Markets & Ag
MILAN, Ill. — As the holiday season approaches, many of us will indulge in an alcoholic beverage or two as a part of the celebration. My preferences vary depending on the season, but during the winter I strongly favor a bottle of red wine. If you are like me and enjoy the vino, let’s explore…
Read Full Article URSA, Ill. — Sharon Tenhouse, a 4-H Leader of Burton Flyers 4-H Club, has served as a volunteer leader for 50 years. She was one of many volunteers and 4-H members celebrated during the 86th annual Adams County 4-H Achievement Day at Ursa Farmers Cooperative on Oct. 15. Current Adams County 4-H program coordinator Siera Duesterhaus…
Read Full Article JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — The leaves are dropping off trees, and many of us are putting our gardens to bed for winter. While preparing the garden for winter, spend a little time preparing your trees and shrubs. Doing a few things this fall can help protect our trees and shrubs from winter damage. Watering doesn’t stop…
Read Full Article In the past few days, we saw the first killing freeze of the year. Many of you have picked your last tomato and other vegetables this past weekend. The flowers will quit blooming too. However, many days of decent weather are ahead for you to be doing many projects outside. You can start thinking about…
Read Full Article OSCEOLA, Mo. — Fall is the natural mating season for sheep and goats, and University of Missouri Extension has a new publication for producers: Breeding Season Considerations for Sheep and Goats. MU Extension small-ruminant specialist David Brown said peak fertility for sheep and goats is late September through November, but some breeds will cycle in…
Read Full Article MACOMB, Ill. — On Saturday, Nov. 4, several Illinois Extension offices will be offering pumpkin smashes with local partners in communities across the state. A pumpkin smash gives a community an option to turn their spooky Jack-o’-lanterns into compost. In western Illinois, the nearest pumpkin smash will be in Macomb at Veterans Park in partnership…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Americans are projected to spend more than $800 million on Halloween pumpkins this year, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. The U.S. pumpkin industry can thank Irish immigrants and a mythical character named “Stingy Jack” for Americans’ rush to buy carving pumpkins in October. According to Irish legend, Stingy Jack…
Read Full Article MILAN, Ill. — Two separate serendipitous events occurred recently that brought a plant back to the forefront of my attention. First, a few weeks ago a colleague asked me to confirm the species of a tree growing near a public garden. The garden was struggling to grow, and a cursory identification of the tree marked…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension and the Missouri Department of Agriculture are helping livestock producers find hay. Their websites are seeing increased interest from buyers and sellers post-drought, says Tony Hancock, MDA market news manager. Many of the listings come from sellers in states that have not seen back-to-back drought years. In a…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Michele Warmund invites you to explore the weird world of plants with terrifying names and demonic smells. In a press release, Warmund said, “Enter, if you dare, into the ghoulish side of the plant world.” Some of Warmund’s wicked good greenies: Brain cactus. This wonder looks like…
Read Full Article JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — With the arrival of color temperatures and shorter days, plants have begun the process of preparing themselves for the coming winter. One of the most notable ways this happens is the changing colors of our trees. From yellows, golds, oranges, reds, and purples, our landscapes will soon be, or perhaps already are,…
Read Full Article PERRY, Ill. — Trent Loos, the United Kingdom’s Andrew Henderson and Jim Ferguson will share the microphone and engage in a discussion about the future of food production around the world as they record “Loos Tales” from 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22, at the John Wood Ag Center. The actual recording of “Rural Route Radio”…
Read Full Article The fall weather is really in full swing now. With the daylight hours getting shorter each day and the nights getting cooler, many of your vegetables and flowers have stopped producing. Laura and I are still watering flowers, tomatoes and green beans. I like seeing how long each fall we can have fresh vegetables and…
Read Full Article