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Warm, wet weather helps 'dog vomit slime mold' thrive
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Fuligo septica, also known as “dog vomit slime mold,” is the latest slimy woodland thing to slither into 2020’s wet spring and summer.When it first appears, this peculiar species of plasmodial slime mold looks like bright yellow scrambled eggs, says University of Missouri Extension turf pathologist Lee Miller. In parts of Mexico, some people cook and eat Fuligo septica when it’s at this early growth stage.
Germination 101
Cut open a seed and you’ll see a miracle. A tiny, embryonic plant waits inside, ready to break free of its seed coat, grow roots and push up through the soil.
In-season nitrogen application boosts profits
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Use of in-season nitrogen on corn has increased in Missouri and surrounding states over the past 10 years. What used to be rare is now common. Some of these applications are planned, but others are to give corn yields a boost when wet weather causes nitrogen loss.
MU Extension announces '4-H Goes Online'
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Starting this fall, Missouri 4-H will be able to reach more youths and families across the state through an easy-to-use online learning platform called Canvas that brings 4-H project-based learning directly into the home.
Birth order effects on personality and intelligence
“Birth order and it’s effects on the person has been fascinating scientists and the general public for at least one hundred years,” says Janice Weddle, County Engagement Specialist in Youth Development for the University of Missouri Extension. There have been several studies to try to pinpoint birth order effects on intelligence and personality, but results are met with criticism due to many factors, like the confounds of the…
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Conditions ripe for ergot this year
GALENA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension specialists warn livestock producers to be on the lookout for ergot this year.A cool, cloudy and wet spring with a prolonged flowering period was followed by high temperatures and humidity, setting the stage for infection, says Tim Schnakenberg, field specialist in agronomy.
Broadband is a necessary utility. Let’s treat it like one.
Editorial by Marshall Stewart, University of Missouri vice chancellor for extension and engagement, and chief engagement officer for the University of Missouri System.
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Missouri Food Finder connects consumers and safe local food options
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Many consumers have had to revamp their grocery shopping routines these last months. Supply chain issues have disrupted some farm operations, leading to unpredictable store shortages at the same time that some consumers have been looking for alternatives to crowded supermarkets.
Parenting with Resilience
Parents often find themselves stressed by everyday words and thoughts. As they navigate their daily lives thoughts like “where did the time go”, “I feel exhausted”, and moments of “I’ll get to that later” or “I can do all of this at the same time” can overwhelm them. They find themselves in autopilot routines and jumping from one activity to another.
Nanova — Columbia
Updates to Nanova’s story:
Spotted Wing Drosophila
Spotted Wing Drosophila has been found in fruit crops all over Missouri, starting in 2013. This reference page includes articles, photos, and links to web sites with more information. Photos are at bottom of this page. Newspaper columns from Tim Baker, NW Region Horticulture Specialist
Wet weather triggers mole activity
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Follow the food.That is the mantra of moles as they follow their favorite food, earthworms, and tunnel throughout your yard.A molehill creates an upheaval of soil surrounding a vertical tunnel shaft, which often occurs after big rains, that is an exit point for moles to get some air, says University of Missouri Extension turf pathologist Lee Miller. Both tunnels and molehills can trap falling worms and serve as fast-…
Mow high to keep weeds under control
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Use your mower’s highest setting for fewer weeds and lusher grass.University of Missouri Extension turf pathologist Lee Miller says mowing too low is a common mistake.“We want your grass to be the trees of your lawn,” he says. “Your feet should sink into the grass.”
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Hitchhiking hammerhead worm kills native earthworms
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Some Missouri gardeners are finding a new type of flatworm in landscape soils.The hammerhead worm is a “voracious, top-level predator,” says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Kelly McGowan. “It will eat anything in its path,” she says. It primarily feeds on native earthworms.
Hot tips for keeping cool
COLUMBIA, Mo. – It’s not cool to be hot, says University of Missouri Extension health and safety specialist Karen Funkenbusch. Water, rest and shade help workers beat the heat. During heat waves, farmers and ranchers face increased risk of heat-related illness, which in severe cases can be fatal if untreated.
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MU research: Sunn hemp benefits rotational grazing systems
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Sunn hemp’s vigorous growth makes it a great complement to cool-season forages, says Harley Naumann, University of Missouri forage physiologist. Naumann’s six-year research shows that the quick-growing summer annual provides a boost during summer slump in rotational grazing systems.
Macon County 4-H club transitions to remote learning during COVID-19
Aaron Baker. ATLANTA, Mo. – 4-H club leader Aaron Baker says transitioning online was easy for 4-H’ers, and adults are the ones playing catchup.
Lively bidding at revived central Missouri Show-Me-Select heifer sale
VIENNA, Mo. – The Show-Me-Select Bred Heifer Sale at Vienna’s South Central Regional Stockyards on May 22—the first SMS sale in central Missouri since 2003—saw a large turnout and active bidding, said University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Anita Ellis, who coordinates the sales for central Missouri.
MU beef researchers find improved pregnancy rates with new synch protocol
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A new estrus synchronization protocol evaluated at the University of Missouri greatly improves heat response and pregnancy rates to fixed-time AI in beef cows.
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4-H alumnus profile: Richard Maltsbarger
“In good times, 4-H is a wonderful resource to help develop the youth of America and around the world. In hard times, like what we’re going to feel through this crisis and into the coming recession, that value expands exponentially,” said Richard Maltsbarger, president and CEO of Pet Retail Brands, a multinational pet products company.Maltsbarger is also a 4-H alumnus from Pettis County, Missouri, and member of the National 4-H Council…
Show-Me-Select fall-calving heifer sale draws first-time buyers
PALMYRA, Mo. – The Northeast Missouri Show-Me-Select Bred Heifer Sale at Palmyra’s F&T Livestock Auction May 30 saw a large turnout and active bidding on most lots, according to University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Daniel Mallory.Sales receipts topped a quarter million dollars.
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Gooey, orange tree slime grows after wet, cool days
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Some Missouri trees are producing a gooey, orange slime that seeps and grows.Bright orange tree slime brings wonder to the woods after cool, wet spring days, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Tamra Reall.This slime from Mother Nature grows from a number of fungi, including budding yeasts that feed on the sugary sap flowing from tree wounds, says Hank Stelzer, MU Extension forester.
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Reduce food waste to save money
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – With the COVID-19 pandemic causing disruptions in the food supply chain, it’s more important than ever to reduce food waste, says a University of Missouri Extension food safety specialist.“In 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service estimated that 30% to 40% of edible food in the United States went to waste,” said Londa Nwadike. “At the household level, the average U.S. family of four…
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Nostoc, wicked witch of wet lawns
COLUMBIA, Mo. – It’s wickedly dark and goopy as the melting Wicked Witch in Wizard of Oz.Nostoc, sometimes known as witch’s butter, looks like it sound, says University of Missouri Extension turf pathologist Lee Miller.Even your mangy little dog likely whimpers when it sees the unsightly blob take on a life of its own during cool, wet weather. Despite its gruesome appearance, this genus of cyanobacteria does not harm plants or animals…
MU Extension helps with feed mill training
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension, in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Agriculture, offers Missouri feed mill operators training to help them comply with federal Food Safety Modernization Act guidelines.