News | MU Extension

Published February 18, 2020

Branding your local business

As we think of a company, what do we remember about it? The logo, the slogan, the price or the experience we have with the store or product? For most shoppers, it is the experience they have that they remember the most and for the longest, particularly if it was helpful in solving a need or involved a pleasant impulse purchase.

Published February 18, 2020

Making your ad more creative

We sometimes see an ad that really catches our eye or ear and think, “Why can’t I come up with something like that?” You can, if you follow some time-honored points in advertising creative strategy.The five points for better creative advertising are:

Published February 17, 2020

Your banker and your small business

Many small business owners have mixed feelings about their bankers. One day they are happy and the next day they are upset with them. Plus, many small business owners are unaware of how to work with bankers other than to go in and ask for money when they need it. They do not know the importance of keeping the banker in the loop on many decisions affecting the owner’s small business.

Published February 17, 2020

Balance sheet – Does it matter to a business?

One of the three forms a business owner often does not understand is a balance sheet. This form is one of the best methods for an owner to determine the financial health of a business and possibly start to see where to improve the business.

Published February 17, 2020

10 do's for website promotion

The internet has become a household tool that it seems everyone knows how to use. Even first graders know how to wiz around on the web faster than I do sometimes. But while it is now a commonplace part of our lives, do you effectively use it as a small business owner to benefit your own business?

Published February 14, 2020

Using your website to generate repeat traffic

Many small businesses have their own website now. In fact, it is often the first marketing tool used by owners to help increase sales over traditional marketing efforts. Unfortunately, many websites, once hosted, are never changed or updated to keep attracting repeat traffic to the site. This lack of updating causes people to find the site stale and not return to it.

Published November 21, 2019

Put your best fork forward: National Nutrition Month

National Nutrition Month is a nutrition education campaign launched each March by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The campaign expanded from National Nutrition Week to National Nutrition Month in 1980 to reflect growing professional support and increased public interest in nutrition. The goal of the campaign is to reiterate the basics of healthy eating and to celebrate the expertise of registered dietitian nutritionists.

Published November 11, 2019

Strategies for nitrogen on wheat this spring

Apply 60–90 lb N per acre to boost wheat growth this spring. Early or aerial application can improve yield when ground access is limited.

Published November 11, 2019

Nitrogen: Flex and go fast

It's April 4 and raining again in central Missouri. A lot of work planned for fall did not get done. Opportunities to catch up in late winter or early spring have been nil. I expect a spring where the value of good decisions will be magnified.

Published September 16, 2019

Dicamba injury and insurance

Dicamba can harm neighboring plants, leading to third-party injury claims involving business liability insurance plans.

Published September 16, 2019

Third-party injury and federal crop insurance

Multi-peril crop insurance is overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agencies. For row crop producers, the most common multi-peril crop policies purchased are revenue protection and yield protection. Both of these insurance products use the insured farmer’s actual yields in determining the level of indemnity, if any, to be paid.

Published September 16, 2019

Professional liability insurance

Perhaps the best-known type of professional liability insurance is malpractice insurance carried by medical professionals. Professional liability insurance carried by other professionals, such as accountants and architects, is frequently called errors and omissions insurance. Professional liability insurance is intended to covers lawsuits arising from professional services.

Published September 9, 2019

Wantland tops 2019 state 4-H dairy judging contest

Lila Wantland judged herself to the top of the senior division of the Missouri State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest. The contest was held Aug. 17 at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. Wantland was the high individual in the intermediate division of the state contest in 2018.

Published July 30, 2019