Markets & Ag
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Gardening is an activity with many rewards, said David Trinklein, state horticulture specialist for University of Missouri Extension. “One of them is the satisfaction of sharing your plant knowledge with others,” Trinklein said in a press release. The MU Extension Master Gardener program was designed to do just that. “Its motto, ‘helping…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri’s landowners, agricultural lenders, rural appraisers and others with firsthand knowledge of land transactions are invited to respond to the annual Missouri Farmland Value Opinion Survey. This University of Missouri Extension survey captures information on land transactions that have occurred in the calendar year, including those for cropland, pastureland, timberland and recreational…
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OSCEOLA, Mo. — Sheep and goats are susceptible to heat stress in the summer, and a revised University of Missouri Extension publication updates management practices for producers to protect their animals. In a press release, David Brown of MU Extension said, “Heat stress in sheep and goats occurs when the animals are unable to regulate…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — There is scientific evidence suggesting that eating something spicy on a hot summer day will make you feel cooler, says University of Missouri horticulturist David Trinklein. “Consuming spicy foods leads to a phenomenon known as ‘gustatory facial perspiration,’ which ostensibly cools the body more quickly than a cold glass of lemonade or…
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PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Before members of the newly re-established Pike County 4-H Foundation met for the first time, CNB Bank & Trust presented a $1,000 donation, indicating the start of positive growth in Pike County 4-H. In a press release, Illinois Extension County Director Shelby Crow said, “This foundation will help members gain new opportunities…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — There aren’t many things more satisfying than going out to your garden and harvesting your produce. All the digging, watering, and weeding you’ve done in your vegetable garden suddenly become worthwhile when you’ve picked your first tomato. One of the advantages of having a garden is that you can pick your vegetables…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Biosecurity should be top of mind for those who show animals at county and state fairs, especially in the case of swine. University of Missouri Extension veterinarian Cory Bromfield said she’s noticed less concern overall about African swine fever (ASF) among pork producers and those who show pigs. She calls it “ASF…
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MILAN, Ill. — Summer, for many, it means melon season. According to the UDSA, in 2022, approximately 21.1 pounds of melon was available per U.S. consumer. Of the melons available and enjoyed by consumers, the three most popular melons ranked, in order of availability: watermelon (14.1 pounds), cantaloupe (5.3 pounds), and honeydew (1.6 pounds). A…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — As summer arrives in the Show-Me State, farm business operators often experience periods of fluctuating labor needs. Seasonal workers, including young people, can offer extra capacity during critical times. In a press release, Ryan Milhollin, University of Missouri Extension agricultural economist and a co-author of MU Extension’s “Missouri Farm Labor Guide,” which…
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LINNEUS, Mo. — Gaps in summer forages for livestock producers can be challenging. University of Missouri Extension agronomy field specialist Valerie Tate in Linn County shares management solutions, including planting warm-season annual forages such as pearl millet and sorghum-sudangrass, to fill a void in summer forage production or when renovating forage stands. “When moisture and…
Read Full Article FORSYTH, Mo. — Selling beef directly from the farm to consumers gained significant popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Though adoption has slowed, selling direct to consumers remains a popular option for Missouri beef producers as an alternative to selling live animals, as it allows the producer to capture additional value otherwise obtained by others in…
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QUINCY — As part of the upcoming Bicentennial celebrations in 2025, Adams County is set to honor the enduring legacy of its heritage farms. On Saturday, Sept. 6, during the Adams County Bicentennial Finale at the Adams County Fairgrounds, farms that have been in the same family for 150 years or more will be recognized…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — The cicada symphony may be coming to an end, but the effects of the performers are becoming apparent. Calls and emails are beginning to come into University of Missouri Extension offices from homeowners reporting the ends of many tree branches are turning brown and dropping off. “In the past few days I…
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MACOMB, Ill. — It seems like every social media exchange where the topic of ticks or possums comes up, I see a meme or photo glorifying the possum and saying they will keep ticks out of your yard. This statement is based on a 2009 study that showed possum grooming led to them devouring ticks…
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Happy Father’s Day to all the special fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers and great-great-grandfathers. Let them know how much you appreciate them and how special they are to you. The weather has been great for all your gardening and yard work. The one thing we see is not having enough rain for all the plants in gardens…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Roses have been popular flowers for centuries and remain popular today. Their large, showy, often fragrant flowers grace many landscapes. Humans aren’t the only animals that find roses attractive, though. A variety of insects will feed on roses. While Japanese beetles often get much of the blame, they aren’t the only insects…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — A new tool developed by University of Missouri Extension’s state soybean specialist Andre Froes de Borja Reis can indicate soybean growth and anticipate yield deviations before the end of the season. “This tool is designed to predict soybean development and yield based on crop growth models,” Reis said in a press release.…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — On-farm strip trials are an effective way for farmers to test their nitrogen fertilizer rate on corn. “A wet May has lots of farmers wondering about the nitrogen status of their corn crop,” said John Lory, University of Missouri Extension nutrient management specialist, in a press release. “Wet conditions and warm soils…
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The noise from all the cicadas has been very loud the past few days. They showed up earlier this year and have been busy making noise since. Males make noise to attract females. They mate and the females go and lay their eggs in tree bark and branches. Six to 10 weeks later, the eggs…
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MILAN, Ill. — The other day, I had the opportunity to chaperone a school group at a local state park. While on the field trip, a volunteer-led the students on a nature hike through the woodlands. At one point during the hike, the group leader grabbed a handful of two plants to share with the…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA Mo. — Learn to deal with diseases, insects and weeds in your vegetable garden during a three-part webinar series presented by University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialists from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Mondays, June 3 through June 17. Tomatoes, a favorite vegetable garden plant, have numerous issues each year, says Debi Kelly, who will…
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Everything should be growing faster with the warmer weather and rain we have been getting. Hopefully many of you have got everything in the garden and flowerbeds. Many people have been buying transplants to put in the garden and flowerbeds. Some places are starting to discount them so they don’t lose a lot of money.…
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QUINCY — The Illinois Master Naturalists program has an impact on forests, waters and people. More than 880 Master Naturalists put in more than 73,000 hours last year removing invasive species, monitoring the health of waterways, raising and releasing monarch butterflies, teaching youths about the environment and investing in the future of our natural areas.…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Celebrating National Volunteer Week, the Missouri 4-H Foundation recently presented LaTisha Scott-Snead with the Naomi Crouch 4-H Volunteer Leadership Award. Scott-Snead is recognized for more than eight years of service and support to 4-H in Clark County. Recipients of the Naomi Crouch Award may select a 4-H club or county program to…
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MACOMB, Ill. — So you want to move that shrub? I get it. Perhaps that shrub needs to go to a different spot in the yard. Maybe it wasn’t planted in the correct location to begin with. Perhaps a tree has grown tall casting more shade, or a tree has come down flooding the area…
Read Full Article April 20, 2025
MRN THIS WEEK: QFD CHIEF STEVE SALRIN
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