Markets & Ag
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Ask five farmers how much their hay bales weigh, and you’ll probably get five different answers — none of which are backed up by a scale ticket. “That’s because most folks think they know their bale weights, but more often than not, they’re guessing,” said University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist…
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QUINCY — U.S. Rep. Mary Miller (R-15, Illinois) told a group of Adams County Farm Bureau members Friday she has been in meetings with President Donald Trump and his advisor Elon Musk to stress the importance of family farms. “The government is so bloated and inefficient, and President Trump wants to make it work better…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Proper management of the spring flush of tall fescue gives pastures and cattle a head start for the rest of the grazing season, says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Harley Naumann. Spring flush occurs when conditions are right for cool-season grasses to come out of their dormant state. This happens…
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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – With spring around the corner, University of Missouri Extension field horticulturist Kelly McGowan urges gardeners to consider how they can help monarch butterflies. Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) are one of the most popular and well-known insects, but populations are declining. McGowan says declines can be attributed to many factors, including breeding habitat…
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MILAN, Il. — As the growing season approaches, final plans are being made for home gardens. What to plant and where to plant are big questions that require multiple levels of consideration. What to plant requires an analysis of what the intended use is, what the growing space can support, and how the climate is…
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Now is the best time of year to prune all types of fruit trees, grapes and brambles while they are still in their dormant stage. As the weather warms up and the sap starts to run, you shouldn’t be pruning as this will hurt the production of fruit. Once you begin to see buds start…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension’s Pest Monitoring Network offers free, timely pest alerts to farmers and gardeners, says MU Extension crops entomologist Ivair Valmorbida. Early detection allows farmers to take quick action before infestations become severe. By scouting and monitoring their fields, farmers can make management decisions to prevent yield loss and reduce…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — The high price of eggs and egg shortages in some places have led some consumers to seek out other sources of protein. “Eggs are still a good source of protein and nutrients, but, ultimately, it’s up to the consumer to decide if they fit within their budget or not,” said Sarah Wood,…
Read Full Article MOUNTAIN GROVE, Mo. — With spring calving season underway, producers want as many healthy calves on the ground as possible. “A lot of folks see pregnancy loss within their herd and think of it in two ways: either a cow aborting a calf during gestation, or losing the calf after it is already made it…
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JACKSON, Mo. – Get a jump on the gardening season by starting vegetable and flower seeds indoors now, says University of Missouri Extension field horticulturist Donna Aufdenberg. In a press release, Aufdenberg said, “Starting seeds indoors doesn’t have to be difficult. Knowing the basics is the best way to start.” Sow most garden seeds six…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — You can’t grow turkey in the straw, but you can grow side dishes and floral centerpieces for a turkey dinner in the straw. Straw bale gardens are becoming popular with growers who are plagued with poor soil or limited garden space, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Straw bale gardening…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — Master Naturalists have conducted educational projects and volunteer community service to improve Missouri’s environment for the past 20 years. Master Naturalists are drawn to everything in nature from birds and bats to bees and trees. The Mississippi Hills Master Naturalist Chapter is one of 12 chapters in the state. Its 100-plus members…
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JACKSON, Mo. — One of your best gardening tools may be in your recycling bin, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Donna Aufdenberg. Use specially prepared milk jugs to jump-start your garden by winter sowing, a method of starting seeds in late winter for spring transplanting. The dome of the milk jug acts like a…
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Many of you are starting to see vegetable seeds in stores and in catalogs you get in the mail or online. In the late 1960s through the late 1980s, the South Shelby FFA would sell Vitality Garden & Flower Seed door to door as a fundraiser to help pay for the annual FFA spring banquet.…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Gardeners looking for hap-pea-ness can look no further than the pea. The National Garden Bureau has declared 2025 the year of the pea. Few vegetables match the culinary delight of peas fresh from the garden, said David Trinklein, University of Missouri Extension horticulturist. In a press release, Trinklein said, “You might say…
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LIBERTY, Ill. — The Adams County Beef Producers and Beef Auxiliary held its 49th annual meeting and banquet on Jan. 25 at St. Brigid’s Hall, and Lily Baker was crowned the Adams County Beef Queen and Tucker Shupe was crowned the Adams County Beef Ambassador. The queen and ambassador each received a $1,500 scholarship. Baker…
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — More than a quarter of the world’s population already eats insects as a protein source. You may find these unusual delicacies in your future, too, says University of Missouri Extension field horticulturist Tamra Reall. If you doubt that you will ever eat insects, keep in mind that you probably already do,…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Strict biosecurity is urged in Missouri poultry operations to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which has been confirmed in five southwestern Missouri counties. Federal officials have confirmed HPAI in commercial poultry flocks in Newton, Jasper, McDonald, Lawrence and Barry counties. In a press release, Cory Bromfield, University of…
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WARSAW, Mo. — Handling farm finances wisely means knowing some key numbers that indicate the health of your operation. “One of those key numbers is your farm’s financial efficiency,” said Amie Breshears, University of Missouri Extension agricultural business specialist, in a press release. “Financial efficiency measures your farm’s ability to use all its valuable resources…
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The past few days have really been great for outdoor work. The next few weeks look like the days will be warm, but the nights will be at or below the freezing mark. I have had several people ask if they should be cleaning off their flowerbeds. I have noticed several different types of perennials…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Valentine’s Day is a time for expressing love and appreciation for others, which is often done by giving cut flowers and, increasingly, potted plants. Whether you’ve received a bouquet of flowers or a potted plant, here are tips that can help you care for them to keep them healthy and attractive as…
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QUINCY — The John Wood Community College (JWCC) Ag Alumni Association honored Andy Bastert, Matt Bradshaw, and Fred and Carole Bradshaw by inducting them into the JWCC Agriculture Hall of Fame on Feb. 6 during a ceremony at the JWCC Agriculture Science Complex. Bastert, a 1980 graduate of the JWCC ag program, has been a…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. – More than a century ago, the floral delivery service FTD adopted the slogan “Say it with flowers.” It turns out you can say quite a bit with flowers, notes University of Missouri Extension state horticulturist David Trinklein. Floriography, the language of flowers, refers to communicating cryptically through the meaning or symbolism of…
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INDIAN CREEK, Mo. – Members of the Mississippi Hills Missouri Master Naturalist chapter of the Hannibal area are excited about a growing population of an endangered bat species that inhabits two locations in northeast Missouri. The chapter, sponsored by the University of Missouri Extension and the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), works with the U.S.…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — The best time to prune fruit trees in Missouri is midwinter, according to University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist Debi Kelly. “There are many reasons to prune fruit trees, and you want to do it before bud break in the spring,” said Kelly in a press release. She held a workshop on…
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