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Lending a helping paw
KINGSTON, Mo. – He’s a different kind of dog for a different sort of farmer.Bruce Trammell hopes that dog soon will help him get up to speed on his farm.Thanks to PHARM Dog, the brainchild of University of Missouri Extension AgrAbility specialist Jackie Allenbrand, Trammell now has Odie, a yellow Labrador retriever whose job is to help the farmer regain his independence despite his disability.
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Lesser-known plants that deserve a place in the Midwest vegetable garden
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo.–There are a lot of vegetables out there for home gardeners in the Midwest to try beyond the standard offerings at the garden center, says a University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist.Marlin Bates suggests gardeners look into some of the lesser-known members of the Apiaceae (ay-pee-AY-see-ee) family.
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Get into a two-week planting schedule
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. — Too many gardeners go all in when it comes to planting a vegetable garden by planting the entire garden at once, says a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist.
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Benefits of a well-drained soil
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. — An ideal soil is half solid and half pore space by volume, and that pore space should be equal parts air and water. Gardening practices greatly influence pore space in cultivated soils. “Most gardeners don’t have an ideal soil, particularly as it relates to pore space,” said Marlin Bates, University of Missouri Extension horticulturist.
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'Ghosts' of storms past may haunt damaged homes
PERRYVILLE, Mo.—Homeowners who made repairs after last year’s floods and windstorms may now be finding ghostly shadows—dirty patches of mold and mildew—in parts of the home that got wet. This is a health hazard for people living in the home.“Remember that mold is everywhere. All you need is moisture and a food source, like your home, to have it grow,” said Frank Wideman, University of Missouri Extension natural resource engineering…
Is it cost-effective to bale your own hay?
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. — The greening of pastures and the rising of temperatures have led ruminant-livestock owners to start thinking about the upcoming haying season.“Because hay is a relatively inexpensive feed when grass is unavailable, many livestock owners want to produce hay for the winter from the abundance of grass that their pastures yield in the spring,” said Whitney Wiegel, University of Missouri Extension agriculture business…
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When sperm go bad
COLUMBIA, Mo. – All bull semen is not created equal, but Peter Sutovsky has found a way to level the bovine-fertility playing field.Research from the University of Missouri reproductive scientist identifies faulty sperm and takes them out of the equation for artificial insemination (AI) of cattle.
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Thinning fruit in the home orchard
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. — Sometimes fruit trees try to produce more fruit than is good for the plant. Poor fruit size and flavor, plant stress, and alternate bearing can result when certain types of fruit trees aren’t properly thinned.“For gardeners with fruit trees, this process may be difficult, but it’s necessary to avoid these tendencies,” said Marlin Bates, University of Missouri Extension horticulturist.
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A problem with patches
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A lawn can be a source of pride when healthy and green, but a front yard full of disease can be an embarrassment.
Top 10 horticulture tips from veteran MU Extension agronomist
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. – During her 23 years as a University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist, Pat Miller has answered a lot of questions and looked at a lot of plants. Here are her top 10 horticulture tips.
High-grading brings down health, value of woodland
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Unsuspecting woodland owners selling timber often fall victim to a practice known as “high-grading”—cutting the best trees and leaving the rest.“It’s like a rancher selling a prize-winning bull and keeping the losers for breeding,” said Hank Stelzer, University of Missouri Extension state forestry specialist. “You’re cashing in your best assets and investing in your worst.”
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A gnawing problem
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The mouth of a termite might be small, but an infestation can take a big bite out of a home if left undetected.
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Does that plant ‘fill in quickly’ or is it invasive?
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. — When buying plants you sometimes need to read between the lines. When the label says the plant “fills in quickly,” that may be a code word for “invasive.”“It pays to do a little research, ask some questions and check with other gardeners before purchasing plants,” said Pat Miller, University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist.Miller identifies some species you might think twice about planting:
Be informed before using soybeans for livestock forage
SEDALIA, Mo.—Many Missouri producers are asking if it is safe to use soybeans for livestock forage. The topic was brought up repeatedly by attendees at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia.Tim J. Evans, toxicology specialist at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, answered inquiries on the subject by researching the chemical mechanism of action of a commonly used herbicide, Cobra.
Give your fields a checkup for increased yields
PORTAGEVILLE, Mo.—We visit doctors regularly to maintain optimal health and perform at our best. We need to do the same for our farm fields, too. Gene Stevens, extension professor in plant sciences at the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, will demonstrate three diagnostic tools producers can use to gauge the health of their crops at the T.E. “Jake” Fisher Delta Research Center’s field day, Aug.…
Grazing wheat in Missouri
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. — Recent rains have given producers hope that they will be able to plant wheat this fall. Producers may be looking to plant wheat not only for a grain crop but also to provide some fall and early spring grazing, says a University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist.
Don't let April snow showers dull May flowers
COLUMBIA, Mo. – April’s cold start in Missouri reminds gardeners that planting date is a matter of risk versus reward, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.“Growers who plant early risk crop damage or loss to freezing temperatures,” he said. “However, if the latter does not occur, they are rewarded by earlier produce, which commands more competitive prices at the market.”
Mercury Communications, Inc.
The challenge Mercury Communications, Inc., a cellular tower manufacturer in Fenton, Mo., has been receiving assistance from the Mid-America Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (TAAC) since June 2013 to improve training, marketing and advertising.
PWI, Inc.
The challenge PWI, Inc., a Kansas manufacturer, pioneered aviation interior lighting in 1972 with custom-made fluorescent lights and more recently has become the resident expert in LED lighting.
Major Custom Cable Inc.
The challenge Major Custom Cable Inc., one of the largest manufacturers of data and communication cables in the U.S., started receiving assistance from the
Teach kids about mowing the lawn safely
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Lawn mowing is often one of the first jobs young people have.It is also one of the most dangerous spring activities, says University of Missouri Extension health and safety specialist Karen Funkenbusch.
McCormick Armstrong Co. Inc.
The challenge McCormick Armstrong Co. Inc., a Kansas manufacturer, offers a world of printing solutions from domestic commercial sheet-fed and web printing, digital printing, bindery, mailing and fulfillment to a vast array of international production solutions.
Express Scale Parts, Inc.
The challenge Express Scale Parts, Inc., a scale and bagging equipment manufacturer, has been receiving assistance from the Mid-America Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (TAAC) since 2010.
KC Tent & Awning Company
The challenge KC Tent & Awning Company, a tent and awning manufacturer in Kansas City, Mo., began receiving assistance from the Mid-America Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (TAAC) in May 2011 to grow the capacity of the sales team, develop and implement a marketing strategy, complete a lead based process review or custom production system to develop more efficie
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Cold start to April delays crops
COLUMBIA, Mo. – April’s cold start in Missouri has limited fieldwork and delayed planting for farmers and gardeners. The persistent cold “was nothing short of amazing,” said University of Missouri Extension climatologist Pat Guinan.