Markets & Ag
COLUMBIA, Mo. – This fall, millions of Americans will make an annual pilgrimage to a retail outlet to purchase a vegetable they, unfortunately, are unlikely to eat. In the United States, pumpkins sell mainly for decoration. But this verse from about 1630 suggests that American colonists relied heavily on pumpkin for food: For pottage and…
Read Full Article 
With an effective state and local tax rate of 15 percent, Illinois has the highest state and local taxes — almost 39 percent higher than the average U.S. household. It’s no surprise then, that Kiplinger voted Illinois the least-friendly state for middle-class Americans to move to. According to Illinois Policy’s August jobs data analysis, Illinois’…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. – To some, “Don’t let the bedbugs bite” isn’t just a quaint good-night wish. Bedbugs are a nightmare for people in the hospitality and housing industries, says Sam Polly, coordinator of University of Missouri Extension’s Pesticide Safety Education Program. With zero tolerance for these tiny pests, it is important to hire the right…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri’s hills might not be alive with the sound of music, but they soon will transition into a kaleidoscope of color. The foliage of trees, shrubs and vines is about to burst into its full glory. Colors usually peak around the third weekend of October, but Mother Nature is a woman of…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Pearls of Production: Women in Agriculture program focuses on leadership and hands-on training for women in livestock production in Missouri. This year’s event, coordinated by University of Missouri Extension, is Nov. 5-6 in Callaway County and on the MU campus. On Nov. 5, attendees will have a rare opportunity to visit…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Weaning at home reduces stress and improves profit in calves, says University of Missouri Extension beef nutritionist Eric Bailey. Unfortunately, more than 55 percent of calves are weaned on the trailer on the way to the sale barn, according to USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System surveys. Calves face many types of…
Read Full Article 
MACOMB, Ill. — When the calendar turns from October to November, our toothy Jack-o’-lanterns start to look like deflated basketballs. This means millions of Americans need to dispose of billions of pumpkins. When many people toss these festive yet mushy winter squash into the trash, it adds an immense amount of organic material into the…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. – “Not out of the woods yet” takes on new meaning during fall when chainsaw accidents increase. Chainsaw accidents are painful, expensive and preventable, says University of Missouri Extension state forester Hank Stelzer. Plan before entering the woods to avoid accidents, he says. “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail” is…
Read Full Article 
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — The days are getting shorter, and the temperatures are finally getting cooler, meaning fall has arrived. While many of our gardening activities are starting to wind down, it’s time to start thinking about planting our spring-blooming bulbs. Bulbs such as crocus, tulips, daffodils, as well as a host of others, can provide…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. – “Find Your Spark” is the theme of this year’s National 4-H Week, observed Oct. 3-9. The theme celebrates the resilience of young people who have brought about significant innovations in agriculture and technology, says Lupita Fabregas, director of the University of Missouri Extension 4-H Center for Youth Development. “In Missouri 4-H, we…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health offers free podcasts on farm safety and health topics, says University of Missouri Extension health and safety specialist Karen Funkenbusch, who serves on the center’s regional advisory committee. The twice-monthly “FarmSafe Podcast” kicked off a four-part discussion of ATVs on Sept. 1. “ATVs are not really all-terrain,”…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. – “Farm safety yields real results” is the theme of the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety’s National Farm Safety and Health Week, Sept. 19-25. Busy rural roads are full of hazards in the fall, says University of Missouri Extension health and safety specialist Karen Funkenbusch. The often rushed harvest season puts extra traffic…
Read Full Article 
NOVELTY, Mo. A recent report through the Transforming Drainage project shows that drainage water recycling systems can improve corn yields and the environment, says University of Missouri Extension agronomist Kelly Nelson. Nearly two-thirds of the site-years evaluated in the study saw an increase in yield compared to free drainage, with an overall average yield increase of 19 bushels per…
Read Full Article 
Current Weather
THU
FRI
SAT
SUN
MON
