Markets & Ag
QUINCY — Herbal educator Deborah Lee will offer a nine-week herbal medicine class beginning in March at her Four Winds Farm Agri-Education Center, 3739 N. 36th. The nine-week hands-on class meets one time a week for three hours, with separate times offered from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesday nights and 9 a.m. to noon Thursday mornings…
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Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri’s growing population of black vultures has led to increasing attacks on vulnerable livestock. Black vultures often inflict damage to the eyes and tongues of young livestock, kill and feed on domestic fowl and scar animals that survive. A new MU Extension guide provides information for livestock producers to prevent and control…
Read Full Article BAYLIS, Ill. — Plans are underway for a livestock judging clinic for youth on Saturday, March 4, at the John Wood Community College Agricultural Education Center, 37803 IL-104, in Baylis. Registration will begin at 9 a.m., with the clinic to be held from 9:30 a.m.-noon. University of Illinois Extension in Adams, Brown, Hancock, Pike and…
Read Full Article MACOMB, Ill. — We have had some warm weather this February, which means it is time to keep an eye out for butterflies. You may be thinking I am in the wrong hemisphere, but there is a chance you can spot butterflies on a warm winter day in Illinois, namely the mourning cloak butterfly. Despite…
Read Full Article MILAN, Ill. — I write this article as I look out at a snow-covered landscape and give thanks for the warmth of my office. It is during these days that I’m reminded of the awesome adaptability of nature. Trees and animals can survive, even thrive, in a climate where temperatures can easily span one-hundred degrees…
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Read Full Article LIBERTY, Ill. — In conjunction with their 47th annual meeting and banquet held Jan. 28, the Adams County Beef Producers and Beef Auxiliary selected the group’s 2023 Beef Queen and Beef Ambassador. Andrea Schaffnit was crowned the 2023 Adams County Beef Queen. Schaffnit, 17, is a daughter of Kevin and Nicole Schaffnit. She is involved…
Read Full Article MACOMB, Ill. — The 51st Western Illinois University Ag Mech Club’s Farm Expo will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 4, and from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, March 5, in Western Hall. Free parking is available in Q-Lot, adjoining the venue. The Farm Expo, considered the largest student-run agricultural event in…
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Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension pesticide safety specialist Sam Polly encourages farmers and homeowners to observe National Pesticide Safety Education Month in February. Polly and his team work to raise awareness for pesticide safety education and share best practices. In addition to providing training for agricultural workers across the state, Polly also works…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — The gift of hearts and flowers symbolizes the heartfelt admiration of a loved one through the sentiment of flowers. A houseplant that displays both hearts and flowers is cyclamen, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Sold in shades of red, pink and white, many of its species bear nearly perfect…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The University of Illinois Extension and Adams County Master Gardeners will be offering the 27th annual Gardener’s Palette from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, March 4, at the Quincy Senior and Family Resource Center, 639 York. Educational sessions are: Registration is open through Feb. 24 at go.illinois.edu/GardenersPalette2023 or by contacting your local Extension…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo — The nutritional value of eggs remains high despite the steep rise in prices. In a press release, Sarah Wood, University of Missouri Extension state nutrition specialist, said “When considering the protein content of eggs in the diet, eggs are still pretty affordable compared to other animal protein sources.” The USDA national average…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Free farm succession planning workshops from University of Missouri Extension can help Missourians guide their family farming businesses to the next generation. To help families start the succession planning process and initiate communication, MU Extension will hold Preparing for Farm Succession Planning workshops across the state in March. Six workshops will be…
Read Full Article JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Seed starting is a great way to scratch the gardening itch we often get during late winter. In addition to getting a head start on the growing season, there are a number of additional benefits to starting your own seeds. Starting seeds to make your own transplants can be cheaper than going…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. – Armchair farming may not be here yet, but it’s getting closer. In a press release, Kent Shannon, University of Missouri Extension agricultural engineering specialist said, “Autonomy in agriculture isn’t as far away as you think.” Agriculture is rapidly shifting to technology that can increase land efficiency, reduce labor shortages and streamline food…
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Read Full Article URBANA, Ill. — By definition, a forest is a large area of land covered with trees and understory growth. Traditionally, these parcels of land are often imagined as plant-dense woodlands with a diverse mix of species layered from tall trees down to mosses on the woodland floor. These plants are growing where seeds landed or…
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Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Strawberries are a delectable treat any time of year, but in February they are known as the fruit of love, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Michele Warmund. Long before the celebration of Valentine’s Day, the strawberry symbolized love and fertility due to its shape, color and wealth of seeds on the…
Read Full Article Provided by the Adams County Farm Bureau.
Read Full Article Provided by the Adams County Farm Bureau.
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension is taking applications from veterans for the third year of the Missouri Heroes to Hives program. The free program trains veterans in beekeeping while also addressing their mental and physical wellness, said MU Extension agronomist Travis Harper. In a press release, Harper said “Research has shown that the…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo — Valentine’s Day flowers, like love, can stand the test of time if given a little TLC. Call it flor-amore. Proper care and a homemade preservative provide an extended warranty of sorts to make certain flowers last up to twice as long, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Cut flowers age…
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Read Full Article PARIS, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension officials recently came to Monroe County to recognize county commissioners and others for their part in funding a new county extension center. Marshall Stewart, vice chancellor for extension and engagement, commended county commissioners Mike Minor, Mike Whelan and Marilyn O’Bannon for contacting Extension officials about the availability of…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Quincy Junior High School FFA students are sponsoring a meat shoot from 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at North Side Boat Club, 200 S. Front. Cost to participate in the shoot is $5-$6 to shoot five or six clay birds. Beef bundles are awarded to the winners. No reservation is needed. Proceeds…
Read Full Article MACOMB, Ill. — Don’t you wish you knew then what you know now? Speaking from experience, when I first began studying plants, people would ask me lots of gardening or landscaping questions. Did I as a first-year student know the answer? No. Did I pretend to? Yes. It must be human nature as a young…
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Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Weeds today aren’t like “what Mom used to make,” says University of Missouri Extension weed scientist Kevin Bradley. Today’s weeds know how to fight back against long-used herbicides and adapt in ways that spell trouble in production agriculture, says Bradley. Officially, Missouri already has 11 different herbicide-resistant weed species. Waterhemp and Palmer…
Read Full Article JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Have you ever found a packet of seeds lying around and wondered if you could grow them? Every year when I get ready to start seeds, I inevitably find a half-full packet or a packet I forgot to plant altogether. Unfortunately, as seeds get older, their germination rate decreases. Fortunately, there is…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Add legumes to fescue and other cool-season pastures at the right time to add pounds and profits to cattle. The right time is when pastures are frozen and snow-covered, says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Craig Roberts. Snow makes the seeds easier to see. Seeding on frozen ground also lessens…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Within parks, streams, and native prairies, University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalists volunteers serve as environmental stewards in their communities. Illinois Extension is relaunching a Master Naturalist chapter in western Illinois. The last training session was offered in 2016. Interested individuals can protect and support Illinois natural areas and resources by signing up for…
Read Full Article BAYLIS, Ill. — Western Illinois University (WIU) and John Wood Community College (JWCC) officials finalized their agricultural articulation agreement Friday at the new JWCC Agricultural Education Center. This agreement, also known as a 2+2 Agreement, is for those students who transfer from JWCC with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Agricultural Business and…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Adams County Beef Producers and Beef Auxiliary will hold their 47th annual meeting and banquet beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at St. Brigid’s Hall in Liberty. The public is invited to attend. Reservations should be made by Friday, Jan. 20, by contacting Grant Huber at 217-257-7170, Adam Mowen at 217-430-4352…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri Integrated Pest Management coordinator Mandy Bish often hears farmers say, “A treated acre is an acre I’m not losing sleep over.” That is a good mindset for residual herbicide applications, she says, but it may or may not pay off when it comes to foliar fungicides, depending upon circumstances.…
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Read Full Article With the turn of the new year, it seems to be a tradition to declare it the year of ‘fill in the blank’. So far I’ve learned 2023 is the year of the Rabbit according to the Chinese Zodiac, Pantone named Viva Magenta color of the year, Rudbeckia ‘American Gold Rush’ is the perennial plant…
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Read Full Article KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Beef producers should approach 2023 with cautious optimism, matched with resolutions of good management and investment in infrastructure, says University of Missouri Extension agriculture business specialist Wesley Tucker. Optimistically, beef continues to be in favor with U.S. consumers, and export demand remains solid, says Tucker. However, risks of persistent drought, global trade…
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Read Full Article KIRKSVILLE, Mo. — Winter is the time for livestock producers to prepare pastures for drought, says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Harley Naumann. Drought is now the rule rather than the exception in Missouri, Naumann says. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, somewhere in the state experienced drought every year but one since…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension specialists recently received several reports of Missouri cattle dying due to fescue foot, says MU Extension state forage specialist Craig Roberts. These significant losses show why beef producers should check herds for warning signs of fescue foot in early January, when it most often occurs, Roberts says. Cows…
Read Full Article MACOMB, Ill. — Some memories stick out. Around the second or third grade, my teacher wheeled the television cart into the classroom which to an eight-year-old was cause for celebration. Was it going to be a movie or some type of educational show? We didn’t care. TV in school was a novelty and exciting, even…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Producers should prepare for more complexity in herbicide requirements and registrations in 2023 and beyond, says University of Missouri Extension weed scientist Kevin Bradley. The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed changes to atrazine labels that would have great impact, says Bradley. Atrazine is an effective and inexpensive herbicide used to kill broadleaf…
Read Full Article KIRKSVILLE, Mo. — There are important steps to take when considering selling timber, says University of Missouri Extension forester Hank Stelzer. In addition to providing additional revenue, harvesting timber can improve the health and vigor of woods and wildlife. Most landowners don’t know the value of their woodlands, Stelzer says. Too often, landowners make uneducated…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Nothing brightens a windowsill in winter like amaryllis, the National Garden Bureau’s bulb plant of the year, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. The name “amaryllis” comes from a Greek word that means “to sparkle.” And sparkle it does, said Trinklein. There are more than 600 varieties of this native…
Read Full Article JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — The new year provides us an opportunity to start anew, often in the form of New Year’s resolutions. It might be starting a vegetable garden, growing more flowers for pollinators, composting, mowing less, or scouting your garden. Consider making a resolution/goal or two for the garden. Below are some of our gardening…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day is a tradition said to bring wealth and good fortune in the new year, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Michele Warmund. This custom dates to around A.D. 500 when people ate black-eyed peas for luck during the celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. – Gardening is an activity with many rewards, says David Trinklein, state horticulture specialist for University of Missouri Extension. In a press release, Trinklein said, “One of them is the satisfaction of sharing your plant knowledge with others. The Master Gardener program was initiated to do just that. Its motto-helping others learn to…
Read Full Article MACOMB, Ill. — “Clark, that’s the gift that keeps on giving.” No truer words have ever described a Jelly of the Month Club. Yet, upon my annual family viewing of National Lampoon’s “Christmas Vacation,” a thought occurred to me that had not in the decades I’ve watched this movie. The idea of a jelly for…
Read Full Article I once heard a succinct description of natural process as “everything points towards winter.” As a Midwesterner not so fond of cold, my immediate response to this synopsis was denial but with time, I’ve come to adore this mentality. Annual plants know they have one growing season to complete their life cycle, racing to reproduce…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — While the holidays are filled with familiar sights and sounds, it’s the aromas of the season that often conjure up our most vivid memories of the past. This should come as no surprise since our sense of smell is keener than our senses of sight and sound. Many of the aromas surrounding…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Extremely cold weather is forecast for the days before Christmas, putting cattle at risk. Temperatures below zero degrees Fahrenheit are predicted, with the wind chill factor much lower in parts of Missouri. As temperatures drop, producers need to ensure their cattle are kept safe in the harsh weather, said University of Missouri…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Two of the three gifts of the Wise Men – frankincense and myrrh – remain in high demand more than 5,000 years after gaining popularity in religious rituals, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Michele Warmund. Ancient Egyptians used myrrh to embalm corpses and Romans burned it as a type of incense…
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Read Full Article KIRKSVILLE, Mo. — Livestock producers have options for reducing hay waste and feeding costs while improving animal behavior and performance, says University of Missouri Extension specialist Charlie Ellis. Farmers can choose from several methods to reduce waste based on their preferences, labor availability and climate, says Ellis. Here are four basics from Ellis: Ellis calls…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Procrastinators win the prize in the “Safest Holiday Decorations” category. In a press release, David Trinklein, University of Missouri Extension horticulturist, said “In days of old, people rarely brought holiday greenery into the home before Christmas Eve. Doing so was considered bad luck for the coming year.” Today, the holiday season begins…
Read Full Article JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Poinsettias, amaryllis, holly, and evergreens are common sights during the holidays. Another group of plants, holiday cacti, also make an appearance this time of year. With their brightly colored flowers, ranging from white, pink, yellow, orange, red or purple, they are often given as gifts during the holidays. While they are commonly…
Read Full Article CARROLLTON, Mo. — Centenarian Wilda Cox knows hard work. She’s built barns, lugged 110-pound cans of milk, picked and husked corn by hand and bucked hay bales. But Cox endured no harder day than Oct. 31, 2022, when she sold the farm that had been in her family for more than a century. Cox was…
Read Full Article KIRKSVILLE, Mo. — Good-quality hay bales are like precious gems. They’re valuable and worthy of your safest storage, says Charles Ellis, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in agricultural engineering. Proper storage is one way producers can reduce hay waste. Ellis offers a few steps to consider when deciding what hay to store: High moisture…
Read Full Article MILAN, Ill. — Plants have played a major role in human development for as long as people have inhabited the earth. Human interaction with plants has been and continues to be a complex relationship. Many species have provided critical resources for sustaining life, while others threaten human harm if encountered or used without caution. The…
Read Full Article MACOMB, Ill. — As we enter the debate on gas-powered versus electric outdoor tools, it truly is based upon the user, their needs and the scale of their landscape. If you’re weighing options for future yard tools, here are some considerations: Electric tools are quieter. After spending most of my life listening to the rumble…
Read Full Article JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — With the arrival of winter-like weather, many of us will be firing up the fireplace. When bringing wood inside for the fire, we can sometimes bring some unexpected hitchhikers. Many insects and other critters will use firewood (or wood in general) as a food source or a place to overwinter. Fortunately, for…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Roadway accidents and combine fires make harvest the most dangerous time of the year for those who work in America’s most dangerous occupation – farming, says University of Missouri Extension health and safety specialist Karen Funkenbusch. In a press release, John Worden, interim coordinator of MU Extension’s Fire and Rescue Training Institute,…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — A century ago, poinsettia was added to Santa’s “naughty” list, but the plant’s reputation for being poisonous is unfortunate, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Its pretty bracts and leaves pose no danger to people and pets, other than possible allergic reactions. The myth that poinsettia is toxic can be…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Made famous by the Pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving, cranberries have long been a favorite at holiday dinners despite their sharp, bitter taste. Americans gobble up about 400 million pounds of the bitter berry annually, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. About 20% of its consumption comes during the Thanksgiving season. Pilgrims…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — If you gobble until you wobble at Thanksgiving dinner, take your flock of family and friends for a trek across a tallgrass prairie for a memorable Thanksgiving holiday outing, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Michele Warmund. Along the hike, look for the tall, reddish-brown seed stalk of big bluestem grass (Andropogon…
Read Full Article MACOMB, Ill. — Did you know you can grow the most popular drink in the world in Illinois? If you’re wondering how to harvest Pepsi or Coke from a tree, I’m sorry, you have the wrong drink. Second to water, tea reigns supreme as the world’s favorite drink. It has been for centuries. We get…
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