The following publications might be of particular interest to people in Webster County. For a complete list of MU Extension publications, visit the main Publications page.
Starting and Operating a Farmers Market: Frequently Asked Questions
Revised
Learn what makes a farmers market successful and feasible. Get tips about how to start or improve a market to make local food available in your community.
Safe Tractor Operation
Revised
The purpose of this guide is to assist employers and employees in training for safe tractor operation. Farm employers should review this guide with anyone who operates a farm tractor.
Introduction to Food Dehydration
Dehydration is one of the oldest methods of food preservation, though methods for drying food have become sophisticated over time. Learn the benefits and methods of dehydrating foods and how to select an electric dehydrator.
Safe Home Canning Basics
Revised
Safely preserve fresh fruits and vegetables — and meat, poultry, seafood, soups and sauces — by the proper canning method: boiling water, steam or pressure. Learn the basics in this guide.
How to Can Fresh Fruit
Reviewed
Did you know there's more than one way to can fresh fruit? Learn the options and what they mean for your final color and taste.
How to Can Sweet Spreads
Revised
Jelly, jam, preserves, conserves, marmalades and fruit butters are similar products. All are made from fruit, preserved by sugar and thickened or gelled to some extent.
How to Dehydrate Foods
Revised
Dehydrated foods are a sensible way for busy families to make healthy, portable snacks or store seasonal produce for use. You need to carefully follow directions for preparing and pretreating produce to maintain quality.
How to Can Fresh Tomato Products
Revised
How to Freeze Fruits
Reviewed
How to Can Fresh Vegetables
Revised
Learn to safely can fresh vegetables in this research-based guide covering asparagus, beans, beets, carrots, corn, okra, peas, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins and spinach. Recommended pressure canner process times are provided.
Selling Strategies for Local Food Producers
Revised
Learn how farms can market local food directly to consumers by building relationships with buyers, discovering customer needs, providing quality service.
Verbal Farm Rental Agreements Under Missouri Law
Revised
Learn about the problems and risks associated with informal verbal farm leases, and see the minimum requirements to include in a basic written lease.
Farmers’ Liability for Their Animals
Revised
Animal owners can have legal liability for acts of their farm livestock or pets. Learn about animal owner responsibilities and how to protect yourself from a lawsuit.
Missouri Frost/Freeze Probabilities Guide
Reviewed
Where in Missouri you live can make a big difference on when to expect your first or last frost. See this guide for probabilities based on past years.
Composting Dead Swine
Reviewed
Teng Teeh Lim
Extension Agricultural Engineer, Food Systems and BioengineeringJoseph Zulovich
How to Use Dehydrated Foods
Reviewed
Tree Pests: Emerald Ash Borer
New
Emerald ash borer is an invasive, wood-boring insect that infests and kills native North American ash trees. Learn the signs, symptoms and management of EAB and how you can slow the spread on the University of Missouri Extension Tree Pests site.
Bacteria in Drinking Water
Revised
Controlling Runoff and Erosion at Urban Construction Sites
Reviewed
Runoff from construction sites is a major source of sediment. Visit our site to learn about Controlling Runoff and Erosion at Urban Construction Sites.
Insects
Reviewed $10
Chapter 12 of the Missouri Master Gardener Core Manual
Vegetable Planting Calendar
Reviewed
Plant a vegetable garden to save on your family food bill and promote good dietary habits. The tables in this guide help Missourians plan what to plant, when to plant and how much of each vegetable to plant.
Tree and Shrub Pests Around the Home: Symptoms, Signs and Control
Revised $10
Learn to identify common insect and mite infestation on nearly 100 trees and shrubs and their potential treatments with the help of the University of Missouri Extension publication.
Community Gardening Toolkit
Reviewed
A community garden means many things to many people. Community gardens also take many shapes and forms. Regardless of why people choose to take part in a community garden or how a garden is organized, the activity of gardening with others can be both rewarding and challenging.