Markets & Ag
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri Extension 4-H state meats judging contest on Feb. 17 drew 54 competing 4-H members from across the state. Held in partnership with the MU Meat Science Program, the event gave contestants the opportunity to hone their judging skills and explore career and educational opportunities, said Maria Calvert, MU…
Read Full Article 
The saying about weather in Missouri is true. If you don’t like it, wait a couple of days and it will change. We still have time to prune your fruit trees, grapes and brambles. Don’t want to prune after the sap starts flowing for this year. When pruning grapes, remember new grapes only grow on…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Managing a pond or lake for sport fishing takes time, resources and a year-round commitment. Timing is crucial for many pond and lake management practices. The approaching spring is an ideal time in Missouri to evaluate and determine if ponds need to be stocked or restocked, said Robert Pierce, associate extension professor…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The phrase “waste not, want not” goes back to a time when the essentials of life were difficult to obtain, but it continues to be good advice today, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. It applies even to ashes produced this time of the year by wood-burning fireplaces and stoves.…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Sam Polly, coordinator of University of Missouri Extension’s Pesticide Safety Education Program, wants to make Missouri a safer place that allows for its agricultural economy to continue to grow. Polly says the program is the backbone of agricultural and commercial pest management in Missouri. Agriculture, forestry and fisheries contribute $369 million annually…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Successful fish farming in Missouri depends on identifying and serving market niches, according to an updated guide from University of Missouri Extension. In a press release, Ryan Milhollin, MU Extension agribusiness management specialist, said, “There are a lot of successful aquaculture businesses in Missouri. Each business has found its market niche.” The…
Read Full Article 
MILAN, Ill. — In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, I want to share one of my great horticulture loves with you … pruning. I love the idea, the exercise, the science and the potential it has for significantly improving the health and longevity of woody plant material. Since trees are large, long-lived plants in our…
Read Full Article 
The weather has been above normal for temperature and below normal for moisture, so enjoy the warmer weather we are having. Spring is coming soon. We may have a few cold days and nights ahead, so you should still do your spring pruning of your fruit trees. However, I have seen many large groups of…
Read Full Article 
HANNIBAL, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension will host a “Selling Local Foods” workshop in Hannibal from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, March 15, at the Admiral Coontz Recreation Center, 301 Warren Barrett Dr. In a press release, Justin Keay, MU Extension horticulturist, said, “Farmers market vendors, including local food producers and farmers,…
Read Full Article 
QUINCY — Emma Taylor, a first-year student at John Wood Community College and member of the livestock judging team, emerged victorious in the recent Denver Carload Contest at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colo. Taylor earned the title of national champion in the Denver Carload contest, during which 123 participants from 28 schools…
Read Full Article 
QUINCY — John Wood Community College, in collaboration with the JWCC Ag Alumni, has established the JWCC Agriculture Hall of Fame as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the college. This initiative aims to honor alumni, past faculty and staff as well as friends of the JWCC agricultural education program for their professional achievements,…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Soybean producers are encouraged to submit soil samples for soybean cyst nematode (SCN) egg counts to the SCN Diagnostics clinic in Columbia this spring for free, says Mandy Bish, clinic director and University of Missouri Extension plant pathologist. Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council partners with the clinic to offer four free sample tests…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Missouri Dairy Hall of Honors honored its 2023 winners during a special ceremony Friday, Jan. 26. Donald and Betty June Waterman, formerly of Williamstown, were recognized posthumously with the Pioneer Dairy Leader Award. The Watermans farmed 260 acres in Lewis County and raised good-quality Guernseys for more than 35 years. They…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — You may be wondering, “What does artificial intelligence (A.I.) have to do with gardening?” Let’s say you have a gardening question. Before the internet, perhaps you reached out to your Illinois Extension office for an answer. With the internet, you could search for your question but had to wade through lots of…
Read Full Article 
QUINCY — Within parks, streams and native prairies, University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalists serve as environmental stewards in their communities. Master Naturalists in west-central Illinois volunteered more than 460 hours in 2023. Illinois Extension is now opening registration for the next training slated for this spring. The course begins April 3. In a press…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — Thousands of agriculture enthusiasts from three states are expected to converge on Macomb in February for Western Illinois University Ag Mech Club’s 52nd annual Farm Expo. Those interested should mark their calendars for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb.…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Valentine’s Day flowers will last longer if kept watered and fed, said University of Missouri horticulturist David Trinklein. Trinklein’s tips and homemade preservative recipe provide an extended warranty of sorts to make certain flowers last up to twice their normal lifespan. Cut flowers age when they lose more water than they take…
Read Full Article 
MILAN, Ill. — The internet is a wild place full of an endless amount of information, ideas, opinions, advice, arguments and more. Tangled in this web, it will come as no surprise that my favorite spaces are those that relate to plants. I’ve been known to have many, many pages open in my browser window…
Read Full Article 
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Billions of cicadas will buzz this spring as two broods emerge at the same time. These broods last emerged together in 1803 and won’t appear together again for 221 years. That means that your grandchildren’s great-great-great grandchildren likely will be the next group to experience the dual emergence of these cicada…
Read Full Article 
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Have you ever seen a lilac bush that only blooms at the very top, or maybe not at all? Perhaps you’ve seen or have a forsythia bush that doesn’t bloom nearly as prolifically as it once did. This often happens due to a lack of or improper pruning. When done correctly, pruning…
Read Full Article January 17, 2025
MUDDY RIVER MORNINGS: Jan. 17
Obituaries
Current Weather
SAT
SUN
MON
TUE
WED