Perry County Extension Office

06/23/2026

This week Perry County Pride 4-H Club Archery Shooter Tommy Holder is in Grand Island, Nebraska completing in the National 4-H Shooting Sports Tournament! We are so proud of him and all of his accomplishments! Best of luck Tommy! Be safe safe and shoot straight!

06/22/2026

Weather permitting, Slingshot Practice is scheduled for this coming Friday morning at 9 at the archery range. For questions call us at 601-964-3668!

06/19/2026

Due to a scheduled power outage our office is now closed for the day. We will reopen on Monday, June 22, 2026 at 8:00am. If you need to reach us call 601-606-7178. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.

06/18/2026

Chiggers, also known as redbugs, are tiny mites that can cause significant discomfort during the warmer months in Mississippi.

Despite the myths, chiggers aren’t insects, and they definitely don’t burrow into your skin. These tiny critters are actually the larval stage of a mite called Trombicula alfreddugesi. You won’t see them without magnification—they’re about 1/150th of an inch and bright red. These microscopic creatures are most active in overgrown, grassy, or wooded areas.

Chiggers don’t bite in the usual sense. Instead, they attach to your skin and inject a digestive enzyme that breaks down skin cells. The itching is your body’s reaction to the enzymes.

The good news? You can avoid them with a few simple steps:

1. Keep your lawn tidy. Mow regularly and clear out brushy areas where chiggers like to hide.

2. Dress smart. If you’re heading into tall grass or wooded areas, wear long sleeves and long pants; be sure to tuck those pants into your socks. Yes, it’s a fashion crime—but it works.

3. Use bug spray. DEET-based repellants can be used on the skin, while permethrin-based sprays must only be used on clothing. Always follow the label directions when using these products.

4. Shower after being outdoors. A good scrub with soap and water within a few hours of being outside can wash away any hangers-on.

5. Wash your clothes. Toss your clothes straight into the washer and dryer, using the hottest water and heat cycle possible to kill any sneaky hitchhikers.

6. If you’ve already got the itch, the best thing you can do is not scratch. Scratching can lead to infection and make things worse.

7. If you are particularly sensitive to chiggers or have a severe case of bites, consult a physician.



(Magnified view of a chigger mite. Photo: Hansell F. Cross, Georgia State University, Bugwood.org)

06/17/2026

Wish you knew some parenting tips on how to help your child smooth out their pathway through life and help you survive the daily grind of parenting? …

Using the link below, complete a short survey for the MSU Extension and their TIPPS team will send free resources via a toolkit just for you! The "Parenting Toolkits" are packed with hand-selected books, toys, activities, and educational materials to support your family. Thanks to a partnership with the Mississippi Department of Human Services, these toolkits are shipped directly to your door and are completely FREE for Mississippi families.

This is a great resource for families to learn strategies for helping their child navigate life with compassion and emotional intelligence!

Click the link below now to start a new journey together with your child ⬇️
https://tipps.extension.msstate.edu/

06/17/2026

Internet Service has been restored!

Send a message to learn more

06/17/2026

Internet service at our office is currently down. If you need to reach out to us, please call 601-964-3668. We will update when service is restored.

06/17/2026

06/15/2026

The Perry County Cattlemen's Association will meet on July 9, 2026 at 6:30pm at the Richton Multipurpose Center! Our speaker will be Spen Oliver from Corteva. If you have any weeds that you would like to bring for identification, please do so! Call our office to R.S.V.P. at 601-964-3668

06/15/2026

Interested in pickling? Start with Extension! Pickle products are classified based on ingredients and method of preparation. There are four general classes.

1. Brined pickles, also called fermented pickles, go through a curing process of about 3 weeks. Dilled cucumbers and sauerkraut belong in this group. Other vegetables, such as green tomatoes, may also be cured in the same way as cucumbers.

Curing changes cucumber color from a bright green to an olive or yellow-green. The white interior of the fresh cucumber becomes uniformly translucent. A desirable flavor is developed during curing without being excessively sour, salty, or spicy.

Cucumber dills may be flavored with garlic, if desired. The skin of the pickle is tender and firm but not hard, rubbery, or shriveled. The inside is tender and firm, not soft or mushy.

Good sauerkraut (brined cabbage) has a pleasant tart, tangy flavor and is free from any off-flavors or off-odors. It is crisp and creamy-white. The texture is firm, and it has a bright appearance. The shreds are uniformly cut (about the thinness of a dime) and are free of large, coarse pieces of leaves or core.

2. Fresh-pack or quick-process pickles, such as crosscut cucumber slices and whole cucumber dills, sweet gherkins, and dilled green beans, are brined for several hours or overnight, then drained and combined with boiling hot vinegar, spices, and other seasonings. These are quick and easy to prepare.

They have a tart, pungent flavor. Seasonings can be selected to suit your preference. Fresh-pack whole cucumbers are olive green, crisp, tender, and firm.

3. Fruit pickles are usually prepared from whole fruits and simmered in spicy, sweet-sour syrup. They should be bright in color, uniformly sized, and tender and firm without being watery. Pears, peaches, and watermelon rind are prepared this way.

4. Relishes are prepared from fruits and vegetables that are chopped, seasoned, and then cooked to desired consistency. Clear, bright color and uniformity in size of pieces make an attractive product. Relishes include piccalilli, pepper-onion, tomato-apple chutney, tomato-pear chutney, horseradish, and corn relish.

Recipes and techniques can be found in our Complete Guide to Home Canning Extension publication: https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/the-complete-guide-home-canning