Markets & Ag
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Producers should prepare for more complexity in herbicide requirements and registrations in 2023 and beyond, says University of Missouri Extension weed scientist Kevin Bradley. The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed changes to atrazine labels that would have great impact, says Bradley. Atrazine is an effective and inexpensive herbicide used to kill broadleaf…
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KIRKSVILLE, Mo. — There are important steps to take when considering selling timber, says University of Missouri Extension forester Hank Stelzer. In addition to providing additional revenue, harvesting timber can improve the health and vigor of woods and wildlife. Most landowners don’t know the value of their woodlands, Stelzer says. Too often, landowners make uneducated…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Nothing brightens a windowsill in winter like amaryllis, the National Garden Bureau’s bulb plant of the year, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. The name “amaryllis” comes from a Greek word that means “to sparkle.” And sparkle it does, said Trinklein. There are more than 600 varieties of this native…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — The new year provides us an opportunity to start anew, often in the form of New Year’s resolutions. It might be starting a vegetable garden, growing more flowers for pollinators, composting, mowing less, or scouting your garden. Consider making a resolution/goal or two for the garden. Below are some of our gardening…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day is a tradition said to bring wealth and good fortune in the new year, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Michele Warmund. This custom dates to around A.D. 500 when people ate black-eyed peas for luck during the celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. – Gardening is an activity with many rewards, says David Trinklein, state horticulture specialist for University of Missouri Extension. In a press release, Trinklein said, “One of them is the satisfaction of sharing your plant knowledge with others. The Master Gardener program was initiated to do just that. Its motto-helping others learn to…
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MACOMB, Ill. — “Clark, that’s the gift that keeps on giving.” No truer words have ever described a Jelly of the Month Club. Yet, upon my annual family viewing of National Lampoon’s “Christmas Vacation,” a thought occurred to me that had not in the decades I’ve watched this movie. The idea of a jelly for…
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I once heard a succinct description of natural process as “everything points towards winter.” As a Midwesterner not so fond of cold, my immediate response to this synopsis was denial but with time, I’ve come to adore this mentality. Annual plants know they have one growing season to complete their life cycle, racing to reproduce…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — While the holidays are filled with familiar sights and sounds, it’s the aromas of the season that often conjure up our most vivid memories of the past. This should come as no surprise since our sense of smell is keener than our senses of sight and sound. Many of the aromas surrounding…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Extremely cold weather is forecast for the days before Christmas, putting cattle at risk. Temperatures below zero degrees Fahrenheit are predicted, with the wind chill factor much lower in parts of Missouri. As temperatures drop, producers need to ensure their cattle are kept safe in the harsh weather, said University of Missouri…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Two of the three gifts of the Wise Men – frankincense and myrrh – remain in high demand more than 5,000 years after gaining popularity in religious rituals, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Michele Warmund. Ancient Egyptians used myrrh to embalm corpses and Romans burned it as a type of incense…
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Provided by the Adams County Farm Bureau.
Read Full Article KIRKSVILLE, Mo. — Livestock producers have options for reducing hay waste and feeding costs while improving animal behavior and performance, says University of Missouri Extension specialist Charlie Ellis. Farmers can choose from several methods to reduce waste based on their preferences, labor availability and climate, says Ellis. Here are four basics from Ellis: Ellis calls…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Procrastinators win the prize in the “Safest Holiday Decorations” category. In a press release, David Trinklein, University of Missouri Extension horticulturist, said “In days of old, people rarely brought holiday greenery into the home before Christmas Eve. Doing so was considered bad luck for the coming year.” Today, the holiday season begins…
Read Full Article JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Poinsettias, amaryllis, holly, and evergreens are common sights during the holidays. Another group of plants, holiday cacti, also make an appearance this time of year. With their brightly colored flowers, ranging from white, pink, yellow, orange, red or purple, they are often given as gifts during the holidays. While they are commonly…
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CARROLLTON, Mo. — Centenarian Wilda Cox knows hard work. She’s built barns, lugged 110-pound cans of milk, picked and husked corn by hand and bucked hay bales. But Cox endured no harder day than Oct. 31, 2022, when she sold the farm that had been in her family for more than a century. Cox was…
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