MU Extension to teach gardening with hydroponics
COLUMBIA, Mo. – In the near future, you might not need to go to the garden or the grocery store to get your favorite salad fixings. Instead, you might be able to pluck them from your desktop or kitchen countertop.Horticulture educators from University of Missouri Extension and Lincoln University Cooperative Extension soon will teach classes in hydroponics, a system for growing plants without the usual constraints of the outdoors –…
Archer tops Missouri 4-H Dairy Judging Contest
SEDALIA, Mo. – Molly Archer earned high individual honors at the State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest, Aug. 19 at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. Archer, the daughter of Robert and Jamey Archer of Falcon, was the high individual in Ayrshires, Guernseys and Jerseys. She was also second in Holsteins and tied for first place in oral reasons.
Missouri 4-H dairy judging team competes at All-American
HARRISBURG, Pa. – Missouri 4-H had a strong outing at the 2023 All-American Invitational Youth Dairy Cattle Judging Contest, Sept. 17 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team finished seventh overall in the 13-team field, said Karla Deaver, University of Missouri Extension 4-H youth development specialist.
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…
Show-Me MO Success podcast: Platte County, MU Extension give Dorothy Day Cabin a new purpose
KANSAS CITY, Mo. –The Dorothy Day Cabin sits in the Green Hills of Platte Wildlife Preserve just a few minutes north of downtown Kansas City. Dorothy Day, an artist and conservationist, lived in the cabin until her death in 2011. Platte County spent $1 million to preserve the cabin and has looked for ways for the public to make use of it.
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.
The gourd life begins with this grow-your-own utensil
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Our ancestors couldn’t go to the hardware store or shopping mall to buy utensils and other household essentials. Instead, they improvised with items found in nature. The dried fruit of several members of the cucumber family proved useful for many purposes, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.We call these plants gourds, and they may be among the first domesticated plant species, dating…
Missouri 4-H celebrates National 4-H Week
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Gov. Mike Parson designated Oct. 1-7, 2023, as National 4-H Week in Missouri. During the week and beyond there will be events and activities promoting the values and principles of 4-H. These include community service projects, celebrations and achievement days highlighting positive impacts 4-H has had on young people and their communities, said Lupita Fabregas, senior program director for the University of…
MTI celebrates 100th episode of ‘The Weekly Workplace’ podcast
SEDALIA, Mo. – Last month, the Missouri Training Institute celebrated the 100th episode its podcast, “The Weekly Workplace,” with a livestream from the Missouri State Fair.
MU Extension receives swine biosecurity grant
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension agricultural engineering specialist Teng Lim has been awarded a $179,933 grant to study new wean-to-harvest biosecurity projects to improve entry to swine operations.
NE Missouri couple learns about forestry on 55th wedding anniversary
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A forestry field day might seem like an unlikely place to spend a wedding anniversary, says University of Missouri Extension natural resources specialist Brian Schweiss. But a northeastern Missouri couple thought it sounded like “a good outing to someplace we had never been before” to celebrate 55 years of a marriage as strong as the forest’s trees.
Project helps reduce Missouri feral hog population by 65%
SALEM, Mo. – Kevin Crider knows a troublemaker when he sees one, whether it be two-legged or four-legged.
Test for soybean cyst nematode this fall
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Oct. 2 is National Nematode Day and marks a good time to test fields for soybean cyst nematode (SCN), the No. 1 pathogen of soybean in the United States.“We anticipate the highest SCN levels to occur at the end of the season. Identifying problematic areas this fall can help with 2024 planting decisions,” said Mandy Bish, University of Missouri Extension plant pathologist and director of the SCN Diagnostics clinic.
Average first frost about 2 weeks away in northern Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri’s northernmost counties could soon see the first frost of fall, says University of Missouri Extension state climatologist Zack Leasor.Although near-freezing temperatures are not currently in the forecast, daily temperature normals are dropping about one-half degree daily, and daylight is dwindling at a rate of 2-3 minutes less per day.
Graze milo to save on winter feed expenses, says MU Extension agronomist
COOK STATION, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension agronomist Rusty Lee will tell why grazing milo saves livestock producers money Oct. 6 at the MU Wurdack Extension and Education Center Producer Field Day. He will share his experiences with grazing milo for the past eight years.
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.
MU Extension studies loneliness in rural areas
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Montana State University is partnering with University of Missouri Extension and the MU Department of Psychological Sciences to research the connection between loneliness and mental health in agricultural workers and rural residents.The study will increase understanding of how isolation contributes to the mental health crisis in rural communities, with the goal of providing insights into targeting future interventions.
Pearls of Production celebrates 10 years with events in Kirksville, Mount Vernon
Pearls of Production, taught by University of Missouri Extension women specialists to women producers, is celebrating its 10th year and offering two one-day events, Sept. 30 and Nov. 4.Pearls began in 2013 to offer women hands-on training in agriculture production practices.
MU Extension selects Lake area leaders as co-chairs for Elevate women's event
LAKE OZARK, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension regional economic development specialist Ashley Brown announced the 10 community co-chairs for “#Elevate: An Empowering Experience for Women.”#Elevate, set for March 2, 2024, at The Lodge of Four Seasons in Lake Ozark, is designed to educate and connect women to one another and themselves, Brown says.
Celebrate Missouri Good Neighbor Week, Sept. 28-Oct. 4, with a fun act of neighboring
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Performing an act of neighboring is easier than people imagine according to David Burton, a community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension. “Acts of neighboring are often simple gestures that help develop a positive relationship with someone living near you, gives encouragement to others and makes your neighborhood or community a better place to live,” said Burton.
Women in dairy invited to Sept. 12 lavender tour in Centralia
CENTRALIA, Mo. – Women involved in the dairy industry are invited to attend an on-farm field trip to learn more about lavender production.The University of Missouri’s Women in Dairy group is scheduled to tour and smell the lavender fields at Battlefield Lavender in Centralia 5-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12.“Lavender production holds the opportunity to supplement your income or at minimum lift your spirits,” says MU Extension dairy…
Elevating Excellence: 2023 Missouri 4-H Hall of Fame inductees
SEDALIA, Mo. – The Missouri 4-H community honored the 2023 inductees into the Missouri 4-H Hall of Fame in August at State Fair Community College in Sedalia.
Managing heat stress in sheep and goats
OSCEOLA, Mo. – Many animals die from extreme heat and humidity each year.“Extreme heat is stressful to livestock, including sheep and goats,” said David Brown, University of Missouri small ruminant specialist. “It is very dangerous if the onset of heat is sudden and animals do not have ample time to adapt.”
Classes on Missouri farm leases offered in September
MEXICO, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension agriculture business specialists will offer a program on Missouri farm leases in September. Participants may attend Sept. 12 or Sept. 13 in person at sites throughout the state or through Zoom.
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.
Smoketree: A sizzling hot plant that's not just for summer
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Unlike most of Missouri’s native trees, the American smoketree displays spectacular colors throughout the growing season, says University of Missouri Extension state horticulturist Michele Warmund.American smoketree is a hardy and adaptable small tree or shrub that grows 15 to 30 feet at maturity. It thrives in full sun and in alkaline soils but tolerates slightly acidic and compacted soils.
Less is more: Time to divide and conquer perennials
COLUMBIA, Mo. – “Some perennials can suffer from too much of a good thing,” said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.As it grows, year after year, a perennial’s growth clump, or crown, gets so big the plant begins to compete with itself for light, water and nutrients. Eventually this self-struggle leads to fewer and less showy flowers.