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Laclede County Extension Center

Home Food Preservation Series (May 15th class canceled)

Quality for Keeps: Home Food Preservation Series of Workshops are going to be held at the First United Methodist Church in Lebanon. Each workshop will vary, but content will focus on one or more of the following topics: preservation method to use for highest quality and safety in home preserved foods, solutions to common canning problems, hands-on experience with new recipes and sources of the latest research. The first workshop will be held on Tuesday, May 15, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. (This class has been canceled and will be rescheduled) The topic will be boiling water bath canning of jams/jellies and freezer jam. The second workshop will be held on Thursday, June 7, from 5:30 pm to 8 pm. The topic will be boiling water bath canning of salsa. The third workshop will be held on Wednesday, August 8, from 5:30 to 8 pm. The topic will be pressure canning vegetable and pressure canning green beens. The cost is $15 for each session. The registration deadline is two days before the date of the workshop. For more information, contact Melissa Bess, Instructor, at bessmm@missouri.edu, phone 573-346-2644. To register call the Extension office or complete the registration form below or email to lacledeco@missouri.edu
Home Food Preservation Series Registration Form (pdf)

Gardening Season has arrived!

To find the latest information for preserving your garden's bounty this summer, check out the University of Missouri's information on food preservation.

Preparing for disasters: Take it one step at a time

Missouri has recently seen flooding, severe weather and devastating tornadoes. Meanwhile, two earthquakes struck in the U.S. within hours of each other as a hurricane moved toward the East Coast Family disaster plan template (PDF)

A free, downloadable guide to putting together a disaster supplies kit is available from MU Extension at www.extension.missouri.edu/EMW1012.

Search for Missouri Century Farms

COLUMBIA, Mo. – If your farm has been in your family since Dec. 31, 1912, you can apply to have it recognized as a Missouri Century Farm.
To qualify, farms must meet the following guidelines. The same family must have owned the farm for 100 consecutive years. The line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through children, grandchildren, siblings, and nephews or nieces, including through marriage or adoption. The farm must be at least 40 acres of the original land acquisition and make a financial contribution to the overall farm income. “It is important to honor and respect our history,” said Michael Ouart, vice provost for University of Missouri Extension. “These farms represent both Missouri’s cultural heritage and the good stewardship that our farmers strive for.” In 2008, the Missouri Farm Bureau joined MU Extension and the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources as a program sponsor. “Missouri Farm Bureau is a proud partner in the recognition of century farms,” said Blake Hurst, president. “We applaud the hardworking farm families that have kept us fed and clothed for generations. They represent an important part of our heritage and laid a foundation for the bounty Americans enjoy every day.”
Applicants certified as owners of a 2012 Missouri Century Farm will be recognized by the local MU Extension office in the county where the farm is located. Applicants are presented with a sign and a certificate. Since Missouri began the program in 1976, more than 7,500 century farms have been recognized. For applications received by May 1, a $60 fee covers the cost of a certificate, farm sign and booklet for approved applicants. If the application is received between May 1 and May 15, the cost is $70. Applications must be postmarked by May 15, 2012, to be considered.

For application forms and information, call Extension Publications toll-free at
1-800-292-0969, contact your local MU Extension office, or visit the program website at http://extension.missouri.edu/centuryfarm.

Don’t guess — Soil tests save time and money

Soil testing is the best guide to the wise and efficient use of fertilizer and soil amendments, said Manjula Nathan, director of the University of Missouri Extension Soil Testing and Plant Diagnostic Services. Whether you grow acres of row crops or have a vegetable patch in the backyard, a soil test will provide you with an analysis of nutrients and a set of recommendations for any improvements.

“We frequently get questions from customers like, ‘I apply fertilizer every year. How come my plants are not doing well?’” Nathan said.

“Most of the time the problem is they never have done a soil test but have been guessing on fertilizer requirements,” she said. “They do not realize that by guessing they are wasting money by over- or under application, and the excess fertilizer can end up in streams, ponds and underground water, polluting the environment.”

Soil testing can be done through the extension office. Regional specialists can give you additional informational recommendations. The cost is $15 per sample. See additional MU publications on soil testing.

Laclede County Extension Center

186-D N. Adams Ave
Lebanon, MO 65536

Phone: 417-532-7126
Fax: 417-532-4587
Email: lacledeco@missouri.edu