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Resources for Severe Weather Preparedness Week
COLUMBIA, Mo. – March 3-7 is Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Missouri, notes Conne Burnham, University of Missouri Extension emergency management coordinator with the Missouri Extension Disaster Education Network.
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Warren County 4-H'ers cook at food pantry competition in Memphis
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Four teens from Warren County represented Missouri 4-H in the Mid-South 4-H Food Pantry Competition at the 73rd annual Mid-South Farm & Gin Show in Memphis, Tenn., on Saturday, March 1. The competition challenged 4-H competitors to apply their knowledge to create a healthy meal using common food pantry ingredients along with a surprise mystery ingredient, said Bethany Rippy, University of Missouri Extension 4-H…
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New guide helps ag drone pilots maximize efficiency, precision in aerial seeding
NOVELTY, Mo. – A new University of Missouri Extension publication can help farmers and ag drone pilots maximize efficiency and precision in aerial seeding. Gurbir Singh, state extension specialist in soil science, agroecology and landscape management, has published a first-of-its-kind guide on calibrating utility drones for broadcast spreading pattern check.
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Persistent drought costs Missouri ag industry
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Drought is costing Missouri agriculture significant amounts of money. Since the 1980s, Missourians have had 16 drought disasters costing $1 billion or more, says University of Missouri Extension state climatologist Zachary Leasor. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates the total cost of these disasters is between $10 billion and $20 billion.
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St. Patrick's Day: Time to rock your shamrock knowledge
CARROLLTON, Mo. – If a leprechaun leaps from the faerie den this St. Patrick’s Day to ask if you know a shamrock from a clover, what will you answer? “If you said the shamrock is a clover, you’re in luck,” says University of Missouri Extension field horticulturist Kathi Mecham. In short, all shamrocks are clovers, but not all clovers are shamrocks.
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Sign up now for 2025 crop pest alerts
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension’s Pest Monitoring Network offers free, timely pest alerts to farmers and gardeners, says MU Extension crops entomologist Ivair Valmorbida. Early detection allows farmers to take quick action before infestations become severe. By scouting and monitoring their fields, farmers can make management decisions to prevent yield loss and reduce pesticide use.
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Missouri Dairy Hall of Honors names winners
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Missouri Dairy Hall of Honors honored its 2024 winners in a special ceremony on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, at the University of Missouri.
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Gardening can protect monarch butterflies
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – With spring around the corner, University of Missouri Extension field horticulturist Kelly McGowan urges gardeners to consider how they can help monarch butterflies.
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Youths compete in 4-H State Meats Judging Contest
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri Extension 4-H State Meats Judging Contest on Saturday, Feb. 15, drew 60 competing 4-H members from across the state. contestants were able to develop and hone their judging skills and explore career and educational opportunities, said Kelsey Fuller, MU Extension state 4-H agriculture educator. Missouri 4-H holds the contest in partnership with the MU Meat Science Program.
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Weighing the value of eggs amid high prices
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The high price of eggs and egg shortages in some places have led some consumers to seek out other sources of protein.
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Timing, flexibility key to grazing tall fescue spring flush
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Proper management of the spring flush of tall fescue gives pastures and cattle a head start for the rest of the grazing season, says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Harley Naumann.
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Avoid financial heartbreak after drought
POTOSI, Mo. – Missouri is coming off consecutive years of severe droughts and depleted cool-season pastures. As drought lingers, so do old practices that worsen its impact, says Rachel Hopkins, University of Missouri Extension agricultural business specialist. She likens it to an oft-quoted definition of insanity – “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results” – to the mindset of some long-term fescue growers.
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MU Extension publishes vaccination overview for cow-calf operations
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension has a new publication about vaccination programs for cow-calf operations. The publication covers viruses and bacteria of concern, describes the difference between killed and modified live viral vaccines and provides a vaccine schedule example.
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Plant now for seeds of success
Plant seeds indoors now for a head start on a successful garden. Follow simple steps to grow healthy plants and enjoy a vibrant harvest.
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Missouri 4-H'ers compete in FCS National Championship
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Two Missouri 4-H’ers competed in January at the 2025 4-H Family and Consumer Science National Championship. Representing Missouri 4-H was Rebecca McDade of Clay County and Hayley Frevert of Cooper County. While in San Antonio, Texas, McDade competed in Fashion Revue in the Purchased Category. Frevert competed with an Educational Presentation and in Fashion Revue in the Constructed Category.
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Mitigating pregnancy loss in cow herds
MOUNTAIN GROVE, Mo. – With spring calving season underway, producers want as many healthy calves on the ground as possible. “A lot of folks see pregnancy loss within their herd and think of it in two ways: either a cow aborting a calf during gestation, or losing the calf after it is already made it on the ground,” said Chloe Collins, University of Missouri Extension dairy specialist. But multiple factors go into pregnancy loss, both…
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The skinny on what your hay bales really weigh
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Ask five farmers how much their hay bales weigh, and you’ll probably get five different answers — none of which are backed up by a scale ticket. “That’s because most folks think they know their bale weights, but more often than not, they’re guessing,” says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist and associate dean Rob Kallenbach. “And when you’re buying hay by the bale instead of by the ton, those…
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Overcome poor soil, lack of space with straw bale gardening
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Straw bale gardens are becoming popular with growers plagued with poor soil or limited garden space, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Straw bale gardening combines container gardening and raised-bed gardening into one green-thumb package.
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2025 is the Year of the Pea
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Gardeners looking for hap-pea-ness can look no further than the pea. The National Garden Bureau has declared 2025 the Year of the Pea. Few vegetables match the culinary delight of peas fresh from the garden, said David Trinklein, University of Missouri Extension horticulturist. “You might say it is a VIPea in the spring garden,” said Trinklein. When given an early start, growing peas is easy peasy.
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Winter weather resources from MU Extension
COLUMBIA, Mo. – MU Extension has resources to help you prepare for and respond to severe winter weather. Extended cold weather can freeze water in household plumbing. This can not only make your faucets run dry, it can result in burst pipes. Learn how to prevent or safely thaw frozen pipes.
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Turn milk jugs into mini-greenhouses
JACKSON, Mo. – One of your best gardening tools may be in your recycling bin, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Donna Aufdenberg. Use specially prepared milk jugs to jump-start your garden by winter sowing, a method of starting seeds in late winter for spring transplanting.
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Recovery Friendly Workplace-Missouri has new community resources
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Addiction costs Missouri $1.4 million per hour, but a recovery-friendly workplace can increase profits for businesses and foster an employee-focused culture. Enhancements to the Recovery Friendly Workplace-Missouri website provide new resources to help you learn more and do more in your community.
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Better numbers, better farm
WARSAW, Mo. – Handling farm finances wisely means knowing some key numbers that indicate the health of your operation.
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MU Extension offers beef feeding financial tool
POTOSI, Mo. – A risk management strategy for buying or retaining cattle is the goal of a new tool from University of Missouri Extension. The Beef Feeding Profitability Tracker, developed by MU Extension agricultural business specialist Rachel Hopkins, is a free Excel spreadsheet tool that lets producers track input costs of groups of cattle.
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Are insects the future of food?
Insects are a sustainable, nutritious food source gaining attention. Learn about their benefits, the role they could play in the future of food, and more.