University of Missouri Extension
JACKSON, Mo. – Get a jump on the gardening season by starting vegetable and flower seeds indoors now, says University of Missouri Extension field horticulturist Donna Aufdenberg. In a press release, Aufdenberg said, “Starting seeds indoors doesn’t have to be difficult. Knowing the basics is the best way to start.” Sow most garden seeds six…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — You can’t grow turkey in the straw, but you can grow side dishes and floral centerpieces for a turkey dinner in the straw. Straw bale gardens are becoming popular with growers who are plagued with poor soil or limited garden space, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Straw bale gardening…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — Master Naturalists have conducted educational projects and volunteer community service to improve Missouri’s environment for the past 20 years. Master Naturalists are drawn to everything in nature from birds and bats to bees and trees. The Mississippi Hills Master Naturalist Chapter is one of 12 chapters in the state. Its 100-plus members…
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JACKSON, Mo. — One of your best gardening tools may be in your recycling bin, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Donna Aufdenberg. Use specially prepared milk jugs to jump-start your garden by winter sowing, a method of starting seeds in late winter for spring transplanting. The dome of the milk jug acts like a…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Gardeners looking for hap-pea-ness can look no further than the pea. The National Garden Bureau has declared 2025 the year of the pea. Few vegetables match the culinary delight of peas fresh from the garden, said David Trinklein, University of Missouri Extension horticulturist. In a press release, Trinklein said, “You might say…
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — More than a quarter of the world’s population already eats insects as a protein source. You may find these unusual delicacies in your future, too, says University of Missouri Extension field horticulturist Tamra Reall. If you doubt that you will ever eat insects, keep in mind that you probably already do,…
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WARSAW, Mo. — Handling farm finances wisely means knowing some key numbers that indicate the health of your operation. “One of those key numbers is your farm’s financial efficiency,” said Amie Breshears, University of Missouri Extension agricultural business specialist, in a press release. “Financial efficiency measures your farm’s ability to use all its valuable resources…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. – More than a century ago, the floral delivery service FTD adopted the slogan “Say it with flowers.” It turns out you can say quite a bit with flowers, notes University of Missouri Extension state horticulturist David Trinklein. Floriography, the language of flowers, refers to communicating cryptically through the meaning or symbolism of…
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INDIAN CREEK, Mo. – Members of the Mississippi Hills Missouri Master Naturalist chapter of the Hannibal area are excited about a growing population of an endangered bat species that inhabits two locations in northeast Missouri. The chapter, sponsored by the University of Missouri Extension and the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), works with the U.S.…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — The best time to prune fruit trees in Missouri is midwinter, according to University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist Debi Kelly. “There are many reasons to prune fruit trees, and you want to do it before bud break in the spring,” said Kelly in a press release. She held a workshop on…
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HERMITAGE, Mo. — Frost-seeding legumes now can pay big dividends later, says University of Missouri Extension field specialist in agronomy Terry Halleran. Frost-seeding is a low-cost method of broadcasting legumes over frozen ground into an existing pasture. Legumes offer many benefits but require proper management, says Halleran. Legumes add diversity to fescue pastures and improve…
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STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. — Few things thaw feelings of winter’s cold more than spring flowering bulbs, says University of Missouri Extension field horticulturist Katie Kammler. Spring bulbs are nature’s way of rewarding gardeners for their work in fall, providing early color and blooms before most annuals and perennials. While spring is their time to shine,…
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SALEM, Mo.— The use of commercial livestock dewormers has paid off in terms of animal health and productivity, but it has also resulted in resistance among parasite populations. In a press release, Eric Meusch, University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist, said, “As dewormers lose effectiveness, producers need to develop a broader strategy for managing internal…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — The cyclamen is Cupid’s flowering love child. For centuries, people have associated cyclamens with matters of the heart, making it a perfect Valentine’s Day choice, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Cultivars of this flowering houseplant bear heart-shaped leaves. Their fragrant red, pink, white or bicolored flowers have petals that…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Leasing instead of purchasing cows can be an effective financial strategy for cow-calf producers. A new publication by University of Missouri Extension specialists, “Introduction to Beef Cow Leases,” details how beef cow leases work. It is available for free download at https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g434. Lack of capital is often a barrier for new producers…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension economist Ben Brown and others predict 2025 corn prices will drop below $4.50 per bushel. This is one of a series of articles by University of Missouri Extension specialists suggesting ways to reduce input costs in a year that many farmers may struggle to keep production costs below…
Read Full Article LINNEUS, Mo. — Adding diversity to a pasture can make it more productive than growing tall fescue alone. Diversity can also aid in reducing or diluting the effects of fescue toxicity, improve nutritive value of forage, increase weight gain and enhance soil health, says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Carson Roberts. One way…
Read Full Article ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension agronomist Wayne Flanary says 2025 likely will be a year when corn producers need to batten down the hatches to offset low sale prices and high input costs. MU Extension ag business economist Ben Brown and others predict that corn prices will fall below the $4.30 mark…
Read Full Article MONROE CITY, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension state beef nutritionist Eric Bailey says cattle producers should plan for drought by moving from a “brittle” management style to a flexible and resilient one. Bailey will share insights on how to diversify beef enterprises so that cattle can be moved off the farm during drought at…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri experts have released the Show-Me 2025 Missouri Agricultural Outlook, which shows a mixed outlook for Missouri’s crops and livestock and the challenges and opportunities ahead. The report is available at https://mizzou.us/MAO25. “While corn production is set to decline with rising prices, soybean production is expected to increase despite falling…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Soybean growers can’t rely on seed treatments alone to combat soybean cyst nematode (SCN), says University of Missouri Extension state plant pathologist Mandy Bish. Seed treatments can be a valuable part of a commercial soybean production system to protect against early-season diseases, says Bish, who also serves as director of MU’s nemadote…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri specialists have developed online tools to help farmers estimate their potential payments from the American Relief Act, which was passed by Congress late last year. “Economic assistance payments to Missouri crop producers are expected to provide significant liquidity to the local farm sector,” said Alejandro Plastina, director of the…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Fungicides can be an essential part of an integrated pest management plan, but they do not always provide a positive return on investment for soybean producers, according to University of Missouri strip trial research. Missouri farmers apply fungicides to about 65% of soybean acres, says MU Extension state plant pathologist Mandy Bish,…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Improving fertility in cows involves leveraging genetic selection and advanced genomic tools to enhance reproductive performance. But genetic potential is only half the battle. Environment is the other half, said University of Missouri Extension state beef genetics specialist Jamie Courter at the recent Missouri Livestock Symposium in Kirksville. “Fertility is a lowly…
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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Harley Naumann will discuss how sunn hemp can complement tall fescue in rotational grazing systems at the 41st annual Southwest Missouri Spring Forage Conference on Feb. 25 in Springfield. Originally grown as a fiber crop, this legume grows as tall as six feet and produces…
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