

1. Shop one of Mississippi’s farmers markets that can found at msfarmersmarket.com.

2. Visit a local u-pick agritourism farm that can be found at msagritourism.org.

3. Farmers can register to sell, and consumers can buy locally from farmers at the Mississippi Farm Marketplace by visiting msfarmmarketplace.com.

4. Subscribe to the in-print and online bimonthly Mississippi Market Bulletin at msmarketbulletin.org.

Shop the best of everything Grown, Raised, Crafted and Made through Genuine MS® at genuinems.com.

Learn More

MDAC Announces New WHCP Equipment

Cost Share Opportunity

The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) is offering a cost share opportunity to Mississippi private land managers that are battling wild hogs on their property. The cost-share opportunity was made possible by a time-limited, federal appropriation to MDAC for expansion and support for its Wild Hog Control Program. The most effective equipment used for the trapping of wild hogs will be the focus of this effort to remove these nuisance animals from private lands across the state.

Through the cost share program, MDAC will provide technical guidance and monetary assistance for the most effective equipment and methods to trap wild hogs on private lands across Mississippi. “Our goal is to provide one complete, remotely triggered trap for applicants within limits of the federal appropriation,” said Commissioner Gipson. “This type of trap has been vital to the success of our existing Wild Hog Control Program which began in 2020. In addition to complete trap systems, trap components such as cameras, gates, and panels will be eligible for funding.”

The cost share application period will be July 17 – August 15, 2023. Private landowners and leaseholders in Mississippi will be eligible to apply. Applications will be evaluated and ranked by MDAC based on property use, past and current wild hog damage, past trapping efforts, and the type of trapping equipment requested. For selected applications, MDAC will reimburse the landowner or leaseholder for a percentage of the cost for purchasing trapping equipment. Reimbursement payments will be provided on a 50% cost share basis and will be the lessor of either 50% of the applicant’s expenditure or a maximum of $5,000.

Learn More

MDAC's Produce Safety Division to Host

Cleaning & Sanitizing Workshop

The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce's Produce Safety Division is hosting a Cleaning & Sanitizing Workshop for farm personnel and other staff with food safety responsibilities in partnership with the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries, Alabama Cooperative Extension Food Safety and Mississippi State University Extension Service.

This training will cover best practices of cleaning and sanitizing within the context of the Produce Safety rule, with perspectives from industry, cooperative extension and regulatory agencies. There will be an online, self paced learning portion available July 21 - August 4 ahead of an in-person meeting on Tuesday, August 8, at the Forrest County Extension Office in Hattiesburg, MS. Hands-on demonstrations will include properly cleaning tools, hand washing, calibrating a thermometer, checking pH, selecting sanitizer, best tools for the job and more.

Registration cost is $25 per person, which includes lunch for the August 8th meeting. Find additional information and register for the workshop now at link.

Learn More

MDAC Representative Participates in Mississippi Agricultural Policy Tour

Dr. Hope Martin, Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce's Meat Inspection Division Director, recently participated in a Mississippi Agricultural Policy Tour hosted by the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation and Mississippi State University's (MSU) Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine.

The tour provided an overview of different sectors of the agricultural industry and policies to Mississippi’s Congressional staff. Dr. Martin spoke about the slaughter and or processing facilities within Mississippi and harvesting of animals. Also, participants held a discussion on the challenges facing these specific facilities, particularly regarding a readily available trained labor force.

To address these challenges, MSU is offering a Meat Science Education and Training (M.E.A.T.) Apprenticeship Program in support of the Mississippi Agribusiness Industry. Students who wish to specialize in the meat processing industry will now have an opportunity to earn a Meat Science Certificate. For more information, interested parties can contact Dr. Derris Burnett, Associate Professor in Meat Science and Muscle Biology at MSU, by calling 662-325-2852.

Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum Hosts 2023 Mississippi Pickle Fest

The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum successfully hosted the annual Mississipp Pickle Fest!

Approximately 2,500 people attended this year's festivities despite stormy weather. Visitors enjoyed live music; 90 food and craft vendors; water slides and a dunking booth; an obstacle course and jousting arena; and the fan-favorite Pickle Eating and Pickle Jar Packing Contests.

The 2023 Pickle Fest was sponsored by the Mississippi Agricultural & Forestry Museum Foundation, Chick-fil-a Byram, Southern Beverage, Cathead Distillery, T-Mobile and Visit Jackson

UPCOMING EVENTS

Mississippi State Fairgrounds Hosts Keath Killebrew Memorial Rodeo

The inaugural Keath Killebrew Memorial Rodeo, presented by the Killebrew Ag Foundation to benefit scholarships for aspiring young farmers, will be July 28-29 at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.

The rodeo will feature a series of action-packed events such as bull riding, broncs, calf roping, barrel racing, and much more. Country music sensations and Mississippi natives Chapel Hart will perform as part of the festivities on opening night, while Drake Milligan will entertain on the closing night. Proceeds will benefit the Keath Killebrew Charisma Award Fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi. Get your tickets now at link!

Mississippi Farmers Market to Host 'Sliced into Summer' with Watermelon Event

In celebration of summer and anticipation of National Farmers Market Week, coming up August 6-12, 2023, the Mississippi Farmers Market will host a 'Sliced into Summer' event on Saturday, July 29, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This family-friendly event shines a spotlight on all seasonal fruits and vegetables available now -- in particular, sweet and juicy watermelons!

In addition to the usual fresh produce, arts & crafts and baked goods, the Market will have complimentary slices of Mississippi-grown watermelon, popcorn, kids' activities and much more! The Farmers Market Café and Genuine MS® Store, both located inside of the Mississippi Farmers Market, will also be open to the public. The Café serves breakfast and lunch from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every weekday; it is also open from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every Saturday. The Genuine MS® Store is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Ag Museum's Interactive 'Uncle Story' Continues

to Make Monthly Appearance

The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum's Education Team has recently started a new initiative to teach children about the rich history of Mississippi agriculture with the engaging Uncle Story. Story Time with Uncle Story is an interactive event that will include an agriculture-related story, told by the loveable puppet Uncle Story, followed by a hands-on crafting time.

Uncle Story was recently featured at MPB's Summer Learning Family Fun Day and will make monthly appearances at the Mississippi Ag Museum on the second Tuesday of each month, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Check it out on Tuesday, July 11th!