University of Missouri Extension
MONTGOMERY CITY, Mo.— Start stockpiling tall fescue in mid-August for healthier, more profitable cattle, says University of Missouri Extension field specialist in agronomy Rusty Lee. Stockpiling fescue extends the grazing season and reduces the need to feed hay. “Winter feed costs are the cattle producer’s biggest single expense,” says Lee in a press release. The…
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KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – More than 20 years ago, eight-year-old Casey Jefferson Coy enrolled in the Garden ’n Grow program in Kirksville at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Adair County. Little did she know that the summer-long program would lead her to decades of employment and enjoyment. For Coy, the class was also an…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Have you always wanted a horse but don’t know where to start? An updated University of Missouri Extension publication offers guidance. “Buying a Horse” is available for free download at https://extension.missouri.edu/g2835. “Purchasing a horse should be well planned and carefully thought out,” said Shawn Deering, MU Extension livestock specialist, in a press release.…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Selecting for cattle with heat tolerance can improve a producer’s profitability. An updated University of Missouri Extension publication, “Hair Shedding Scores: A Tool To Select Heat Tolerant Cattle,” explains how to score for hair shedding and seek lower scores for better heat tolerance. The publication is available for free download at https://extension.missouri.edu/g2014.…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Pest control is an important part of establishing an attractive garden. Insects, diseases and weeds are formidable foes, but the damage they inflict often pales compared to the destruction perpetrated by some of our four-legged “friends,” said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. “It is extremely frustrating to put time, effort…
Read Full Article ROCK PORT, Mo. — A six-year study at the University of Missouri’s Graves-Chapple Extension and Education Center in northwestern Missouri looked at the impact of poultry litter on soybean crops. In a press release, MU Extension agronomy specialist Wayne Flanary, who conducted the research, said, “Poultry litter is increasingly being applied to row crops in…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension state plant pathologist Mandy Bish reports confirmaion of red crown rot, a yield-robbing soybean disease, in Marion County in northeastern Missouri. This is the first confirmed incidence of the disease in the state. Bish says MU Extension specialists have been scouting for the pathogen since its confirmation in…
Read Full Article PALMYRA, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension specialists will give updates on timely topics in agriculture from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 8, in Palmyra. MU Extension field agronomist Nick Wesslak said topics at the free event will include diseases such as tar spot and red crown rot, drying and storage of late-planted…
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WEST PLAINS, Mo. — An abundance of flies in cow herds is being reported to University of Missouri Extension specialists this summer, increasing the likelihood of cattle health issues, including pinkeye. MU Extension livestock field specialist Elizabeth Picking estimates face flies are the biggest contributor this year to the spread of pinkeye in cattle. “I’ve…
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PALMYRA, Mo. — Marion County fairgoers can learn how to improve safety on the family farm during the annual fair at Flower City Park in Palmyra, says University of Missouri Extension field specialist in agronomy Nick Wesslak. Safety Day runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, with demonstrations on grain bin safety from…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — As the world enjoys the 2024 Olympic Games, the use of performance-enhancing substances will be under scrutiny. University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist David Trinklein notes that garlic was given to the original Olympic athletes in ancient Greece to increase strength and stamina. Thus, this culinary staple was perhaps one of the…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Though physically demanding and time-consuming, scouting fields for insect pests is essential to crop health, yields and profits, says University of Missouri Extension state entomologist Ivair Valmorbida. Weekly scouting during the growing season helps producers identify and manage problems for early intervention, Valmorbida says. He advises more frequent monitoring when weather favors…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — There is an old Missouri saying, “On the 25th of July, sow your turnips, wet or dry.” This local proverb vaulted into the national spotlight during the presidency of Missouri native Harry S. Truman, said University of Missouri Extension state specialist David Trinklein. Evidently, the congressional session of 1948 was particularly contentious,…
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INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Patience and a bucket of soapy water are your best friends when fending off Japanese beetles in the garden, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Tamra Reall. Reall recommends tapping beetles off plants by hand and putting them in a bucket of soapy water to kill them. You can also shake them…
Read Full Article Post-drought pasture improvement takes more than rain; four things to do after back-to-back droughts
LINNEUS, Mo. — Heavy rainfall throughout much of Missouri on July 2 may have lessened worries about drought damage in pastures, but one good rain won’t undo the damage to mismanaged pastures during two straight years of drought, according to two University of Missouri Extension specialists based at the MU Forage Systems Research Center in…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri corn and soybean growers are reporting growing numbers of Japanese beetles in crops in recent weeks, says University of Missouri Extension state entomologist Ivair Valmorbida. Valmorbida uses numbers from MU Extension’s Pest Monitoring Network, which gathers information from across the state. The highest numbers are reported in northwestern Missouri’s Gentry County.…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — A yield-robbing corn disease, tar spot, is gaining ground in Missouri. Tar spot has been confirmed in 19 counties in 2024, says University of Missouri Extension plant pathologist Mandy Bish. Corn growers in nearly half of the state’s counties have reported tar spot since Missouri’s first confirmed case in 2018. The counties…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mulches benefit gardens throughout the year, but they are particularly helpful during the heat of summer, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Maintain 2-4 inches of an organic mulch to keep the soil cool. This promotes root growth and curbs soil moisture loss. Mulch also prevents the germination of weeds…
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NEVADA, Mo. — Rain is always a wild card when deciding the right time to mow hay. “Pop-up showers and storms are a risk this time of the year,” University of Missouri Extension agronomist Hunter Lovewell said in a press release. This unpredictability makes it important to keep an eye on weather forecasts and understand…
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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,” Trinklein said in a press release. The MU Extension Master Gardener program was designed to do just that. “Its motto, ‘helping…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri’s landowners, agricultural lenders, rural appraisers and others with firsthand knowledge of land transactions are invited to respond to the annual Missouri Farmland Value Opinion Survey. This University of Missouri Extension survey captures information on land transactions that have occurred in the calendar year, including those for cropland, pastureland, timberland and recreational…
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OSCEOLA, Mo. — Sheep and goats are susceptible to heat stress in the summer, and a revised University of Missouri Extension publication updates management practices for producers to protect their animals. In a press release, David Brown of MU Extension said, “Heat stress in sheep and goats occurs when the animals are unable to regulate…
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — There is scientific evidence suggesting that eating something spicy on a hot summer day will make you feel cooler, says University of Missouri horticulturist David Trinklein. “Consuming spicy foods leads to a phenomenon known as ‘gustatory facial perspiration,’ which ostensibly cools the body more quickly than a cold glass of lemonade or…
Read Full Article 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…
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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