Markets & Ag
MILAN, Ill. — Summer, for many, it means melon season. According to the UDSA, in 2022, approximately 21.1 pounds of melon was available per U.S. consumer. Of the melons available and enjoyed by consumers, the three most popular melons ranked, in order of availability: watermelon (14.1 pounds), cantaloupe (5.3 pounds), and honeydew (1.6 pounds). A…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — As summer arrives in the Show-Me State, farm business operators often experience periods of fluctuating labor needs. Seasonal workers, including young people, can offer extra capacity during critical times. In a press release, Ryan Milhollin, University of Missouri Extension agricultural economist and a co-author of MU Extension’s “Missouri Farm Labor Guide,” which…
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LINNEUS, Mo. — Gaps in summer forages for livestock producers can be challenging. University of Missouri Extension agronomy field specialist Valerie Tate in Linn County shares management solutions, including planting warm-season annual forages such as pearl millet and sorghum-sudangrass, to fill a void in summer forage production or when renovating forage stands. “When moisture and…
Read Full Article FORSYTH, Mo. — Selling beef directly from the farm to consumers gained significant popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Though adoption has slowed, selling direct to consumers remains a popular option for Missouri beef producers as an alternative to selling live animals, as it allows the producer to capture additional value otherwise obtained by others in…
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QUINCY — As part of the upcoming Bicentennial celebrations in 2025, Adams County is set to honor the enduring legacy of its heritage farms. On Saturday, Sept. 6, during the Adams County Bicentennial Finale at the Adams County Fairgrounds, farms that have been in the same family for 150 years or more will be recognized…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — The cicada symphony may be coming to an end, but the effects of the performers are becoming apparent. Calls and emails are beginning to come into University of Missouri Extension offices from homeowners reporting the ends of many tree branches are turning brown and dropping off. “In the past few days I…
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MACOMB, Ill. — It seems like every social media exchange where the topic of ticks or possums comes up, I see a meme or photo glorifying the possum and saying they will keep ticks out of your yard. This statement is based on a 2009 study that showed possum grooming led to them devouring ticks…
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Happy Father’s Day to all the special fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers and great-great-grandfathers. Let them know how much you appreciate them and how special they are to you. The weather has been great for all your gardening and yard work. The one thing we see is not having enough rain for all the plants in gardens…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Roses have been popular flowers for centuries and remain popular today. Their large, showy, often fragrant flowers grace many landscapes. Humans aren’t the only animals that find roses attractive, though. A variety of insects will feed on roses. While Japanese beetles often get much of the blame, they aren’t the only insects…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — A new tool developed by University of Missouri Extension’s state soybean specialist Andre Froes de Borja Reis can indicate soybean growth and anticipate yield deviations before the end of the season. “This tool is designed to predict soybean development and yield based on crop growth models,” Reis said in a press release.…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — On-farm strip trials are an effective way for farmers to test their nitrogen fertilizer rate on corn. “A wet May has lots of farmers wondering about the nitrogen status of their corn crop,” said John Lory, University of Missouri Extension nutrient management specialist, in a press release. “Wet conditions and warm soils…
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The noise from all the cicadas has been very loud the past few days. They showed up earlier this year and have been busy making noise since. Males make noise to attract females. They mate and the females go and lay their eggs in tree bark and branches. Six to 10 weeks later, the eggs…
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MILAN, Ill. — The other day, I had the opportunity to chaperone a school group at a local state park. While on the field trip, a volunteer-led the students on a nature hike through the woodlands. At one point during the hike, the group leader grabbed a handful of two plants to share with the…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA Mo. — Learn to deal with diseases, insects and weeds in your vegetable garden during a three-part webinar series presented by University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialists from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Mondays, June 3 through June 17. Tomatoes, a favorite vegetable garden plant, have numerous issues each year, says Debi Kelly, who will…
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Everything should be growing faster with the warmer weather and rain we have been getting. Hopefully many of you have got everything in the garden and flowerbeds. Many people have been buying transplants to put in the garden and flowerbeds. Some places are starting to discount them so they don’t lose a lot of money.…
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QUINCY — The Illinois Master Naturalists program has an impact on forests, waters and people. More than 880 Master Naturalists put in more than 73,000 hours last year removing invasive species, monitoring the health of waterways, raising and releasing monarch butterflies, teaching youths about the environment and investing in the future of our natural areas.…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Celebrating National Volunteer Week, the Missouri 4-H Foundation recently presented LaTisha Scott-Snead with the Naomi Crouch 4-H Volunteer Leadership Award. Scott-Snead is recognized for more than eight years of service and support to 4-H in Clark County. Recipients of the Naomi Crouch Award may select a 4-H club or county program to…
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MACOMB, Ill. — So you want to move that shrub? I get it. Perhaps that shrub needs to go to a different spot in the yard. Maybe it wasn’t planted in the correct location to begin with. Perhaps a tree has grown tall casting more shade, or a tree has come down flooding the area…
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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…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Most of Missouri has transitioned out of drought conditions for now, said University of Missouri Extension state climatologist Zack Leasor. In a press release, Leasor said, “The past two months have brought abundant rainfall to most of Missouri. After back-to-back drought years in 2022 and 2023, drought concerns were high in early…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Our ancestors couldn’t go to the hardware store or shopping mall to buy utensils and other household essentials. Instead, they improvised with items found in nature. The dried fruit of several members of the cucumber family proved useful for many purposes, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. We call these…
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With the weather we have been having over the past few days, hopefully many of you have done some planting in your garden and flowerbeds. Get your vegetable and flower transplants and seed in the soil because you don’t need to worry about cold weather. The weather has been good for helping weeds grow. Remove…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Data from the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture indicates that the age of the average farmer continues to increase in Missouri and across the country. In the Show-Me State, the average operator is 57.9 years old, a slight 0.9% increase from 2017 census data; this trend closely mirrors the national average, which…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill — The long wait is finally over. After spending 13 (or 17, depending on where you’re at) years underground feeding from roots, periodical cicadas have emerged (at least in central and southern Illinois). Soon, many places will be awash in cicadas. So, what can we expect now that they are beginning to emerge?…
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Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers and grandmothers. Make sure you tell them how much you love them. I’ve seen several pairs of barn swallows in the past few days, and the weather has been changing, so spring is here for a while. Many of you in the past few days have got much-needed…
Read Full Article February 22, 2025
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: BEN ROBINSON GUITARS
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