Markets & Ag
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Livestock producers are sweating, and it’s more than just the heat of summer, says Katie Neuner, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in agricultural business. Hay shortages caused by drought have forced producers to buy and transport hay from long distances, adding to feed input costs. Additionally, many producers have had to…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension state plant pathologist Mandy Bish says tar spot of corn has spread into many new counties in 2023. Bish recently confirmed tar spot in five more counties. This brings to 31 the number of Missouri counties in which tar spot has been confirmed between 2019 and 2023. Bish…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Lady beetles are widely considered a gardener’s friend. Sure, multi-colored Asian lady beetles can be a nuisance when they enter our homes during the fall. But they are all predatory, beneficial insects that feed on various pest insects such as aphids and mealy bugs, right? Two species of lady beetle, the Mexican…
Read Full Article BOLIVAR, Mo. — It’s pretty simple math: Too little grass + too many cows = too little cash. Missouri livestock producers love their cows and never want to sell them, even when grass and water dry up, says University of Missouri Extension agricultural business specialist Wesley Tucker. Instead of culling cows, they will go to…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Grazing cornstalks or drought-stricken corn can fill feed gaps during drought, says University of Missouri Extension beef nutritionist Eric Bailey. There are some nutritional concerns, and producers must commit to moving cattle to new pastures to successfully use cornstalks as feedstuff, but there are benefits. Cows are selective grazers. They choose the…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — The recent shift to milder temperatures is a pleasant reminder that it is time for gardeners to plant cool-season vegetables, said University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist David Trinklein. Warm days and cool nights make conditions ideal for a second round of cool-season vegetables, Trinklein said. They most often are more flavorful…
Read Full Article BOWLING GREEN, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension will offer a self-paced “Conventional Vegetable Production Series” this fall. In a press release, Justin Keay, MU Extension horticulturist, said, “We know vegetable growers are busy. Many hold an off-farm job in addition to their on-farm responsibilities. We recognize that offering content to growers in multiple formats…
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The weather over the past few days has been really nice, especially when compared to the weather we had for all of the Dog Days of Summer. The Dog Days of Summer ended on Friday, Aug. 11. It’s too bad we didn’t get all this much-needed rain in the early spring. The weather is finally…
Read Full Article BOLIVAR, Mo. — It’s pretty simple math: Too little grass + too many cows = too little cash. Missouri livestock producers love their cows and never want to sell them, even when grass and water dry up, says University of Missouri Extension agricultural business specialist Wesley Tucker. Instead of culling cows, they will go to…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. – Lenders serving farmers and rural communities are invited to attend University of Missouri Extension’s 43rd Missouri Agricultural Lender Seminar series this fall in eight locations across the state. Agricultural business and policy specialists and researchers will present market and policy outlooks, farm financial conditions and land values, said Ben Brown, MU Extension…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — The drought in Missouri has taken a toll on cool-season grasses, diminishing forage for cattle and other livestock. In a press release, Rusty Lee, University of Missouri Extension agronomy field specialist, said, “Native warm-season grasses are the ideal forage for summer during the production slump of cool-season grasses due to heat, especially…
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MILAN, Ill. — On a recent family vacation, I revisited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As I return to places I was privileged to visit as a child, I prepare for the trip, in part, by trying to dig deep into my memory bank and recall as much as I can about the place…
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MACOMB, Ill. — It is time for another installment of “What’s under my sink and can I use it in the garden?” Today comes a home remedy that originates back to the 19th Century. In 1871, gardener Anne Hale recommended using spirits of ammonia for stimulating flower growth. Over 150 years later, peek under most…
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SPRINGFIELD – With the 2023 Illinois State Fair about to get underway, Gov. JB Pritzker and Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello II officially unveiled this year’s butter cow. The cow was sculpted by artist Sarah Pratt and inspired by dairy farmer Lorilee Schultz, from Mill-R-Mor Dairy in Orangeville, who is depicted harvesting milk from…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — During drought, beef producers might find a best friend in their local veterinarian, says University of Missouri Extension veterinary toxicologist Tim Evans. In a press release, Evans said, “Although veterinarians always provide a valuable service to animal owners, their value to livestock producers becomes increasingly important during drought, high heat and limited…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. – Heat waves put extra stress on livestock. A University of Missouri Extension dairy specialist advises taking specific, ongoing steps for dairy cows throughout heat waves. Heat abatement In a press release, Scott Poock, state extension specialist in veterinary medicine, said, “Dairy cows become heat-stressed starting at 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Fans should start…
Read Full Article January 17, 2025
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