MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & COMMERCE • ANDY GIPSON, COMMISSIONER VOLUME 93 NUMBER 5 MARCH 1, 2021 JACKSON, MS Despite Pandemic, Dixie National Sale Continues By Nathan Gregory all the exhibitors that were here sippi Trade Mart. Opened in 2020 MSU Extension Service this week,” said Extension Director for the Mississippi State Fair, the Gary Jackson. “It’s extraordinary to $30 million, 110,000-square-foot The Dixie National Sale of Ju- be able to put this event on during facility features 63,000 square nior Champions began in 1970 to a pandemic, and we’re proud of our feet of column-free space that can encourage young people to pursue young people for using best safety be divided into three trade halls livestock projects and has been the practices like face coverings and that connect to a 26,000-square- culmination of the Dixie National social distancing and taking all that foot arena floor. The new building Junior Round-Up ever since. into consideration while getting also has a covered space for out- That annual tradition not only this done.” side events and opens into a new continued uninterrupted this year This year’s round-up also marked plaza shared with the Mississippi through the COVID-19 pandemic, the first hosted at the new Missis- Coliseum. but the number of animals shown during the week was actually up 3% from last year with 2,292 head of livestock. The 52nd consecutive sale was five animals advanced to the sale but we made the decision work- held February 11. Throughout the as champion market animals. This ing together as a team months ago week, 1,593 4-H and FFA members year, the total sale amount gener- that we will have the Dixie National participated in the round-up. Forty- ated since the event’s inception Livestock Show no matter what, eclipsed $8 million. and we’ve successfully done that,” “Every participant we had this Gipson said. “I got to sit down and week exhibited more than just their visit with so many exhibitors who animals,” said Mississippi State Uni- are graduating this year and would versity Extension 4-H livestock spe- not have been eligible to come back cialist Dean Jousan. “They showed next year. If we had not had this an ability to clear even more hur- event, these scholarships would dles than in a normal year just to not have happened. If we had not make it to the round-up. Everyone had this event, these young people involved, from the parents and would not have been able to show event staff to exhibitors of ani- the animals they raised and cared mals featured in the sale, deserves for all this time.” praise.” This year’s sale included 45 The sale’s committee launched a champion market animals, includ- scholarship program in 1993. This ing 16 hogs, 10 goats, 10 lambs year, 38 scholarships for 4-H and and nine steers. The preliminary FFA high school seniors, premier total sale was $390,925, which is exhibitors and exhibitors of su- the second largest total on record. preme champion livestock scholar- Sale proceeds for hogs reached ships totaling $60,000 in support $132,500; steers, $93,000; goats, were awarded. The total amount of $78,675; and lambs, $85,250. scholarship funding awarded sur- For photos of the 2021 Sale of passed $1 million this year. Junior Champions see pages 15-21. Mississippi Commissioner of MSU Extension sends faculty and Agriculture and Commerce Andy staff to assist with the event each Gipson said the decision to hold year. the event despite unusual circum- “We’re proud of this event’s leg- stances was made with these young acy, but, more importantly, we’re 4-H’er Madison Brown of Hinds County shows her pig at the Dixie people in mind. honoring these students here today National Sale of Junior Champions at the Mississippi Trade Mart in Jackson, “This year has been probably the who made the Sale of Champions, Mississippi, February 11, 2021. (Photo by MSU Extension Service/ most challenging to have this event, the scholarship winners and also Kevin Hudson) Page 2 MISSISSIPPI MARKET BULLETIN March 1, 2021 Commissioner’s Policy Corner USDA Extends General Signup for Conservation Reserve Program By: USDA Office of Communications The U.S. Department of Agricul- ture (USDA) is extending the Con- servation Reserve Program (CRP) General Signup period, which had previously been announced as end- ing on Feb. 12, 2021. USDA will continue to accept offers as it takes Andy Gipson this opportunity for the incoming Commissioner Administration to evaluate ways to increase enrollment. Under the Andy Gipson Mississippi Department of previous Administration, incen- Commissioner Agriculture & Commerce tives and rental payment rates were reduced resulting in an enrollment 121 North Jefferson Street expiring September 30, 2021. All in- shortfall of over 4 million acres. The terested producers, including those Jackson, MS 39201 program, administered by USDA’s on Indian reservations and with Phone: 601-359-1100 Farm Service Agency (FSA), pro- this signup period, we’ll have time acres of restored wetlands while pro- trust lands, are encouraged to con- vides annual rental payments for 10 www.mdac.ms.gov to evaluate and implement changes tecting more than 177,000 stream tact their local USDA Service Center to 15 years for land devoted to con- to get this neglected program back miles with riparian forest and grass for more information. servation purposes, as well as other Ag Museum on track.” buffers, enough to go around the All USDA Service Centers are types of payments. 601-432-4500 As one of the largest private-lands world seven times. open for business, including those Before the General CRP signup conservation programs in the United • Establishing over a half million that restrict in-person visits or re- Agricultural Theft Bureau period ends, producers will have States, CRP provides both economic acres of dedicated pollinator habitat quire appointments. All Service 1-800-678-2660 the opportunity to adjust or resub- and conservation benefits by taking and nearly 15 million more acres of Center visitors wishing to conduct mit their offers to take advantage of land out of agricultural production. diverse plantings that provide for- business with FSA, Natural Re- Aquaculture planned improvements to the pro- Program successes include: age for pollinators. sources Conservation Service, or 601-359-1102 gram. • Sequestering in soils and plants • Increasing populations of ducks any other Service Center agency “The Conservation Reserve Pro- over 12 million metric tons of car- and other game birds, prairie chick- should call ahead and schedule an Board of Animal Health gram provides a tremendous op- bon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), or ens, and such grassland songbirds 601-359-1170 portunity to address climate change about the same amount that the as Baird’s Sparrow. CRP in the appointment. Service Centers that both by retiring marginal cropland entire state of Delaware emits an- Northern Great Plains supports an are open for appointments will pre- Bureau of Plant Industry screen visitors based on health con- 662-325-3390 and by restoring grasslands, wet- nually. estimated 8.6% of the grassland bird lands, and forests,” said Robert Bon- • Preventing more than 2 billion population. cerns or recent travel, and visitors Consumer Protection nie, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of tons of soil from being blown away • Increasing habitat that supports must adhere to social distancing 601-359-1148 the Secretary. “CRP has a 35-year by wind erosion over the life of cur- economic opportunities, such as job guidelines. Visitors are also required track record of success beyond just rently enrolled acres. creation, related to hunting and to wear a face covering during their Fairgrounds/Coliseum climate benefits, by providing in- • Reducing phosphorous reach- fishing activities. appointment. Our program delivery 601-961-4000 come to producers, improving wa- ing streams by almost 85 million staff will continue to work with our ter quality, reducing erosion, and pounds, nitrogen by nearly 450 mil- This signup for CRP gives produc- producers by phone, email, and us- Genuine MS supporting wildlife habitat and the lion pounds, and sediment by over ers an opportunity to enroll land for ing online tools. More information 601-359-1159 hunting and fishing opportunities 160 million tons in 2020 alone. the first time or re-enroll land un- can be found at farmers.gov/corona- that go along with it. By extending • Creating more than 2.3 million der existing contracts that will be virus. International Trade 601-359-1196 Keep Mississippi Beautiful 601-359-1100 Livestock Market News 601-359-1159 Market Development 601-359-1159 Meat Inspection 601-359-1191 Mississippi Market Bulletin 601-359-1155 Mississippi Farmers Market 601-354-6573 Regulatory Services 601-359-1111 Sign up today to become a Genuine MS member Petroleum Division 601-359-1101 and support everything that is Produce Safety 601-359-1104 Grown, Raised, Crafted or Made in Mississippi Weights & Measures 601-359-1149 Visit GenuineMS.com • 601-359-1159 • [email protected] March 1, 2021 MISSISSIPPI MARKET BULLETIN Page 3 From Our Kitchen To Yours Delicious Spring-Time Sandwiches ************************************************************** Turkey, Apple and Swiss Melt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Combine first six ingredients. Cut baguette cross- 4 ounces shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese wise into four pieces. Cut each piece in half hori- (about 1 cup) zontally using a serrated knife. Spread one teaspoon 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 1/4 ounces grated fresh Parmesan cheese (about butter on each bottom half of baguette. Divide roast 1 tablespoon honey 1/3 cup) beef evenly over bottom halves of baguette.