Markets & Ag
PAYSON, Ill. — Western Illinois University’s School of Agriculture has announced the recipients of this year’s GAST (Growing Agri-Science Teachers) scholarships. Madilynn Barry of Payson was one of eight students selected. Thanks to funding from the Illinois State Board of Education, the program will award $5,000 worth of scholarships to incoming agricultural education majors for…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Has this cold, dreary weather been making you wish you could get outside and play in the ‘dirt’? Or perhaps you’re looking for ways to improve your garden soil during the winter. Worm composting, or vermicomposting, is a good way to accomplish both. In addition to producing compost, it’s also a great…
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QUINCY, Ill. — A public presentation unveiling the plans for the Heritage Farm Pavilion, a legacy project commemorating the county’s bicentennial in 2025, will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, at the Adams County Farm Bureau office, 330 S. 36th, Suite 2. This pavilion will be at the Adams County Fairgrounds, 2010 E.…
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Hoping and praying everyone had a blessed Christmas and remembered the reason for the Christmas season. Happy New Year, too. Let’s review what you can do with your Christmas tree. I still like to have a live Christmas tree to use on the front porch. Here are things you can do with them and any…
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MILAN, Ill. — In the heart of the holiday season, the aroma and flavor of peppermint are abundant. For me, this flavor is one of my favorites; it evokes memories of my childhood and is synonymous with winter. From candy canes hung on our Christmas tree to homemade peppermint fudge or the special treat of…
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PALMYRA, Mo. — The sixth and final fall sale of Show-Me-Select heifers on Saturday, Dec. 14, in Palmyra set a local record for total cost of heifers sold. The 53 buyers set a northeastern Missouri record $1,162,600 worth of bred heifers exchanging hands in one-and-a-half hours. Thirty-five repeat buyers purchased 192 head, or 59 percent…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Once red crown rot spreads, you cannot unspread it, says University of Missouri Extension state plant pathologist Mandy Bish. Currently, soybean and disease specialists know of no cure for red crown rot, which can reduce yields by an estimated 80% in severe cases. Seed treatments may reduce symptoms and infection, but these…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — For many, the holiday season would not be complete without evergreens, holly, mistletoe and other traditional plants. But it’s important to exercise care with some of these plants for happy and safe holidays, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. “In days of old, people rarely brought holiday greenery into the…
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone and your families from Laura, Hillary, Sandra and myself. The birth of Jesus Christ is the reason for the season. Saturday, Dec. 21 was the first day of winter and the winter solstice. That means that we will begin to have more minutes of daylight each day…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — You want folks to “ooh” and “aah” when they see your holiday decorations, not “eww” and “ugh.” “There is a risk that fresh trees and garland will bring unwanted gifts – insects – when moved from nature to inside,” said University of Missouri Extension urban entomologist Emily Althoff in a press release.…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri soybean farmers should be on the lookout for several species of stink bugs in 2025, says University of Missouri Extension state crops entomologist Ivair Valmorbida. According to a 2024 survey, green stink bug was the most prevalent in Missouri soybean crops, accounting for a little more than 70% of the stink…
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MACOMB, Ill. — Welcome to astronomical winter. Our calendars mark the beginning of winter as Dec. 21 (sometimes Dec. 22) because of where Earth is in its orbit around the sun. Is it too much of a leap to say that gardeners and those who work outdoors are particularly connected to this astronomical event? I…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension is studying the use of pig manure as a crop fertilizer in research at the MU Bradford Research Farm in Columbia. The study is looking at corn yields and soil health indicators under three separate treatments on 5 acres at Bradford Farm, said Teng Lim, extension professor of…
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QUINCY — The Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce recently announced that nominations are open for the Agribusiness of the Year award and the Larry Fischer Ag Educator of the Year award. The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 6. Winners will be honored at the annual ag banquet on Tuesday, March 11.…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension has partnered with the Missouri Department of Conservation on a program to establish white oak seed orchards on private land. These orchards are intended to provide a steady supply of white oak acorns from trees of known quality and growth characteristics, says Brian Schweiss, MU Extension specialist in…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Few plants can boast colorful, long-lasting flowers and attractive foliage the remainder of the year, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Florist’s kalanchoe delivers both, making it a versatile houseplant. Its vibrant flowers provide a welcome burst of color during the dreary days of winter, Trinklein said. There is nothing…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — During the holiday season, plants often play a central role in our decorations. While poinsettias, Amaryllis, holly, holiday cacti and evergreens receive much of the attention during the holidays, paperwhites also appear in many stores. These easy-to-grow plants with delicate white blooms make them a popular choice for holiday decorations. What are…
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MILAN, Ill. — Three of my most prized trees are the oaks we planted in our front yard shortly after we moved. They share our front yard with a black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), red twig dogwoods (Cornus sericea), witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis) and apple (Malus spp.) trees. Our adopted oaks have become established and have…
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PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — Missouri farmers may have grown the peanuts that you enjoy in holiday candies like peanut brittle or peanut clusters. In 2020, the USDA named Missouri a primary peanut-producing state, a designation for states averaging more than 10,000 tons of peanut production annually over three years, says Justin Calhoun, University of Missouri Extension…
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SALEM, Mo. — November is a good time to review winter feeding plans, according to University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Eric Meusch. “Forage growth has come to an end, so making sure producers have what they need to feed their livestock though the winter is important,” Meusch said in a press release. “These three…
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MACOMB, Ill. — The McDonough County Community Foundation recently announced a donation from Genie Marshall to support the Macomb agriculture program with the “Phil Marshall Agriculture in Classroom Fund” at the Macomb Middle School. Phil Marshall, who farmed several acres east of Macomb for over 40 years and passed away in 2010, was always supportive…
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MACOMB, Ill. —Thanksgiving is an American tradition. We get together with family or friends to celebrate a successful harvest and recognize what we are grateful for. Thanksgiving has been a part of American culture since the beginning. While Thanksgiving Day is a tradition, millions of Americans will spend an entire weekend with family and friends.…
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The weather is more normal for this time of year. We are finally getting rain that will seal the cracks in the ground, helping the roots on plants, shrubs, bushes, trees and grass survive the coming winter. Nov. 11-20 is Indian Summer, and the weather is supporting it. Hopefully we keep these temperatures for several…
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COLUMBIA, Mo.— In a press release, David Trinklein, horticulture specialist for University of Missouri Extension, said, “Given most nuts ripen late in the year, they have long been associated with the holiday season.” It also is one of the few times consumers see what nuts look like in nature. Nuts often are purchased with their…
Read Full Article April 20, 2025
MRN THIS WEEK: QFD CHIEF STEVE SALRIN
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