University of Missouri Extension
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Temperatures in the low 90s the week of May 8 combined with intense or recurrent rainfall could result in damage to corn and soybean crops from ponding, saturated soils and flooding, says University of Missouri Extension agronomist Bill Wiebold. Survival of submerged corn and soybean seedlings depends on seed quality, flood duration,…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Interested in an impossible task? Try making dry hay in Missouri in early spring. But baleage can turn spring forage harvest in Missouri into “Mission: Possible.” Baleage is the ensilage of large bales of high-moisture forage, says Rob Kallenbach, University of Missouri Extension forage specialist. Producers make large round or square bales…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Producers can ease the burden of rising fertilizer prices by making good use of “free fertilizer” on pastures through management-intensive grazing. “When cattle rotate through small paddocks, they distribute their manure. This manure is ‘free fertilizer,’” said John Lory, University of Missouri Extension nutrient management specialist, in a press release. “Cattle can…
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BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. — April showers bring May flowers and mosquitoes. With mosquitoes come not just itchy bites but the risk of diseases such as West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, malaria, Zika virus and yellow fever, among others, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist and entomologist Tamra Reall. Prevention The best way to avoid…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Killing common annual weeds in winter wheat may not be a good financial decision, especially when input costs are high, says University of Missouri Extension weed scientist Kevin Bradley. Winter wheat is one of the most competitive crops planted, Bradley says. He offers these guidelines based on research from MU and other…
Read Full Article SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Ever considered diversifying production on the farm? Producing beef cattle and meat goats on the same farm may improve your financials, says University of Missouri Extension agricultural business specialist Jennifer Lutes. Lutes developed a model that looks at the economics of co-grazing – a diversification strategy involving production of more than one…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — Nearly 98 percent of Missouri’s pastureland is tall fescue infected with an endophyte that can cause fescue toxicosis in grazing livestock. Fescue toxicosis lowers reproduction rates, milk production, gain and weaning weights. It also causes health problems, including lameness and heat stress. By replacing toxic fescue with other forages, producers eliminate animal…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. – A new partnership between the University of Missouri Interdisciplinary Center for Food Security and MU Extension will make it easier to access information about local and regional food systems and food security. In a press release, Bill McKelvey, senior project coordinator, said, “The goal of the partnership, currently called the Community Food Network,…
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BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. — As temperatures rise, humans and animals become meal tickets for ticks. Heartland disease, an emerging infectious disease first found in northwestern Missouri in 2009, is another reason to take precautions against ticks, says University of Missouri horticulture specialist and entomologist Tamra Reall. Heartland disease symptoms include fever, fatigue, diarrhea, loss of…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Easter lily used for spring decorations can provide beauty and fragrance for another season. After blooming ends, plant Easter lilies outside as soon as the ground can be worked.. The following year, they will bloom in June and have a sweet fragrance. Select a sunny site with well-drained soil. Plant the…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — While the past two years have fueled growth in remote work, most workers in Missouri still commute to their jobs. Some are opting for longer commutes. A new report from University of Missouri Extension shows that more workers in the state are commuting to jobs outside their home counties compared to 20 years ago.…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. – For two years, shoppers have seen how supply chain problems can shock the food system. Initially triggered by the pandemic, these problems have persisted due to labor shortages, transportation bottlenecks and now international conflict. “Supply chain issues have really hit home for consumers,” said Mallory Rahe, University of Missouri Extension agricultural business…
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BOWLING GREEN, Mo. — You can have a thriving lawn without hiring an expensive service. “Managing your lawn doesn’t have to be complicated,” University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Justin Keay said. “If you understand some of the basic principles and don’t mind putting in a little sweat equity, you can have a beautiful lawn.” A…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Women in agriculture can improve their risk management skills and network with peers during Annie’s Project courses scheduled for spring 2022. Hosted by University of Missouri Extension, the Annie’s Project courses feature 18 hours of risk management education. “The courses focus on how to manage five types of farm risk – production, market, financial,…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension is offering a webinar series to help specialty crop growers improve their business skills. During the Specialty Crop Business Management Series, new and established farmers will learn how to make informed business decisions to become successful, says Juan Cabrera-Garcia, MU Extension state horticulture specialist. “Successful farmers have a better…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. – Increases in fertilizer prices add to the cost of growing forage for grazing. This leads farmers to ask if they should buy hay or fertilizer, says University of Missouri Extension nutrient management specialist John Lory. Comparing the benefits of buying hay vs. applying fertilizer for better yields is complicated, but it is…
Read Full Article EDINA, Mo. – Women in agriculture can learn the latest about carbon credits and carbon sequestration during a free “Inspired by Annie’s Project” two-hour interactive online course set for 6:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 8 via Zoom. University of Missouri Extension agricultural economist Ray Massey will define agricultural carbon credits and answer questions about how to measure…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. – Producers selling local foods at farmers markets can learn about best practices, marketing tips, state regulations and available resources in a five-part webinar series presented in February by University of Missouri Extension. “This series will help farmers and other food producers gain knowledge to help them sell more of their food products at farmers…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. – High nitrogen prices make especially important to consider frost seeding legumes this winter, says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Craig Roberts. “2022 is different because fertilizer costs have tripled,” Roberts says. “Consider legumes as nearly free fertilizer.” (See the Farm Progress article “Seasonal Fertilizer Prices” at bit.ly/33h4YD5.) Frost seeding, a method…
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MOUNT VERNON, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Eldon Cole said he received a report recently of cows in southwestern Missouri being killed by perilla mint, a toxic plant. Cole urges producers to plan to destroy the annual plant in pastures next spring or summer. Broadleaf pasture herbicides, applied April through June before…
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GALENA, Mo. – If there was ever a time to do a soil test, this is it, says University of Missouri Extension agronomist Tim Schnakenberg. Rising fertilizer prices make it too expensive to guess on how to apply nutrients, says Schnakenberg. Soil tests can prevent buying and applying fertilizer where not needed. See the MU…
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MOUNT VERNON, Mo. – When temperatures fall, beef producers should watch for signs of fescue foot in their beef herds. “As the cold weather moves in, you are likely to notice some cows or yearlings on fescue pastures may be slow-moving early in the day,” says University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Eldon Cole. This…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. – Gardening is an activity with many rewards, said David Trinklein, state horticulture specialist for University of Missouri Extension. “One of them is the satisfaction of sharing your plant knowledge with others. The Master Gardener program was initiated to do just that,” Trinklein said. Its motto, “helping others learn to grow,” emphasizes service…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. – It’s the most wonderful time of the year, or so they say. Picture-perfect families with perfectly coiffed hair and pearly white smiles appear in matching holiday attire in countless holiday television commercials. Perfectly wrapped gifts wait under perfectly decorated trees. How merry and bright! And then there’s the rest of us, says…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension will hold a free online class on produce safety for gardeners from 6-8 p.m. on Jan. 26. MU Extension horticulturists Patrick Byers and Justin Keay will offer tips on growing, harvesting, processing and storing produce safely. Participants will learn best practices to reduce the risk of foodborne illness from…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Poinsettia is America’s most popular flowering plant, with annual sales approaching $200 million. Despite its close association with the Christmas season, however, it’s a relative newcomer as holiday home decor, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. In the early 1800s, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Joel R. Poinsett, learned of…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri agricultural lenders are invited to seminars hosted by University of Missouri Extension agricultural business and policy specialists. Each year, leading economists and ag business and policy specialists from MU Extension, Missouri Department of Agriculture and the MU Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute provide updates for agricultural lenders. Topics include market…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. – Farmers understand fertilizer prices fluctuate with time. “We are living through a substantial shift in potassium and phosphorus prices, from low prices in the 2020 growing season to the highest prices in the past decade for fertilizer purchased now for the 2022 growing season,” says John Lory, University of Missouri Extension nutrient…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Some gardeners take a hands-off approach to leaves. But leaves left on lawns can pack down into a tight mat, preventing sunlight from reaching the grass, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Leaves also trap and hold moisture, which increases the potential for disease. However, tree leaves can be a…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. – Citizen scientists are needed to hunt for stink bugs that damage vegetables, field crops and landscape ornamentals. The Great Stink Bug Challenge team seeks citizen scientists ages 12 and older to trap stink bugs and record information about them, says University of Missouri Extension entomologist Kevin Rice. Citizen scientists set out sticky…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. – A new manual, Whole System Management of Beef Cattle Reproduction, is available through University of Missouri Extension, said Jordan Thomas, extension state beef reproduction specialist. Spiral-bound copies are available for purchase, but PDFs of each chapter are also available for free download, said Thomas. The manual will be used in several MU Extension…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. – This fall, millions of Americans will make an annual pilgrimage to a retail outlet to purchase a vegetable they, unfortunately, are unlikely to eat. In the United States, pumpkins sell mainly for decoration. But this verse from about 1630 suggests that American colonists relied heavily on pumpkin for food: For pottage and…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. – To some, “Don’t let the bedbugs bite” isn’t just a quaint good-night wish. Bedbugs are a nightmare for people in the hospitality and housing industries, says Sam Polly, coordinator of University of Missouri Extension’s Pesticide Safety Education Program. With zero tolerance for these tiny pests, it is important to hire the right…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri’s hills might not be alive with the sound of music, but they soon will transition into a kaleidoscope of color. The foliage of trees, shrubs and vines is about to burst into its full glory. Colors usually peak around the third weekend of October, but Mother Nature is a woman of…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Pearls of Production: Women in Agriculture program focuses on leadership and hands-on training for women in livestock production in Missouri. This year’s event, coordinated by University of Missouri Extension, is Nov. 5-6 in Callaway County and on the MU campus. On Nov. 5, attendees will have a rare opportunity to visit…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Weaning at home reduces stress and improves profit in calves, says University of Missouri Extension beef nutritionist Eric Bailey. Unfortunately, more than 55 percent of calves are weaned on the trailer on the way to the sale barn, according to USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System surveys. Calves face many types of…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. – “Not out of the woods yet” takes on new meaning during fall when chainsaw accidents increase. Chainsaw accidents are painful, expensive and preventable, says University of Missouri Extension state forester Hank Stelzer. Plan before entering the woods to avoid accidents, he says. “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail” is…
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NOVELTY, Mo. A recent report through the Transforming Drainage project shows that drainage water recycling systems can improve corn yields and the environment, says University of Missouri Extension agronomist Kelly Nelson. Nearly two-thirds of the site-years evaluated in the study saw an increase in yield compared to free drainage, with an overall average yield increase of 19 bushels per…
Read Full Article HANNIBAL, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension is offering a “Matter of Balance: Fall Prevention” program at Admiral Coontz Recreation Center, 301 Warren Barrett Drive. Meeting dates are September 29, October 6, 13, 20 and 27, and November 3, 10 and 17. The meeting time is 1-3 p.m. Register by calling the Marion County Extension…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Gardeners might notice their tomatoes are cracking or splitting now. “This is a common problem when there are widely varying soil moisture conditions, especially during the hot, dry days of late summer,” says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Too much irrigation or heavy rainfall after a dry period results in…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Eldon Cole is “looking for a few good heifers” to help beef producers through the Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program. SMS recently changed its fee structure. The enrollment fee, formerly $5 per head, now stands at $2 per head. “Previously, we felt some producers were not willing to…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Few things are more enjoyable than watching deer in your backyard or listening to squirrels chatter at dusk or dawn from your patio. That is, until you find that they have inflicted costly damage to your home, patio furniture, flower bed or garden. In some cases, such as bird droppings, wildlife can…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Several types of caterpillars damage tomato plants in Missouri, but the tomato hornworm and the tobacco hornworm usually get the most attention because of the prominent horn on the last segment of their bodies. These insects are big, green, and hungry, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Michele Warmund. Measuring up to…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension recently released an updated cost analyzer to help farmers estimate the breakeven price to justify harvesting corn as silage rather than grain. “Frequently, corn harvested for silage was planted for harvest as a grain crop,” says Joe Horner, an MU Extension agricultural business and policy specialist. Reasons for…
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CLARENCE, Mo. — Pam Stenger, president of the Missouri Master Gardener chapter for Macon and Shelby counties, keeps memories of her grandmother’s flower garden alive by offering floral bouquets through a Community Supported Agriculture subscription service. As a child, Stenger loved walking to her grandmother’s house and garden. She remembers seeing the 50 to 60…
Read Full Article COLUMBIA, Mo. – Enrollment is open for the Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program. Deadline to sign up is Sept. 1. These heifers will be bred in the fall of 2021 and sold in spring 2022 sales, says University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Kendra Graham. Fees changed for this enrollment period, says Graham. There is a…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. – Grow now and graze later to get the most out of tall fescue pastures. Winter stockpiling cool-season grasses carries cow-calf operations through the winter, the costliest time to feed cattle, says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Craig Roberts. “If we don’t stockpile, we’ll find ourselves feeding hay or other concentrates…
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May 04, 2024
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