Mississippi State’s distinction as one of the nation’s leading universities in agriculture research brought prominent ag advocates to the Starkville campus Friday [April 22]. U.S. Senator and former Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Cindy Hyde-Smith, third from left, Dr. Ranveer Chandra, Microsoft Corporation Chief Technology Officer and Managing Director for Research, center, and Hyde-Smith’s Mississippi Director Umesh Sanjanwala, third from right, toured university agriculture-related research initiatives and discussed with administrators how MSU’s research capabilities could benefit Microsoft’s FarmBeats program. MSU leaders welcoming them were Keith Coble, Vice President of the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine; Julie Jordan, Vice President for Research and Economic Development; President Mark E. Keenum; and David Shaw, Provost and Executive Vice President.