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MU report looks at population trends in Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri’s population grew by about 11,000 people from 2019 to 2020. This 0.2% increase is only half the national rate of 0.4%, though it is typical of the modest growth experienced by many other Midwestern states.
Rising feed prices call for cutting the fat in cow-calf operations
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension beef nutritionist Eric Bailey says beef producers can offset rising feed prices with changes in their operations. “It’s time to literally cut the fat from cow-calf operations,” says Bailey.Rising corn and soybean commodity prices are making their way downstream to feed prices, putting a pinch on profits.
Preparing Undergraduates for Agriculture and Food Research Careers: An Internship Paradigm
Abstract: The University of Missouri Integrated STEM Internship Program (MU-ISIP) is a 9-week internship experience that helps prepare undergraduates for the workforce or graduate school in four Agriculture, Food and Research Initiative (AFRI) areas:
Up to test – what does that mean?
NEVADA, Mo. – “I brought it up to test.” University of Missouri Extension agronomist Pat Miller often hears that when farmers talk about crop fertilizer applications.“I do not think it means what you think it means,” Miller says, quoting the movie “The Princess Bride.”According to Miller, people who say that usually mean that they made a one-time fertilizer application recommended by a soil test.
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Gooseberry: Small but mighty
COLUMBIA, Mo. – “Gooseberry grows as a small deciduous shrub with edible fruit,” says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Michele Warmund.Gooseberry clubs once popular
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Healthy communities begin with healthy food
PARIS, Mo. – Healthy communities grow in bountiful gardens.A partnership between University of Missouri Extension and groups in the Mark Twain Lake area is teaching people in Monroe County to grow and use fresh produce.
Buyers show confidence at Show-Me-Select heifer sales
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Spring Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer sales saw heavy interest and strong prices, says Erin Larimore, sales coordinator for University of Missouri Extension’s Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program.
Full house packs Show-Me-Select sale at Vienna
VIENNA, Mo. - The May 21 Show-Me-Select Bred Heifer Sale at South Central Regional Stockyards in Vienna, Mo., saw a full house with lively bidding.Eighteen consignors from Osage, Maries, Callaway, Gasconade, Crawford and Miller counties sold 159 heifers for $311,800, said University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Anita Ellis.Lenny Keilholz sold the top-selling lot for $2,400 per head. Two lots were purchased online via DV…
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Missouri 4-H'ers reach food drive milestone
COLUMBIA, Mo. – 4-H clubs across Missouri have raised more than three quarters of a million meals to feed hungry families over the last three years.
Sending students happiness in a box, TLC for College - Sedalia, MO
When three of Marina Scheiner’s nieces were away at college, Scheiner wanted to send them boxes of goodies to ensure they felt supported, appreciated and encouraged. But even with good intentions,“it was so hard to get it done. That conundrum sparked an idea.
Memorial Day offers time for delayed healing
COLUMBIA, Mo. – For five generations, the James O’Donnell Funeral Home has held the hands and hearts of grieving northeastern Missouri families as they said their goodbyes.Fifth-generation owner Jimmy O’Donnell says no time in history challenged him and other rural funeral directors more than the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Peonies thrive on neglect, can live more than 100 years
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Peonies serve as the traditional flower of Memorial Day. Their huge, lavish blossoms stand as fragrant sentinels in country cemeteries, conjuring memories of times and people past.In the 1800s, when the holiday was called Decoration Day, peonies were one of the few flowers in bloom in late May and were widely used to adorn the graves of fallen soldiers, said David Trinklein, University of Missouri Extension…
Exporting: The First Step
Earlier in this series we looked at some of the benefits and basics of exporting. In this article, we will review an important first step, how to determine if there are no export control restrictions on your product or service. Unless there is a potential military or dual military-civilian use, it is likely there will not be export restrictions on your product or service.
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Missouri 4-H'ers get out and move
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Every year, hundreds of Missouri 4-H’ers, parents and volunteers commit to the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle through Missouri 4-H’s Move Across Missouri challenge.
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Helping growers make lavender thrive in muggy Missouri
University of Missouri Extension is about to take some of the guesswork out of growing lavender in Missouri. The first of three lavender demonstration plots in the state was planted May 14 at the MU Extension center in Ste. Genevieve.
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MU announces inaugural Engagement Scholars
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Six University of Missouri faculty members have been selected as the inaugural group of MU Engagement Scholars.“The Office of Extension and Engagement chose the scholars for their potential to create dynamic engagement opportunities for Missourians,” said Susan Renoe, assistant vice chancellor for research, extension and engagement.
It pays to know what your farm liability insurance covers
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Without regular policy checks, farm liability insurance might be like a hospital gown – not enough coverage where you need it most.Thoroughly read your policy regularly and check for gaps and needed updates, says University of Missouri Extension economist Ray Massey. “Planning is important, but even the best plans do not always succeed in managing risk,” he says.
'Bee' mindful of pollinators when spraying fruit crops
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Bees are a fruit tree owner’s friend and need special protection from pesticides, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Michele Warmund.Bees are essential to pollinate many fruit crops, including apple, pear, Japanese plums, sweet cherries, blueberry and elderberry, says Warmund.
Consider feeding pigs to higher weights when feed costs and hog prices go up
COLUMBIA, Mo. – When feed prices go up, swine producers usually see profits go down. That’s not the case in 2021.This gives producers an opportunity to look at feeding to heavier weights despite higher feed costs, says University of Missouri Extension swine nutritionist Marcia Shannon.Higher market weights result in dramatic net gains per pig under current grain and market conditions, she says. This comes despite higher feed…
Use gallons per mile to measure fuel efficiency
COLUMBIA, Mo. – If you’re in the market for a car that will save you money at the pump, looking at miles per gallon may not be the best way to compare fuel efficiency, says a University of Missouri Extension financial planning specialist.
Missouri 4-H Foundation awards 68 scholarships
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Missouri 4-H Foundation is awarding 68 scholarships totaling $69,350 to Missouri 4-H youths to help further their educations.
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Annual Land-Grant Society members make a lasting impact
Giving to the University of Missouri Extension can help transform communities. Warren and Betty Sapp and Andrew Zumwalt experienced this firsthand through generous gifts that qualify them for annual membership in the newly established MU Land-Grant Society, a donator recognition society to support extension and engagement work and impacts across Missouri.
Placemaking and Jobs
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The availability of good jobs is critical for attracting new residents to a community, encouraging former residents to return and convincing current residents to stay. But jobs alone are not enough anymore. Creating a vibrant community with desirable amenities is increasingly essential to attracting jobs and workers who can fill them, says Rob Russell, director of University of Missouri Extension’s labor and workforce…
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Know youth labor laws before hiring your summer staff
COLUMBIA, Mo. – As the school year ends, you can expect young people to start applying for summer jobs. For agricultural employers, these young workers can provide extra capacity at a time when farms and agribusinesses often have more work than they have employees to get that work done.
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New podcast focuses on reigniting workplaces across the globe
COLUMBIA, Mo. – “The Weekly Workplace,” a new podcast from the Missouri Training Institute (MTI), focuses on reigniting workplace success through insights, inspiration and practical tips for workers at all levels.