Lauderdale County Extension Office

06/01/2026

Join us Tuesday, June 9th at 11:00 am for a force and motion stem lab! 4-Hers will design, test & redesign rollercoasters using principles of force and motion. Give us a call to RSVP, 601-482-9764.

05/26/2026

“Can I use a sugar substitute in place of regular sugar when making jam or jelly?”

No. Sugar helps with the gel formation in regular jams and jellies. It also reduces moisture for microbial growth. If you prefer a reduced sugar or sugar-free jam or jelly, make sure to use the correct recipe.

If you are planning to can fruits and vegetables this year, don’t just wing it. Planning and preparation are important first steps.

Make sure you have the right equipment and research-tested recipes. Both are essential to a safe product. Remember, home food preservation is a science.

Read the Complete Guide to
Home Canning: https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/the-complete-guide-home-canning

05/22/2026

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.

05/20/2026

4-H agent, Tia Thompson, had such a blast at Collinsville Learning Center yesterday! The swim gym turned into a science lab where we reviewed states of matter & made SLIME.

Slime is a hybrid between a solid and liquid. It’s a Newtonian fluid & its viscosity and thickness change depending on the force applied to it.

Check out our Summer Days calendar for upcoming events at the Lauderdale County Extension Office.

05/19/2026

Hummingbirds are attracted to bright colors such as orange, white, and red. Because of this, many people believe it’s important to put red food coloring into the homemade nectar to help attract them to the feeder.

This is NOT necessary and provides no benefits to the hummingbirds. Most feeders are red, and that helps attract the birds to the nectar.

05/18/2026

Mark your calendars for these exciting events in Lauderdale County!

05/18/2026

A big thank you to the East Mississippi Master Gardeners for their hard work planting flowers and enhancing the beauty of our state welcome center! Their efforts help create a warm, inviting first impression for all who visit.

Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who share research-based horticulture knowledge while promoting beautification, education, and community service through gardening. 🌼🌿🪴

05/14/2026

Ag agent Meribeth Boland had a great time this week at Southeast Lauderdale Middle School teaching 6th and 7th graders about the poultry industry through the Hatch-Out program!

05/14/2026

05/12/2026

‼️Internship Opportunity - Deadline May 26, 2026

2026 Summer Internship Program
The Lauderdale County Road & Bridge Department is now accepting applications for the 2026 Summer Internship Program.
Application Period: May 12, 2026 – May 26, 2026
This internship opportunity provides hands-on experience through departmental projects and an enrichment program that includes networking, professional development, and skill-building workshops.
Interns will gain valuable insight into public works operations, contribute to meaningful projects, and work alongside experienced professionals while building skills and connections for the future.
For more information or to apply, please visit LauderdaleCounty.org or contact the Lauderdale County Road & Bridge Department.