Markets & Ag
MACOMB, Ill. — Hold on to your hats! It is windy here in Illinois. Wind can be destructive to homes and landscapes, plus it can make being outside miserable. This is why many Illinoisians plant windbreaks around their homes to keep that biting wind from causing a drafty house, prevent drifting snow and make being…
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LORAINE, Ill. — Two civil suits filed in Adams County Circuit Court claim County Line Swine, Inc., a 5,000-hog confinement in northern Adams County, and Carroll Family Farms, LLC, of Carthage, which owns the swine and provides feed for the facility, are operating the hog confinement with improper methods that have harmful impacts on local…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Cattle producers need to pay attention to heat stress in their operations during this time of year. Unlike many other animals, cattle cannot rid their bodies of heat by sweating. Instead, they pant. Heat-stressed cattle show symptoms such as open-mouth breathing, slobbering and restlessness. Chronic heat stress leads to long-term problems such…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — The poppy is one of the most recognized symbols honoring soldiers who have died in combat. The Flanders poppy (Papaver rhoeas), also known as the corn poppy, is a common flower native to Europe. Its seeds often lie dormant for years and spring to life when the soil is disturbed. This happened…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Numbers are dropping for Avian influenza, informally known as avian flu or bird flu, according to Robert Pierce, University of Missouri Extension wildlife and fisheries specialist. Fewer reports of dead and sick birds point to an end to the current outbreak of avian influenza, Pierce says. Rising summer temperatures will also likely…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — In the 1800s, peonies were one of the few flowers in bloom in late May. After the Civil War, mourners used peonies to adorn the graves of fallen soldiers on Decoration Day, which we now call Memorial Day. The huge, lavish blooms emit a luscious floral perfume that continues to make them…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Quality landscapes begin with quality topsoil. Topsoil is the top 3-10 inches of the soil. Most surface soils have higher organic matter content than subsoil, but not all surface soil is ideal for gardens or lawns, says Manjula Nathan, director of the University of Missouri Extension Soil and Plant Testing Laboratory. The…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Now that May has arrived, many landscapes are full of blooming plants and the buzz of bees. When you mention bees to most people, images of golden-yellow honey bees come to mind. However, there is a lot more to bees than honey bees. In fact, there are over 20,000 bee species worldwide and around 500 species of bees…
Read Full Article FULTON, Mo. — The University of Missouri Extension’s Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program has announced its upcoming spring sales dates: May 20 in Vienna and Carthage, May 21 in Kingsville, and June 4 in Palmyra. MU’s Extension’s Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program uses the latest research on health, nutrition, genetics and reproductive science to ensure Missouri producers continue to be national leaders in providing quality…
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QUINCY — The University of Illinois Extension in Quincy will hold a six-session Junior Master Gardener and Master Naturalist program on Mondays and Thursdays starting June 6 at John Wood Community College for local youths ages 9-12 to learn about gardening and natural resources through hands-on activities and outdoor investigations. The mission of the Junior Master…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — Bat biologists are celebrating the news the number of endangered Indiana bats at Sodalis Nature Preserve has increased almost 20 percent. The bat census at Sodalis, conducted in February 2022, confirms its place as the country’s most important hibernation spot for this species with an estimated 215,296 Indiana bats. Vona Kuczynska, biologist…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Edible blooms give flower power to spring meals, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Michele Warmund. Edible flowers add nutrition, texture and color to your plate, Warmund says. They can be candied, stir-fried, added to butters, steeped for teas and added to breads, soups, sauces, desserts or salads. Some of the culinary…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Pest control in the garden might conjure images of a season-long battle with bugs, weeds and diseases. But sometimes four-legged “friends” such as deer, rabbits and squirrels can inflict far more damage, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Protecting the garden against famished fauna can be a challenge. “Hunger is…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Once again, wet soils have delayed corn planting throughout Missouri. The USDA’s May 2 Crop Progress and Condition report for the state shows that 27% of intended corn acres is planted – half the five-year average. Southeastern Missouri, the state’s earliest-planted region, has had the greatest delay in corn planting. The most important effect…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Temperatures in the low 90s the week of May 8 combined with intense or recurrent rainfall could result in damage to corn and soybean crops from ponding, saturated soils and flooding, says University of Missouri Extension agronomist Bill Wiebold. Survival of submerged corn and soybean seedlings depends on seed quality, flood duration,…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Interested in an impossible task? Try making dry hay in Missouri in early spring. But baleage can turn spring forage harvest in Missouri into “Mission: Possible.” Baleage is the ensilage of large bales of high-moisture forage, says Rob Kallenbach, University of Missouri Extension forage specialist. Producers make large round or square bales…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Warmer and drier weather is expected to help farmers make solid planting progress this week. Normally, corn planting advances about 17 percentage points this week to 67 percent complete by May 15, says Martyn Foreman, University of Missouri Extension instructor in agricultural economics. In a press release, Morgan Foreman, University of Missouri…
Read Full Article February 22, 2025
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