Markets & Ag
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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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We have seen a lot of moisture get into the ground during the past few days from all the rain and melting snow. This will help build up the moisture in the soil. The South Shelby Adult Vo-Ag Horticulture had its first class on Jan. 23. Plans are to be starting seeds by Feb. 13.…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — The leaves are down, winter is upon us, and that means it’s prime time for pruning oak trees which can be infected by the oak wilt fungus if they’re pruned during the high-risk period mid-March through mid-July. In a press release, Hank Stelzer, state forestry specialist with University of Missouri Extension, said,…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Farmers often struggled during the drought of 2023 to identify what was happening in their soybean as plants showed similar symptoms with different causes. University of Missouri Extension plant pathologist Mandy Bish calls some of these causes doppelgangers, look-alikes that mimic other diseases with confusing similarities and perplexing differences. In addition, old…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri soybean yields have the potential to reach or exceed national averages, says University of Missouri Extension state soybean specialist Andre Reis. Nationally, soybean yields have grown at a pace of 0.4 bushel per acre per year over the past 80 years according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Illinois growers…
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QUINCY, — The Quincy Public Library’s seed library program, designed to foster community engagement and promote sustainable gardening practices, will be available from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1, in the large meeting room. Learn how you can borrow seeds, connect with fellow gardeners to exchange tips and tricks, take a guided tour…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Just in time to brighten the dull, dreary days of winter, the National Garden Bureau has named the African violet as its houseplant of the year for 2024. The choice is an excellent one, says University of Missouri Extension state horticulture specialist David Trinklein. African violets thrive in most interior settings, provide…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Many Missouri beef producers found themselves trying to pull a rabbit out of the hat as they rang in 2024 with low hay supplies, says University of Missouri Extension beef nutrition specialist Eric Bailey. Bailey says post-drought feeding woes leave producers challenged with “what to feed when there is no feed.” The…
Read Full Article April 20, 2025
MRN THIS WEEK: QFD CHIEF STEVE SALRIN
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