Diabetes prevention is focus of community health partnership in SW Missouri
MONETT, Mo. – Cindy McCracken says she’s on a mission to live a healthier life. A partnership in southwestern Missouri is helping her do just that.
Heatstroke can kill quickly in hot cars
COLUMBIA, Mo. – When the news has another tragic story about a child accidentally left in a hot car, parents might believe they could never make a mistake like that. “It’s not just negligent parents or indifferent caregivers. When juggling the demands of work, parenting and daily life, it’s easier than you might think to make a simple but fatal mistake,” says Karen Funkenbusch, University of Missouri Extension health and safety…
MU Extension to host free Tri-County Economic Summit in SW Missouri
University of Missouri Extension will host a Regional Economic Development Summit for Barry, Dade and Lawrence counties Tuesday, Sept. 3, at the MU Southwest Research, Extension and Education Center in Mount Vernon.
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.)
Strong market results in strong bull sale in Springfield
STOCKTON, Mo. – There was a strong showing at the Southwest Missouri All Breeds Performance Test Bull Sale on March 25 at the Springfield Livestock Marketing Center in Springfield, says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist.
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.
“Missouri’s Most Engaged Neighbors” Announced as Part of Missouri Good Neighbor Week Awards
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Twelve Missourians have been chosen for statewide recognition as “Missouri’s Most Engaged Neighbor” for 2023 as part of the planned activities for Missouri Good Neighbor Week (Sept. 28 to Oct. 4). Sixty-two people were nominated for recognition as one of Missouri's most engaged neighbors. Each of them received an acknowledgment letter and gift by mail.
Best Acts of Neighboring Announced from Missouri Good Neighbor Week 2023
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Second Annual Missouri Good Neighbor Week (Sept. 28 to Oct. 4) was a documented success. Organizers had a goal to document 15,000 acts of neighboring. But instead, Missourians reported 19,752 acts of neighboring during the week.
Partnership helps southern Missouri landowner stave off feral hogs
SALEM, Mo. – If anything is worse than a pasture rooted up by feral hogs, it’s a pasture that dries and hardens after hogs leave damaged areas the size of tractor tires.Freddie Leroux’s damaged pastures need to be repaired and reseeded. He waits for soaking rains to soften the ground so he can smooth out ruts.
Barry County named MU Extension County Council of Year
CASSVILLE, Mo. – Hunger and lack of reliable access to fresh food are big challenges for families in Barry County in southwestern Missouri. The community ranked these issues at the top of a needs assessment by the University of Missouri Extension Council in Barry County. Those results spurred the council to develop the Barry County Community Garden Project in Cassville, a community-wide plan to improve food access and support the…
Missouri Good Neighbor Week Gains Momentum in 2023, Blows Past Goal
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Missourians from all walks of life celebrated the first Missouri Good Neighbor Week (Sept. 28 to Oct. 4) by doing and reporting neighboring acts and nominating others as the most engaged neighbors in their respective counties. For the second year, University of Missouri Extension and The Hopeful Neighborhood Project teamed up to sponsor the week across 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.
Drought meetings offered in SW Missouri Aug. 4
GALENA, Mo. – Poor forage stands carried over from last year’s drought, lower hay yields, less fertilizer used and a drought again for 2023 have created major uncertainty in the Missouri beef industry.These challenges will affect livestock producers preparing to feed cattle this winter with little forage and hay on hand, says Tim Schnakenberg, a University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist based in Galena.
Things to consider as you feed your way through the drought
“Cattle producers are dealing with varying degrees of drought and forage resources,” says Patrick Davis MU Extension livestock field specialist. Some cattle producers have received adequate rain and are recovering from the 2022 drought through rebuilding forage and cattle resources. Other cattle producers have received limited rain and are continuing to deal with drought conditions from 2022 with less resources in 2023.
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 Good Neighbor Week named Program of the Year at Neighborhoods USA conference
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – David Burton, a community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension, returned from the 48th annual Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) conference in El Paso, Texas, May 24-28, with the Best Neighborhood Program award. This year's conference drew more than 625 people from 34 states and featured educational workshops, speakers, tours, networking opportunities and an awards program.
Ozark Empire Fair Hay Show call for entries
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Now that hay season is in full swing, it is a good time to pull hay samples for entry in the Ozark Empire Fair Hay Show in Springfield, says University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist Tim Schnakenberg.Entry deadline is July 17. To enter, contact the nearest MU Extension specialist. They are available to help pull the core samples from the 10-bale entry.
Convoy of Hope partners with MU Extension on new weather station
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A new automated weather station in Greene County will help southwestern Missouri’s agriculture community make decisions to improve production.The real-time weather station is a collaboration between University of Missouri Extension and Convoy of Hope, a faith-based organization based in Springfield. The station is on Convoy of Hope property between Springfield and Republic.
Flood-related resources from MU Extension
News releases, publications and more. News releases
Get Out and See 4th Annual Lawn Art With Neighbors (LAWN) Showcase in Springfield area, April 22 – May 7
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Springfield’s original public art exhibition, Lawn Art With Neighbors (LAWN), kicked off on April 22 and this year we have 20 participating addresses. In its fourth year, LAWN has also grown to include Raleigh, North Carolina with other cities nationwide also inquiring about the program. LAWN is a public art opportunity accessible to all community members and all art forms.
Goal of Turquoise Tables Is To Create Gathering Spot for Neighbors
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Getting to know your neighbors may be as easy as getting a picnic table, painting it turquoise, and creating a neighborhood gathering spot in your front yard. Sounds a bit crazy, but according to David Burton, a University of Missouri Extension community development specialist, the turquoise table movement that began in 2018 is still going strong nationwide.
Avoid applying nitrogen to tall fescue pastures in spring
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Livestock producers can learn how to reduce toxins that damage performance and profits during the March 23 Alliance for Grassland Renewal workshop in Mount Vernon, Missouri.University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Craig Roberts says ergot alkaloids in Kentucky 31 tall fescue begin to increase about mid-April in Missouri. Tall fescue is the state’s main cool-season grass.
Cheap hay isn't cheap
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Squatty, squishy bales are making their way out of the ditch and into the cow pasture as post-drought supplies dwindle and winter lingers.Bad bales are costly in many ways, says Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension agribusiness livestock specialist. Peel spoke at the 39th annual Southwest Missouri Forage Conference sponsored by University of Missouri Extension and others.
Registration open for fescue workshop
MOUNT VERNON, Mo. – Registration remains open for the March 23 Alliance for Grassland Renewal workshop at the University of Missouri Southwest Research Center in Mount Vernon.The one-day workshop brings nationally known experts on toxic tall fescue to Missouri. They will tell how to renovate toxic tall fescue pastures and integrate novel fescue varieties into grazing systems, says Gene Schmitz, MU Extension field specialist in…