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MU website tracks risk of nitrogen loss
Friday, May 17, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Grain producers can track rainfall and risk of nitrogen loss during spring on a website from a University of Missouri plant scientist.
Stick with normal hybrid corn maturities for now
Thursday, May 16, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Corn growers should stick with their normal hybrid maturities rather than switch to earlier-season maturities through the end of May, says a University of Missouri Extension corn specialist.
To raise quality, make hay before seeds set
Thursday, May 16, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. – “Don’t delay making hay,” says Rob Kallenbach, University of Missouri Extension.
Topsoil lost to rainfall costs farmers money
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. – As rainfall increases, the amount of topsoil decreases. So does the amount of grain the land can produce.
Media available: photo
Slow-growing pastures need more warmth, not added fertility, says MU forage specialist
Friday, May 10, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. – After a long, slow start, pasture grass just needs more time and warm weather.
MU agronomist: Plant now, add nitrogen later
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The wettest first quarter of the year since 2008 has delayed nitrogen fertilizer applications and corn planting.
Media available: photos
Fungal disease wipes out alfalfa weevils in central Missouri, MU entomologist says
Friday, May 3, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Alfalfa weevil, a major pest of a prime hay crop, died out across central Missouri this spring. Credit the weather, says a University of Missouri Extension entomologist.
Media available: photo
Cold, snow at start of May could injure corn seeds
Thursday, May 2, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. –Plummeting temperatures in Missouri could mean poor stands of corn and seed damage.
Drenching rains, low temps dampen corn planting
Friday, April 26, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. – It’s too early to call it too late to plant corn, says a University of Missouri cereal crops specialist.
Media available: photo
'Flag the Technology' aids herbicide application
Friday, April 26, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. – There is a simple, inexpensive way to reduce errors in herbicide applications and limit off-target chemical drift, says a University of Missouri Extension weed management specialist.
Media available: photo
MU Thompson Farm board hears updates on beef AI studies, pastures, field day plans
Thursday, April 25, 2013
SPICKARD, Mo.—New research at the MU Thompson Farm beef herd in Grundy County was discussed by the advisory board, Tuesday, April 23.
Planting corn in wet soil can damage root system
Thursday, April 18, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri corn growers chomping at the bit to plant should practice patience to prevent harm to their plants’ root systems.
Media available: photo
Farmland values: Boom or bubble?
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo.–Low interest rates and record income per acre have driven farmland values much higher over the last decade. The increase has led to concerns of a repeat of the farm crisis of the 1980s.
Media available: video
Farming? There’s an app for that
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Smartphone apps aren’t just for social networking or entertainment. A growing number of apps make use of smartphone technology to help farmers do their job.
Media available: photo
MU Extension market outlook sees downward price trend for crops
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo.–With good weather in 2013 crop production could increase, pushing prices down.
Cool soils delay early corn planting
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Missouri farmers itching to plant corn find that soil temperatures are well below the 13-year average, according to University of Missouri Extension specialists.
Media available: photos
Mark your calendars for MU field days
Monday, April 8, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Whether you’re a seasoned farmer or this spring is your first in the field, the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) field days will offer ample opportunities to learn about techniques, tools and technology that you can employ on your farm.
Media available: photos
In-between crops
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. — They have intriguing names such as hairy vetch, pearl millet and birdsfoot trefoil. Collectively known as cover crops or green manure, they've been used for years to increase soil productivity by fixing atmospheric nitrogen into soil, making it available for cash crops such as corn and saving farmers money on input costs.
Media available: photos
Overcoming forage shortages in a drought
Thursday, March 28, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo.–During the drought of 2012, producers with disappearing forage were seeking options to feed livestock.
First green grass of spring is not enough to supply nutrient needs of grazing cows
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Turning cow herds out to graze pastures at the first sign of green grass harms forage growth later in the season. But there’s another big reason to wait, says a University of Missouri beef nutritionist.
Alliance holds schools to detoxify Missouri’s K-31 fescue pastures
Monday, March 25, 2013
LINNEUS, Mo. – Kentucky 31 tall fescue covers the ground well and resists insects, drought and overgrazing. But this most widely used pasture grass in Missouri has a flaw. “Common fescue is toxic to livestock,” said Craig Roberts, University of Missouri Extension forage specialist.
The beginning of 2013 brings drought relief to Missouri
Monday, March 18, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Last year’s high temperatures and long-term drought conditions left Missouri with a major soil-moisture and surface-water deficit. But as the adage goes, “Don’t like Missouri weather, just wait and it will change.”
Media available: photo
Organically grown alfalfa offers opportunities
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo.– The growth of the organic livestock-production industry has generated interest in raising organic alfalfa, says a University of Missouri Extension forage specialist.
MU FAPRI baseline report goes to U.S. Congress
Friday, March 8, 2013
WASHINGTON – If average weather returns, look for a record 2013 corn crop—and for corn prices to drop $2 per bushel, says a University of Missouri economist.
Location, timing critical for double-crop success
Thursday, February 28, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo.–Double-cropping soybeans after wheat provides the opportunity to harvest two crops in the same year from the same piece of land. But there are challenges and concerns with double-cropping, and a University of Missouri Extension agronomist says location is a big factor.
Cover crops can provide many benefits
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Having plant growth in fields year-round can improve the soil, according to Tim Reinbott, superintendent of the University of Missouri Bradford Research Center. He says using cover crops in the fall and spring can provide large benefits.
Budget issues continue to delay farm policy
Monday, February 18, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo.–There is a lot of uncertainty about farm policy in Washington, and current budget debates will determine whether there will be a farm bill and what it will look like, said Pat Westhoff, director of the University of Missouri Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute.
Timing is key for nitrogen application on winter wheat
Friday, February 15, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo.– With winter wheat coming closer to green-up, producers need to consider fertilizer management options. A University of Missouri Extension nutrient management specialist says proper timing of fertilizer application is important.
Committee searching for nutrient reduction strategies
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Nutrient loads can cause problems with water quality. That’s why the Missouri Nutrient Reduction Strategy Committee is working to decrease the amount of nutrients that end up in the Mississippi River.
Many vegetables grow well in high tunnels
Friday, February 8, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. While tomatoes are the most popular choice for high tunnel production, many other vegetables, fruits and flowers flourish in the controlled environment of high tunnels, said University of Missouri Extension regional horticulture specialist James Quinn.
Six feet under, the drought lives on
Thursday, February 7, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Even if the Midwest gets normal rain and snow, it will take almost two years for soil moisture deep in the earth to recharge and sustain normal crop growth, said a University of Missouri soil scientist.
Media available: video
Green stink bug emerging as primary pest
Friday, January 25, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The green stink bug may emerge as a primary rather than secondary pest in the coming growing season, said Wayne Bailey, University of Missouri Extension entomologist.
Media available: photos
Alfalfa in forage system extends feed in drought
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Another drought year ahead or not, adding more forages to the grazing mix helps during the annual summer slump, says a University of Missouri Extension forage specialist.
Atrazine has a huge impact on Missouri economy
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo.–Atrazine, presently used on more than 85 percent of the corn acres in Missouri, is considered one of the most effective and least costly herbicides in use. University of Missouri Extension is helping farmers and communities manage atrazine runoff so the herbicide remains available.
More corn and soybean acres expected in 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo.–We can expect more corn and soybeans acres planted in 2013, said a University of Missouri agriculture business specialist at the Jan. 17 Winter AgMarketing Outlook Conference.
Japanese beetles on the rise in Missouri
Friday, January 18, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Japanese beetle populations in Missouri are likely to increase exponentially in the coming year, says an entomologist for University of Missouri Extension.
Media available: photos
Online tool provides an interactive farm budgeting resource
Thursday, January 17, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo.–The Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the University of Missouri has developed an online tool to help farmers build projected budgets for their operations.
Media available: photos; video
Proper combine settings reduce grain loss, improve grain quality
Monday, January 14, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo.– When adjusting the settings on a combine, there needs to be a balance between acceptable grain loss and acceptable grain quality.
Understanding system is key to uniform application of anhydrous ammonia
Thursday, January 10, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo.– For uniform application of anhydrous ammonia, it’s important to understand the system you’re using, said an agricultural engineer at University of Missouri’s recent Crop Management Conference in Columbia.
Waterhemp control requires change in mindset
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo.– In the war between waterhemp and producers, waterhemp is winning, says a University of Missouri Extension state weed scientist.
Cropping system strategies to mitigate drought
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Producers can take steps to reduce the impact of drought, should we face another shortage of rainfall in 2013, says a University of Missouri plant scientist.
Deep roots help grass stay green in dry spell; grazing grass too short kills off root systems
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- In the prolonged summer drought, farmers noticed that grass stayed green longer in their hayfields than in their pastures.
New fieldwork tool unveiled at crop conference
Friday, December 21, 2012
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A downloadable spreadsheet helps farmers estimate the probability of completing fieldwork in time based on the capacity of their machinery and the number of acres farmed.
New app helps you name that weed
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension has released a free app for iPhones, iPads and Android devices to help people easily identify weeds in the field, lawn or garden.
Media available: photos; video
Detecting and controlling red imported fire ants
Thursday, September 6, 2012
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Drought-affected farmers forced to buy hay from out of state can take steps to avoid introducing red imported fire ants to their farms.
Media available: photo
Hundley Whaley Research Center Field Day Set for Aug. 29
Thursday, August 9, 2012
ALBANY, Mo. – Fertility needs following a drought, safely stretching forage supplies and improving soils and boosting yields are a few of the topics farmers can learn about at Hundley Whaley Research Center’s annual Field Day Aug. 29, 2012.
Media available: photos
Expect 8 Percent Meat Price Increase in 2013 Due to Drought’s Impact on Livestock
Thursday, August 9, 2012
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The livestock industry is taking a direct hit by this summer’s drought, and that will impact consumers’ wallets next year, says a University of Missouri agricultural economist.
Media available: video
Forage nitrates hottest topic on beef tour at MU Greenley Research Center field day
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
NOVELTY, Mo. – Zac Erwin stood by a drought-stunted field of Sudangrass as he talked to wagon-loads of field day visitors at the MU Greenley Research Center, Aug. 7.
Drought-damaged soybeans can make cattle feed; MU economist has calculator for hay:bean value
Friday, August 3, 2012
COLUMBIA – Soybeans that won’t make a seed crop offer potential high-quality forage for beef and dairy producers. The decision to cut beans for hay won’t be easy, say University of Missouri Extension specialists.
Lush green soybean field may not be good sign; MU specialist says nutrients are in leaf, not pod
Friday, August 3, 2012
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Farmers are reporting that in spite of prolonged drought and hot temperatures their soybean plants appear amazingly green for this time of year.
Delta Research Center Field Day Features Innovations for Farming in a New Era
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. – Building on more than 51 years of service to the agriculture industry, the University of Missouri T.E. “Jake” Fisher Delta Research Center will host its annual Field Day, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, Aug. 31.
Media available: photos
Japanese beetle scourge hits fields and lawns across Missouri
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
COLUMBIA, Mo. – If the leaves of your roses, shrubs or soybeans look like swiss cheese, the culprit could be Japanese beetles.
Media available: photo; video
Workshops aim to bring local foods to local schools
Friday, February 11, 2011
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – The local food movement is going back to school.