SW MO Show-Me-Select™ Replacement Heifer Program Sale

The Missouri Show-Me-Select (SMS) Replacement Heifer Program educates cattle producers on heifer development strategies in the areas of management, reproduction, and genetics to create a reliable source of quality replacement heifers.  On November 17th at 7:00 p.m.

Pick Up Your Redbook

Recordkeeping is important to make management decisions for optimum cattle operation productivity and profitability.  Therefore, cattle producers should consider purchasing the 2024 shirt pocket size record book called the “Redbook” to aid in their record keeping practices.  These books are available at your local MU Extension Center for $7 per book. 

Utilizing corn stalks in beef cow rations

The spring grass hay crop was extremely poor across many regions of the state. Beef cattle producers are turning to alternative feeds in order to find winter forage for their herds. Baled corn stalks are going to be one of the more available forage sources for many producers. A discussion of their quality and use is certainly appropriate.

Management strategies to be successful in heifer development

Drought has led to historic declines in cattle numbers in Missouri.  As weather and cattle price become favorable for cattle herds to rebuild, add value to a cattle operation through heifer development.  This article will discuss cattle management strategies of the Missouri Show-Me-Select (SMS) Replacement Heifer Program that will help cattle producers be successful in heifer development and adding value to their operation.

Southwest Missouri All Breed Performance Tested Bull Sale

When buying a bull, it is important to look at performance and genomics and select bulls that meet your herds needs. One sale that incorporates this information into its sale offering is the 102 nd SW MO All Breeds Performance Tested Bull Sale. This longtime running sale put on by the SW MO Beef Cattle Improvement Association (SWMOBCIA) will be held at the Springfield Livestock Marketing Center in Springfield, MO on October 30 th at 7…

Rebuild your herd through the Fall SW MO Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program Sale

Stockton, Mo.- As cattle producers look to replenish their cattle herd look to the Fall SW MO Show-Me-Select™ (SMS) Replacement Heifer Program Sale on November 17th at Joplin Regional Stockyards.  The program will be selling approximately 90 head of spring-calving SMS Certified bred heifers.  The breed makeup of these heifers includes Angus, Red Angus, Hereford, SimAngus, Gelbvieh, and Beefmaster.  

Call for speakers: 2024 Elevate women’s event

LAKE OZARK, Mo. – Women’s health and welfare leaders, experts and innovators are invited to submit proposals for presentations and panel discussion for “#Elevate: An Empowering Educational Experience for Women,” set for March 2, 2024, at the Lodge of the Four Seasons in Lake Ozark, Missouri.

Missouri Steer Feedout

Are you a cattle producer that has a small number of cattle but wants to experience feeding cattle in the feedyard, evaluate your cattle’s feedyard performance, and determine whether your cattle meet certain targets at slaughter that influence their profitability?  Then consider enrolling steers in the Missouri Steer Feedout.  This program is a cooperation between MU Extension, Southwest Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, Missouri…

Bull development and management for optimum breeding season performance

STOCKTON, Mo. - Bull development and management is important to promote optimum breeding season performance.  Optimum breeding season performance promotes optimum herd pregnancy rates which is important to cattle herd productivity and profitability.  Therefore, this article will provide tips in selection, development, and management of bulls for optimum breeding season performance. 

Time to Elevate

CAMDENTON, Mo. – Next March, University of Missouri Extension in Camden County will host “#Elevate: An Empowering Experience for Women,” a free, one-day event offering educational sessions, a keynote luncheon, health screenings and an exhibit hall featuring vendors and services specifically for women.

Second annual Missouri Good Neighbor Week is Sept. 28-Oct. 4

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Missourians are encouraged to participate in events and activities to help establish connections with their neighbors during the second annual Missouri Good Neighbor Week, Sept. 28 to Oct 4.

Now is time for 911 emergency forages

This is part of an MU Extension series to help row crop and livestock producers manage drought. BOONVILLE, Mo. – Forage producers searching for options amid sustained drought should consider emergency forages, says Todd Lorenz, University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist.The drought is not going away and producers need to find a way to fill feed gaps, he says. Three years of back-to-back drought leave producers searching for…

Early weaning calves to reduce nutrient needs during drought

STOCKTON, Mo. – “Early wean calves to reduce cow herd nutrient needs to match drought-limited feed resources,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. In addition, early weaning can improve calf performance because calves are put on a more nutritious diet following weaning.Davis discusses strategies to help cattle producers be successful in early weaning calves:

Benton County to host 2023 Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities

This year’s Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities (CEC) conference, Sept. 20-21 in Benton County, will provide several days of learning about rural innovations for leaders with an eye on business growth. Participants will tour businesses in Cole Camp, Warsaw and Lincoln.

Field days set at Mizzou ag centers across the state

University of Missouri agriculture researchers and extension specialists share their findings at field days across the state from August through October.

Missouri SBDC continues to “Elevate” second-stage businesses

This spring, five Missouri small businesses began the journey to grow beyond the second stage. Through the Missouri Small Business Development Center’s (SBDC’s) Elevate program, these five business owners, at no cost to them, are gaining knowledge from various experts that most small-business owners rarely have access to.

Missouri youths compete at 2023 State 4-H Poultry Day

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Thirty-six youths from across Missouri attended the 2023 State 4-H Poultry Day, June 10 at the University of Missouri Animal Science Research Center in Columbia.Competitions included a poultry judging contest, quiz bowl, egg demonstration contest, photo contest and dozen egg contest.

Severe-weather resources from MU Extension

News releases, videos, publications and more.  Publications In-depth information is available from these MU Extension publications, which are available for free download. (To access publications, use the links below or go extension.missouri.edu/publications/ and search by publication number.)

Missouri SBDC elevates business, impacts economic development

Over the past two years, a group of 22 second-stage Missouri small businesses increased sales by $10.7 million, made capital investments of $8.2 million, and added 74 jobs. These businesses were beneficiaries of research and advice from leading experts in a customized consulting program called Elevate. Targeted at second-stage businesses, Elevate is sponsored by the Missouri Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in partnership with…

Master Showman Competitions: Displaying Youths’ Hard Work

The Issue4-H and FFA Livestock projects impact youth life skill development in motivation, responsibility, goal setting, discipline, and leadership (Anderson et al., 2015; Boleman et al., 2004; Evans, et al. 2019; Heavner et al., 2011; Rusk et al, 2003). Knowledge of husbandry and showing procedures increased the longer youth participate in the projects (Havner et al., 2011; Rusk et al., 2003).

Start the year on the right foot with your cattle record-keeping system

STOCKTON, Mo. – As the year ends, University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Patrick Davis urges cattle producers to evaluate their record-keeping system to determine if it was successful.“Record-keeping starts with proper cattle identification,” Davis said. Two nationally known identification systems are the four-digit system and the letter and three-digit system.

Leadership change in extension and engagement

University of Missouri President Mun Choi has announced that Marshall Stewart, chief engagement officer for the UM System and vice chancellor for extension and engagement for MU, is leaving the university to pursue another opportunity as Kansas State University's senior vice president for executive affairs, university engagement and partnerships, and chief of staff, effective Jan. 20, 2023.

Drought requires feed efficiency in cattle

WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Low supplies of hay make feeding cattle a challenge.Elizabeth Picking, a University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist in southwestern Missouri, sees the effects of severe drought in her area – dwindling hay supplies, poor-quality hay, high prices and ponds going dry.

MU Extension guide, spreadsheet help estimate farmland values

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Buyers and sellers who need an estimate of the value of a piece of farmland may not always find it feasible to get an appraisal, particularly one that reflects the land’s historical value needed to calculate taxes and settle estates.

10 Missouri small businesses prepare to “Elevate” beyond the second stage

Ten second-stage Missouri small businesses are learning from experts and each other how to move to the next level. Selected from across the state and representing the advertising, construction, health care, manufacturing, and retail trade industries, the following businesses are participating in the 2022 Elevate program supported and led by the Missouri Small Business Development Centers (SBDC).