University of Missouri Extension
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Bearing fruit ranging in color from red, orange and yellow to purple, white and chocolate-black, sweet peppers are the Easter eggs of the vegetable garden, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Like potato and tomato, sweet pepper is a member of the nightshade family. Sweet peppers are easy to establish…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Good scouting is the best way to identify tar spot in corn, says University of Missouri Extension state plant pathologist Mandy Bish. Tar spot was confirmed in June of 2023 and 2024 in Missouri, which is earlier than in previous years, when the disease showed up in August or September. This earlier…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. — When faced with a sparse or failed stand, crop producers have to ask themselves a difficult question: Should I replant? In a press release, Drew Kientzy, University of Missouri Extension research analyst, said, “Poor stands are not a happy sight, and replant decisions come with a lot of second thoughts and lost…
Read Full Article 
SALEM, Mo. – Feral hog occupancy of Missouri watersheds has fallen 84% since 2016 when the state’s Feral Hog Elimination Partnership began. Funded by the U.S. Farm Bill and managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation, the partnership comprises 18 federal and state entities work together to eliminate feral hogs on public and private lands.…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. — It’s the time of year when flies and ticks start becoming a problem for cattle, and they can be more than just a nuisance. “These external parasites not only cause irritation and stress but also reduce production efficiency and serve as vectors for certain cattle diseases,” said Craig Payne, University of Missouri…
Read Full Article LEWIS COUNTY, Mo. — May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the University of Missouri Extension is emphasizing the importance of mental health in farming and rural communities. Brenda Schreck, a livestock field specialist with MU Extension and based in Lewis County, highlights the challenges faced by Missouri farmers, ranchers and their families. “In 2022,…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. — “In Flanders fields the poppies blow / Between the crosses, row on row …. ” So begins “In Flanders Fields,” written in 1915 by John McCrae, a Canadian poet and military physician. “The poem’s powerful imagery of sacrifice, remembrance, and duty helped to make poppy one of the most recognized symbols to…
Read Full Article PALMYRA, Mo. — Northeast Missouri cattle producers are encouraged to take advantage of the long-standing Missouri Bull Testing Program, an initiative designed to improve the genetic quality, performance and profitability of beef herds across the state. The Missouri Bull Testing program is sponsored by the Northeast Missouri Beef Cattle Improvement Association and is a cooperation…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. — According to Greek mythology, Iris was a goddess who served as a messenger between the divine world and the human world. The Greek gods never communicated directly with mortals. Instead, they sent Iris, who traveled on a rainbow. “Legend has it that colorful flowers sprung up at the end of the rainbow…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. — For yield and quality, May is the best time to harvest cool-season grasses, says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Harley Naumann. May is when cool-season grasses transition from the vegetative stage to the reproductive stage. Many grasses such as tall fescue, orchard grass and Kentucky bluegrass are already flowering in…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Most flowering annuals in gardens around the U.S. have stood the test of time, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. For example, geraniums were planted in Europe in the 17th century and have been an American favorite for more than 200 years. Petunia, as we know it today, appeared in…
Read Full Article 
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Plan now to use basic design principals to create a patriotic garden this summer, says University of Missouri Extension field horticulturist Gwen Funk. “Designing your outdoor living space comes with many opportunities for creativity,” said Funk in a press release. “One might be thinking about themed garden beds, pots and hanging…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A master pollinator steward program offered by University of Missouri Extension begins soon. The five-week program focuses on ways to protect and support pollinators, which are declining significantly due to a loss of feeding and nesting habitats, says MU Extension field specialist in horticulture Tamra Reall. Pollinators – including bees, butterflies and…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Few vegetables elicit less excitement from the average gardener than beets, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Once relegated to pickling or making borscht, beet is enjoying greater respect due to its reported health benefits, Trinklein said. Humans have eaten beets for more than 5,000 years, he said. Beets originally…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Integrated Pest Management has issued its first pest alerts of the growing season. MU Extension state field crops and forage entomologist Ivair Valmorbida says corn and wheat growers should be on the lookout for early season pests, including black cutworm and true armyworm. Significant numbers of black cutworm moths…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension horticulturists ask the public not to plant unsolicited seeds received in the mail. MU Extension horticulturist Kelly McGowan says she has had recent reports from Springfield-area residents who have been mailed seeds they did not order. MU Extension, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (www.aphis.usda.gov), Missouri…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The flowering dogwood tree celebrates its 70th birthday as the Missouri state tree in 2025. There is no better place to celebrate than Missouri’s Ozark woodlands from mid-April to early May when the dogwood is in bloom, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. “Inconspicuous for most of the year, these…
Read Full Article 
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — You can look high and low, but you likely won’t find a climbing vine that compares to the clematis, known as the “Queen of the Vines,” says Gwen Funk, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in horticulture. Part of the buttercup family, clematis comprises several species and numerous cultivars. Color, bloom…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. — April is National Gardening Month and a good time to plant a garden, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. For those who lacked the motivation in the past to garden, consider these benefits: Economic. Vegetable gardening is an excellent way to save on the food bill. The National Gardening Association…
Read Full Article 
TUSCUMBIA, Mo. — Soil testing and proper fertilization are key to productive warm-season forages in Missouri, says Rudra Baral, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in agronomy In a new publication, Baral gives guidelines for soil testing and fertilizer management for warm-season forages in Missouri. “Maintaining healthy forage for livestock requires understanding the specific needs…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A favorite spring flower, the Easter lily, should be kept away from cats. If ingested, it could kill them. The perennial plant’s white, trumpet-like flowers might not sound the warning that all parts of it are highly toxic to felines. Tim Evans, University of Missouri Extension veterinary toxicologist, said even small amounts…
Read Full Article 
NOVELTY, Mo. — As the growing season approaches, many growers will consider using drones to spray their fields. A new University of Missouri Extension publication, “Economics of Drone Ownership for Agricultural Spray Applications,” introduces cost-estimating tools for farmers and custom operators interested in investing in drones for spray applications. In a press release, Adauto Rocha,…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. – You may have seen edamame in grocery stores or on salad bars and not known what it is, says Todd Higgins, University of Missouri Extension specialist in horticulture. Edamame is a type of soybean grown for direct consumption by people. Edamame (pronounced eh-duh-mah-may) translates from Japanese as “beans on a branch” since…
Read Full Article 
COLUMBIA, Mo. — March is the ideal month to plant two of the hardiest and most nutritious vegetables a home gardener can grow easily: cabbage and kale, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Both are attractive in the garden, with colors ranging from pale green through dark blue to deep reddish purple. Flavors…
Read Full Article 
TUSCUMBIA, Mo. — Now is the time for forage growers to plan for drought, says Rudra Baral, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in agronomy. Diversifying your forage base with warm-season grasses and legumes can provide a buffer against weather-related forage shortages, says Baral in a new MU Extension publication, “Maximizing Summer Grazing: A Guide…
Read Full Article 
