Markets & Ag
The past few days have really been great for outdoor work. The next few weeks look like the days will be warm, but the nights will be at or below the freezing mark. I have had several people ask if they should be cleaning off their flowerbeds. I have noticed several different types of perennials…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Valentine’s Day is a time for expressing love and appreciation for others, which is often done by giving cut flowers and, increasingly, potted plants. Whether you’ve received a bouquet of flowers or a potted plant, here are tips that can help you care for them to keep them healthy and attractive as…
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QUINCY — The John Wood Community College (JWCC) Ag Alumni Association honored Andy Bastert, Matt Bradshaw, and Fred and Carole Bradshaw by inducting them into the JWCC Agriculture Hall of Fame on Feb. 6 during a ceremony at the JWCC Agriculture Science Complex. Bastert, a 1980 graduate of the JWCC ag program, has been a…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. – More than a century ago, the floral delivery service FTD adopted the slogan “Say it with flowers.” It turns out you can say quite a bit with flowers, notes University of Missouri Extension state horticulturist David Trinklein. Floriography, the language of flowers, refers to communicating cryptically through the meaning or symbolism of…
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INDIAN CREEK, Mo. – Members of the Mississippi Hills Missouri Master Naturalist chapter of the Hannibal area are excited about a growing population of an endangered bat species that inhabits two locations in northeast Missouri. The chapter, sponsored by the University of Missouri Extension and the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), works with the U.S.…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — The best time to prune fruit trees in Missouri is midwinter, according to University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist Debi Kelly. “There are many reasons to prune fruit trees, and you want to do it before bud break in the spring,” said Kelly in a press release. She held a workshop on…
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MILAN, Ill. — Each year, a variety of establishments attempt to make news by predicting annual garden trends. I’m conflicted over these reports because, on the one hand, they are fun ways to see what types of new things are on the horizon. Yet on the other hand, many of the trends are elaborate and…
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HERMITAGE, Mo. — Frost-seeding legumes now can pay big dividends later, says University of Missouri Extension field specialist in agronomy Terry Halleran. Frost-seeding is a low-cost method of broadcasting legumes over frozen ground into an existing pasture. Legumes offer many benefits but require proper management, says Halleran. Legumes add diversity to fescue pastures and improve…
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BAYLIS, Ill. — Plans are underway for a livestock judging clinic for youths on Saturday, Feb. 15, at the John Wood Community College Agricultural Education Center, 37803 Illinois 104, in Baylis. Registration will begin at 9 a.m., with the clinic to be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The clinic, hosted by University of Illinois…
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STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. — Few things thaw feelings of winter’s cold more than spring flowering bulbs, says University of Missouri Extension field horticulturist Katie Kammler. Spring bulbs are nature’s way of rewarding gardeners for their work in fall, providing early color and blooms before most annuals and perennials. While spring is their time to shine,…
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SALEM, Mo.— The use of commercial livestock dewormers has paid off in terms of animal health and productivity, but it has also resulted in resistance among parasite populations. In a press release, Eric Meusch, University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist, said, “As dewormers lose effectiveness, producers need to develop a broader strategy for managing internal…
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QUINCY — The Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce recently announced the honorees for its annual ag banquet, scheduled for Tuesday, March 11, at Town & Country Inn and Suites. This event celebrates the contributions of the agricultural community and honors leaders who make a difference in the field. Bastert Farm Equipment has been named the…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — The cyclamen is Cupid’s flowering love child. For centuries, people have associated cyclamens with matters of the heart, making it a perfect Valentine’s Day choice, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Cultivars of this flowering houseplant bear heart-shaped leaves. Their fragrant red, pink, white or bicolored flowers have petals that…
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MACOMB, Ill. — It’s the end of January, and yet I can feel the excitement of the approaching growing season. As the weather teases us with thoughts of the warmth to come with temperatures creeping into the 50s, it is important to note we still have more winter ahead. Even though we still have time…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Leasing instead of purchasing cows can be an effective financial strategy for cow-calf producers. A new publication by University of Missouri Extension specialists, “Introduction to Beef Cow Leases,” details how beef cow leases work. It is available for free download at https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g434. Lack of capital is often a barrier for new producers…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension economist Ben Brown and others predict 2025 corn prices will drop below $4.50 per bushel. This is one of a series of articles by University of Missouri Extension specialists suggesting ways to reduce input costs in a year that many farmers may struggle to keep production costs below…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — As cold weather sets in, we often find ourselves retreating indoors where it is warm. However, our landscape plants can’t do this, and during times of extreme cold, like this recent cold snap, we may find ourselves wondering how our plants will fare. How do plants prepare for cold weather? As the…
Read Full Article LINNEUS, Mo. — Adding diversity to a pasture can make it more productive than growing tall fescue alone. Diversity can also aid in reducing or diluting the effects of fescue toxicity, improve nutritive value of forage, increase weight gain and enhance soil health, says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Carson Roberts. One way…
Read Full Article ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension agronomist Wayne Flanary says 2025 likely will be a year when corn producers need to batten down the hatches to offset low sale prices and high input costs. MU Extension ag business economist Ben Brown and others predict that corn prices will fall below the $4.30 mark…
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SHELBINA, Mo. — Shelby County Extension will host a family-friendly event, Shelby County Ag Night, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, at South Shelby R-IV School District. The event will offer 30-minute sessions on technology, livestock, crop science, economics and health and will offer a free meal provided by Exchange Bank of Northeast…
Read Full Article MONROE CITY, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension state beef nutritionist Eric Bailey says cattle producers should plan for drought by moving from a “brittle” management style to a flexible and resilient one. Bailey will share insights on how to diversify beef enterprises so that cattle can be moved off the farm during drought at…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri experts have released the Show-Me 2025 Missouri Agricultural Outlook, which shows a mixed outlook for Missouri’s crops and livestock and the challenges and opportunities ahead. The report is available at https://mizzou.us/MAO25. “While corn production is set to decline with rising prices, soybean production is expected to increase despite falling…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Soybean growers can’t rely on seed treatments alone to combat soybean cyst nematode (SCN), says University of Missouri Extension state plant pathologist Mandy Bish. Seed treatments can be a valuable part of a commercial soybean production system to protect against early-season diseases, says Bish, who also serves as director of MU’s nemadote…
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LORAINE, Ill. — The Loraine Lions Club announced its annual consignment auction will be held starting at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22. Tractors and vehicles will sell at noon. Auction services will be provided by Lowderman Auctioneers from Macomb. After taking 2023 off, the Loraine Lions Club brought the auction back for 2024. Many…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri specialists have developed online tools to help farmers estimate their potential payments from the American Relief Act, which was passed by Congress late last year. “Economic assistance payments to Missouri crop producers are expected to provide significant liquidity to the local farm sector,” said Alejandro Plastina, director of the…
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