Adams County Extension Office

08/28/2026

Fall means ruby-throated hummingbirds will be leaving us soon and getting ready to migrate to warmer climates in Central and South America for the winter!!

Most of Mississippi can expect to see hummingbirds heading south starting around September 27–October 4. Coastal areas are a week later, October 4–11. (These dates and ranges are estimates from collected data by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The birds could arrive earlier or later than the expected dates.)

Dr. Adam Rohnke, MSU Extension urban wildlife specialist, has a few recommendations to help hummingbirds on their journey:

Clean all feeders from earlier in the year and fill them with a new batch of hummingbird food. Mix one part of refined white sugar with four parts water.

Keep a close eye on the feeders. The mixture will spoil within 2–3 days of sitting in hot temperatures. If you notice the mixture turning an opaque, milky white color, dump it out and clean thoroughly. To clean, submerge the feeder in a 10 percent bleach solution, rinse with water, and let it air dry.

If you're already thinking about how to improve your hummingbird habitat for next year, take a look at this helpful Extension publication. It explains flowering plants hummingbirds will love! Read here: https://extension.msstate.edu/lawn-and-garden/landscape-architecture/landscape-design-and-management/plants-and-wildlife/attracting-hummingbirds-mississippi-gardens

08/27/2026

Did you know that the classic orange carrot we all know and love is actually not the original color of carrots? Carrots are descendants of wild carrots, or Queen Anne’s lace. It is believed that carrots originated in Asia around AD 900 and were actually yellow and purple in color! Orange carrots didn’t come along until around the 1400s - 1500s.

Purple carrots are high in anthocyanins, which are rich in antioxidants.

Yellow carrots contain xanthophylls, which is linked to having good vision.

Red carrots are a good source of lycopene, which can help fight against heart disease and some cancers.

White carrots lack color, but not nutrients, as they are a rich source of fiber.

Orange carrots are rich in beta- and alpha-carotene, which are great for reducing your risk of eye diseases.

The taste of each color differs by variety, but there isn’t a drastic flavor contrast between them. Some varieties have a sweet and spicy taste to them, while others are sweeter than orange carrots.

08/27/2026

Rev. Aaron Wesley,retired Adams County Fire Chief, conducted a presentation on Fire Safety “ at the Adams County MCV Council on August 27, 2026.

08/26/2026

Is there something that looks like spiderwebs in your pecan trees? Chances are they’re not spiders--they’re fall webworms!

Light infestations usually won’t cause a lot of damage and are nothing to fret about. If you have only a few webs in small- to medium-sized trees, you can leave them be or use a coat hanger taped to a long pole to destroy the web.

Heavy infestations, which are more common in the southern part of the state, can severely defoliate trees and cause reduced nut production on pecan trees for a few years. Complete defoliation usually will not kill an otherwise healthy tree the first time it happens.

Webworms can be managed with contact insecticide sprays. If you use sprays on pecan trees, read the label to be sure the product is safe to use on pecans because they are a food crop.

08/24/2026

The South Mississippi 4-H Volunteer Leaders’ Forum was held Saturday, August 22, 2026, at the Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center in Raymond, Mississippi. The theme for this year’s forum was “Ask Me About MVLA. Mississippi State University Extension Service. The organization serves as a statewide network connecting adult volunteers and extension personnel who support youth development through the 4-H program. Adams County 4-H had 4 participants at the event. Pictured left to right- Essie Lucas(volunteer), Jason Jones(extension agent), Angela Brooks(volunteer), and Vounzell Murphy(volunteer).

08/21/2026

Join us for a fun evening on August 26 at the Natchez Convention Center! We're hosting a deer management seminar for hunters, land managers and the general public.

Enjoy a meal, learn the ins and outs of deer management, try your luck with door prizes, and test your skills in the "guess the buck score" contest. There is a $10 registration fee. Make sure to register by August 21 to secure your meal ticket. Register here: https://ow.ly/pf5O50ZA20u

08/18/2026

Why are trees dropping leaves in the middle of summer? The recent stretch of extreme heat and dry weather has many trees shedding leaves earlier than usual. This is a natural survival response that helps trees conserve water during stressful conditions. The good news? If we receive some rainfall and cooler temperatures soon, many trees should recover just fine.

📸 Desoto County Extension Office

08/13/2026