Newton County Extension Office

05/29/2026

Come and join us for a fun, educational time as we make pickles!! Thursday, June 11th @ 10:00AM!!! Call 601-635-7011 to register and for more information!!! Only $10.00 per person!! Limited spaces available!!!

05/29/2026

Come and get fresh produce and support local farmers!!!

05/29/2026

Who wants to learn how to do amazing, beautiful cookies? We will be hosting a cookie workshop this fall with the help of Daphne McKibben of Cookie Cottage in Maben. Her cookies were not only beautiful but delicious!!

05/25/2026

Our office is closed today in observance of Memorial Day

05/22/2026

New Soil Testing info! Any questions please call the Newton County Extension Office at 601-635-7011!!

New Soil Testing Information! Soil testing is the first step to healthy soil and productive crops, pastures, turf and gardens.

Follow the steps below to submit your soil sample:

Order online. Visit soiltesting.extension.msstate.edu and follow the instructions to complete your order. Enter your contact info, sample names and crop or intended use.

Choose payment. Cost is $12 per sample. You may pay by cash or check sent with your soil sample or choose to receive an invoice to pay by credit card. Your payment options are cash, check or invoice.

Prepare and label your sample. Collect the soil to be tested. Fill the sample collection container to the fill line and close the container. Write the “sample name” (and your name, if desired) on the outside of the container. Clearly write your order number and sample name on each container. This information must match what was entered online.

Ship or drop off your sample. The new shipping address and drop off location is:
Southern Soil & Plant Lab, LLC.
117 Haley Barbour Parkway
Yazoo City, MS 39194

Receive results. Results will be sent to you and your county Extension office. You can contact your Extension agent for assistance with the sample report and recommendations.

Important Reminders

Cost is $12 per sample.

You may pick up your soil sample containers from your county Extension office.

You are responsible for shipping samples to the soil testing laboratory.

Contact your local Extension office for help with collecting soil samples, understanding crop codes, interpreting soil test reports and general soil fertility questions.

05/19/2026

Need to improve your computer skills using Microsoft Word!! Come and join us on June 18th @10:00am at the Newton County Extension Office, for a hands-on training session!!! Space will be limited, register by using the link below or calling 601-635-7011.

05/19/2026

Calling all Newton County Cattlemen!!! Join us at the Coastal Plains Experiment Station on Thursday, June 18 @ 6:30 for a Cattlemen's Supper!!! Call 601-527-8163 or 662-769-1004 to register before June 15th. A delicious meal will be served for $10.00 a plate for current members of MCA!

05/12/2026

Pouring gas on a mound does kill ants, but it also kills the grass and is a waste of money.

Gasoline is not legal to use in this way because it is not safe or environmentally suitable and is not labeled for this use. It would also be a very costly method of control.

If you want fewer fire ant beds in your yard, the best way to achieve that goal is to maintain a consistent management plan throughout the year.

Some people call it the two-step method. It’s easy, inexpensive and effective.

Here’s how to do it:
Apply a granular bait treatment over the entire property three times a year. Use Easter, July 4th, and Labor Day holidays to help you remember when to apply these broadcast treatments.

Use a dry mound treatment product throughout the year when you notice mounds pop up. Products containing acephate work fastest and are the most effective but have a strong, unpleasant odor. Products containing deltamethrin or cyfluthrin work slower and are slightly less effective, but they don’t smell bad.

(Remember one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to management. Certain treatment products shouldn’t be used near food crops, pets, and livestock. Always read and follow label instructions.)

Great resources on fire ant control can be found here: https://extension.msstate.edu/insects/fire-ants

05/12/2026