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Drought in SW Missouri worsens with no rain in forecast
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Drought continues to plague southwestern and west-central Missouri as pastures dry and cattle producers start to feed hay well ahead of schedule. “The latest update from the U.S. Drought Monitor depicts increasing severity and coverage of drought conditions across Missouri,” says Zachary Leasor, University of Missouri Extension climatologist.
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Is Missouri's farmland market cooling down?
COLUMBIA, Mo. – After years of record-breaking farmland prices in Missouri, is stabilization on the horizon? Data from the latest Missouri Farmland Values Opinion Survey hints at slower growth in Show-Me State farmland values.
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Missouri Good Neighbor Week documents more than 31K acts of neighboring
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The tally is in, and 31,129 acts of neighboring were documented this year as part of the fourth annual Missouri Good Neighbor Week, Sept. 28 – Oct. 4. The goal had been to reach 20,000 acts.
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MU Extension offers tips for planning for disasters
LANCASTER, Mo. – Disaster preparedness can be as simple as having an emergency backpack to throw into your car or as complex as estate planning documents. University of Missouri Extension community development specialist Darla Campbell says recent hurricanes and fires across the United States point to the need to be prepared for a disaster.
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Missouri 4-H State Fashion Revue
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The 2024 Missouri 4-H State Fashion Revue on Saturday, Oct. 12, hosted 72 youths representing 26 counties across Missouri. Top finishers at the 2024 State 4-H Fashion Revue Constructed Casual
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Corn planting pops at MU Hundley-Whaley Center
ALBANY, Mo. – Things are popping at University of Missouri’s Hundley-Whaley Extension and Education Center in Albany. The center’s soils are rich for growing field corn, sweet corn and popcorn. For more than a decade, popcorn has been an intriguing and popular favorite in the northwestern Missouri farming community.
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Crop conference speaker shares research on how bigger equipment can mean smaller yields
COLUMBIA, Mo. – An Iowa State University biosystems engineer will explain how bigger is not always better when it comes to farm equipment during the 2024 University of Missouri Crop Management Conference, Dec. 4-5 in Columbia. MU Extension weed scientist Kevin Bradley, who heads the annual event, said Mehari Tekeste will talk about how big equipment causes soil compaction that reduces crop yield due to reduced water infiltration and…
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October Pork Month and biosecurity go hand in hand
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The safety of the U.S. pork supply is achieved through biosecurity protocols not only during National Pork Month in October but every day of the year to safeguard animal health, food safety, the environment and the economy. University of Missouri Extension’s Swine Team educates pork producers and workers on safety protocols throughout the year, working with industry partners, said Magdiel Lopez, MU Extension state swine…
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Applying nitrogen to forages now is high risk, low reward
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The best time to apply nitrogen fertilizer to promote fall forage growth has passed, says University of Missouri Extension state nutrient management specialist John Lory. Applying now does not promote growth and may increase the risk of forages accumulating nitrate.
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Celebrate Pork Month by considering value-added production
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The average Missourian eats 63 pounds of pork each year. “If you’ve thought about supplying pork to Missouri markets but haven’t decided for sure, then Intel for Ag (www.intelforag.org) can help,” said Mallory Rahe, University of Missouri Extension state specialist and Intel for Ag contributor.
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Topics to discuss before incorporating conservation into your land lease
FORSYTH, Mo. – Despite the benefits of conservation practices on farmland, differing goals and expectations can create tension between landowners and tenants when talking about incorporating them into a land lease. According University of Missouri Extension agribusiness specialist Jacob Hefley, thoughtful conversations and clearly outlined provisions between the two parties can ease this tension.
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Midwest Crops Conference set for Jan. 21-22
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Midwest Crops Conference promises updates from three Midwestern universities on ways to improve farm yields and profits in 2025. “This conference offers a comprehensive exploration of current and critical crop topics,” says Denice Ferguson, agricultural business and policy specialist with University of Missouri Extension.
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Registration open for Great Plains Growers Conference
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Registration is now open for the 2025 Great Plains Grower Conference, Jan. 9-11 on the campus of Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph. The three-day conference draws vegetable, fruit, flower and specialty crop growers from across Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota and Nebraska, says Denice Ferguson, an agricultural business and policy specialist for University of Missouri Extension.
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Big changes for private pesticide applicators coming in 2025
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Big changes are coming for private pesticide applicator training next year. University of Missouri Extension private pesticide applicator training coordinator Rusty Lee says extension specialists will hold workshops across the state after Jan. 1, 2025, to train those who apply restricted use pesticides (RUPs) on owned or rented property. New federal rules change the requirements to earn a private pesticide applicator…
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Seal your home to keep insects from spending the winter with you
COLUMBIA, Mo. – You aren’t the only one getting cozy for fall. While you are pulling out the flannels, insects are looking for a place to be snug as a bug in a rug for the winter. “Over the next few weeks, it is critical to ensure your home is properly sealed to avoid insect roommates this fall,” says Emily Althoff, University of Missouri Extension urban entomologist.
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Pumpkin: An ancient vegetable still in vogue today
COLUMBIA, Mo. – This fall, millions of Americans will purchase a vegetable they, unfortunately, are very unlikely to eat, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. In the United States, this colorful member of the gourd plant family is used primarily for decoration, but many people throughout the world use pumpkin as a staple in their diets, Trinklein said.
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Early grape harvest in Missouri in 2024: low yield but high quality
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri’s grape harvest this year is, for the most part, early throughout the state. The reason for the early harvest is the low crop yield, which is mainly due to frost last spring, according to Dean Volenberg, interim director of the University of Missouri Grape and Wine Institute and viticulture program leader. “The good news is the grape quality is very high this year; it should be a very good vintage,” Volenberg…
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New location, new diseases top 2024 MU Crop Management Conference
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Leading agricultural experts will give updates to improve the bottom line at the annual University of Missouri Crop Management Conference, Dec. 4-5 at a new location, the Columbia Hilton Garden Inn and Conference Center.
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Received a strange text? Be vigilant against 'smishing'
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Smishing, a combination of “SMS” and “phishing,” is a type of cyberattack that targets individuals through SMS or other forms of text messages.
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Youths gather for State 4-H Public Speaking Contest
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri 4-H’ers from across the state recently participated in one of Missouri 4-H’s oldest competitions: the State 4-H Public Speaking Contest. Held Sept. 28 in Columbia on the University of Missouri campus, the event drew 59 youths from 25 counties.
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Rebuild your cow herd with proper heifer development
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Proper heifer development is key to a successful cattle herd and profitable operation,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. As herds rebuild from drought or old cow turnover due to favorable prices, heifer development is taking place to build the next cow herd. Also, as cattle producers look to buy replacement heifers, this can be a way to add value to your cattle operation.
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Gov. Parson proclaims 4-H Week in Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Gov. Mike Parson designated Oct. 6-12 as 4-H Week in Missouri. Missouri and Missouri 4-H proudly join millions across the nation in celebrating National 4-H Week, an annual event that highlights the positive impact of 4-H on youth development. This year’s theme, “Beyond Ready,” celebrates the dedication of youths, families, volunteers and alumni who contribute to the growth and success of 4-H programs.
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Plant bulbs now for a colorful spring
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Springtime favorites such as daffodils, tulips and hyacinths won’t greet you next year if they’re not planted in the fall. “The bulbs of spring-blooming plants need to be in the ground now so they can go through a chilling process in the winter,” said David Trinklein, state horticulture specialist for University of Missouri Extension.
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MU Extension takes to the skies to stamp out invasive weeds
WILLIAMSBURG, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension is taking to the skies to identify and map invasive weed species in one of mid-Missouri’s prized native prairie areas. MU Extension state natural resource specialist Michael Sunde is using drone-based lidar and imagery along with satellite imagery and machine learning to make 3D maps of vegetation and land cover at Prairie Fork Conservation Area, which is in eastern Callaway County…
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FDA finalizes the preharvest water rule: What does it mean for produce growers?
Earlier this year, the FDA issued a final rule related to the preharvest agricultural water requirements for covered produce stipulated in the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule.