Markets & Ag
COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension specialists have confirmed the first case of corn stunt in Missouri. The disease, which is transmitted by an insect, was found in southwest Missouri. Corn leafhopper is the insect capable of infecting corn with three pathogens that results in corn stunt disease. Corn stunt symptoms begin with yellowing…
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MACOMB, Ill. — You sprayed what? Where? There are a few occasions when it is a good thing people can’t read my facial expressions over the phone. One of those situations is when I get a phone call where someone has used a pesticide that is way off-label. By off-label, I am referring to spraying…
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MONTGOMERY CITY, Mo.— Start stockpiling tall fescue in mid-August for healthier, more profitable cattle, says University of Missouri Extension field specialist in agronomy Rusty Lee. Stockpiling fescue extends the grazing season and reduces the need to feed hay. “Winter feed costs are the cattle producer’s biggest single expense,” says Lee in a press release. The…
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KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – More than 20 years ago, eight-year-old Casey Jefferson Coy enrolled in the Garden ’n Grow program in Kirksville at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Adair County. Little did she know that the summer-long program would lead her to decades of employment and enjoyment. For Coy, the class was also an…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Have you always wanted a horse but don’t know where to start? An updated University of Missouri Extension publication offers guidance. “Buying a Horse” is available for free download at https://extension.missouri.edu/g2835. “Purchasing a horse should be well planned and carefully thought out,” said Shawn Deering, MU Extension livestock specialist, in a press release.…
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Thanks for all your prayers during the past few days. Laura and I appreciate them. Please keep them coming as I recover from my recent medical issues. I’m doing better and hope to return to my normal self in a few days. The weather has been great for this time of year for you to be…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Selecting for cattle with heat tolerance can improve a producer’s profitability. An updated University of Missouri Extension publication, “Hair Shedding Scores: A Tool To Select Heat Tolerant Cattle,” explains how to score for hair shedding and seek lower scores for better heat tolerance. The publication is available for free download at https://extension.missouri.edu/g2014.…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — If you’ve driven along any interstates or highways in Illinois, there’s a good chance you’ve seen tall plants with spiky flower heads. Teasels have become an increasingly common site across Illinois. While they may appear attractive, especially for cut flower arrangements, these troublesome plants can form large colonies that outcompete and choke…
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MILAN, Ill. — The time of year is nearing when the pawpaw (Asimina triloba) fruit will ripen and those lucky enough to have access to the fruit (and beat the wildlife to the ripened fruit) will enjoy a once-a-year delicacy. Those who have never been able to enjoy the fruit have time to search for…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Pest control is an important part of establishing an attractive garden. Insects, diseases and weeds are formidable foes, but the damage they inflict often pales compared to the destruction perpetrated by some of our four-legged “friends,” said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. “It is extremely frustrating to put time, effort…
Read Full Article ROCK PORT, Mo. — A six-year study at the University of Missouri’s Graves-Chapple Extension and Education Center in northwestern Missouri looked at the impact of poultry litter on soybean crops. In a press release, MU Extension agronomy specialist Wayne Flanary, who conducted the research, said, “Poultry litter is increasingly being applied to row crops in…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension state plant pathologist Mandy Bish reports confirmaion of red crown rot, a yield-robbing soybean disease, in Marion County in northeastern Missouri. This is the first confirmed incidence of the disease in the state. Bish says MU Extension specialists have been scouting for the pathogen since its confirmation in…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — In celebration of National Farmers Market Week, Aug. 4-10, University of Missouri Extension has resources to help improve your local food systems awareness and polish your farmers market presence. Learn about local food systems Consumers are increasingly searching out healthy and safe food that supports their local community. Farmers can meet this…
Read Full Article PALMYRA, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension specialists will give updates on timely topics in agriculture from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 8, in Palmyra. MU Extension field agronomist Nick Wesslak said topics at the free event will include diseases such as tar spot and red crown rot, drying and storage of late-planted…
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MACOMB, Ill. — Finding interesting insects is fun. At least for me. I enjoy observing the intricacies of most insects. However, there are a few creepy crawlies I do not want to see, especially in my house. What insect has been on my “Most Un-Wanted” list? Termites. When we bought our house a few years…
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WEST PLAINS, Mo. — An abundance of flies in cow herds is being reported to University of Missouri Extension specialists this summer, increasing the likelihood of cattle health issues, including pinkeye. MU Extension livestock field specialist Elizabeth Picking estimates face flies are the biggest contributor this year to the spread of pinkeye in cattle. “I’ve…
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PALMYRA, Mo. — Marion County fairgoers can learn how to improve safety on the family farm during the annual fair at Flower City Park in Palmyra, says University of Missouri Extension field specialist in agronomy Nick Wesslak. Safety Day runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, with demonstrations on grain bin safety from…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — As the world enjoys the 2024 Olympic Games, the use of performance-enhancing substances will be under scrutiny. University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist David Trinklein notes that garlic was given to the original Olympic athletes in ancient Greece to increase strength and stamina. Thus, this culinary staple was perhaps one of the…
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Many of you should be getting plenty of produce from your gardens now. Some of you should be getting fruit from your berries. We are even getting apples now. With the increasing humidity and temperatures, you need to be watering before 8 a.m. and after 6:30 p.m. to keep vegetables producing. The weather has been…
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NOVELTY, Mo. — The University of Missouri’s Northern Missouri Research, Extension and Education Center (NM-REEC) invites the public to its annual Field Day on Thursday, Aug. 1, where attendees have the opportunity for an in-person look at research conducted at the REEC. The event will take place at the Lee Greenley Jr. Memorial Research Farm…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Magnolias are popular trees and shrubs in many landscapes. Their large, showy flowers can range from white to pink to yellow and provide a burst of color in the spring. While they are relatively pest-free, one of the biggest pests is the magnolia scale (Neolecanium cornuparvum). What does magnolia scale look like,…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Though physically demanding and time-consuming, scouting fields for insect pests is essential to crop health, yields and profits, says University of Missouri Extension state entomologist Ivair Valmorbida. Weekly scouting during the growing season helps producers identify and manage problems for early intervention, Valmorbida says. He advises more frequent monitoring when weather favors…
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MENDON, Ill. — The 24th annual market animal sale in support of youth in agriculture will be held Tuesday at the Adams County Fairgrounds. Dinner will be served at 5 p.m., and the market livestock sale will begin at 6 p.m. At this premium sale, exhibitors retain ownership and receive a premium for their animal.…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — There is an old Missouri saying, “On the 25th of July, sow your turnips, wet or dry.” This local proverb vaulted into the national spotlight during the presidency of Missouri native Harry S. Truman, said University of Missouri Extension state specialist David Trinklein. Evidently, the congressional session of 1948 was particularly contentious,…
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INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Patience and a bucket of soapy water are your best friends when fending off Japanese beetles in the garden, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Tamra Reall. Reall recommends tapping beetles off plants by hand and putting them in a bucket of soapy water to kill them. You can also shake them…
Read Full Article January 17, 2025
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