Markets & Ag
MILAN, Ill. — As the day lengths shorten, our family has been spending the last fading moments of sunlight on our patio, trying desperately to hang on to summer amid the start of the school year. During these last moments of daylight, I am reminded of the beauty found at the edges of our landscape.…
Read Full Article It looks like we will be having nice weather in the coming days, so enjoy it. Working in your garden, flowerbed and yard during this time of year can be really rewarding. There are many things to be doing with the weather the way it is now. The other day I did a podcast with…
Read Full Article JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — As summer transitions to fall, our landscapes also transition. The bright-colored flowers of summer begin to fade, and many plants begin to look ragged. Goldenrod and asters often provide much-needed color to the landscape. However, another plant that can add some color to our landscapes is Tithonia, also known as Mexican sunflower.…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension specialists urge producers to closely watch cattle grazing pastures with Johnson grass and other sorghum species. Cattle producers in several drought-stressed parts of Missouri have recently reported cattle deaths from suspected prussic acid or hydrocyanic acid (cyanide) poisoning, says Tim Evans, an MU Extension state specialist in animal…
Read Full Article MEXICO, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension agriculture business specialists will offer a program on Missouri farm leases in September. Participants may attend Tuesday, Sept. 12, or Wednesday, Sept. 13, in person at sites throughout the state or through Zoom. There will be numerous timely topics of interest to Missouri landowners, said MU Extension ag…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein said, “Some perennials can suffer from too much of a good thing.” As it grows, year after year, a perennial’s growth clump, or crown, gets so big the plant begins to compete with itself for light, water and nutrients. Eventually this self-struggle leads to fewer…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Unlike most of Missouri’s native trees, the American smoketree displays spectacular colors throughout the growing season, says University of Missouri Extension state horticulturist Michele Warmund. American smoketree is a hardy and adaptable small tree or shrub that grows 15 to 30 feet at maturity. It thrives in full sun and in alkaline…
Read Full Article MACOMB, Ill. — It is late August. Do you know what that means? Apples! Yes, our apple trees are beginning to yield their bountiful fruits. A few days ago, I walked over to a friend’s apple tree and pulled down on a low-hanging apple with no signs of blemishes or damage. The fruit slipped off…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — This is the time of year when cattle producers need to pay extra attention to heat stress in their operations, says University of Missouri Extension beef specialist Eric Bailey. Unlike many other animals, cattle can’t rid their bodies of heat by sweating. Instead, they pant. Heat-stressed cattle show symptoms such as open-mouth…
Read Full Article 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…
Read Full Article 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…
Read Full Article 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…
Read Full Article 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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