Update on MU Extension SNAP-Ed programming
Congress passed a budget reconciliation bill that has eliminated funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed), and the program is officially ending Oct. 1, 2025.
When your garden becomes a drive-thru for wildlife
Most gardeners know the frustration of having a beautiful garden decimated by wildlife. Just like people, deer and other critters are drawn to food that is tasty and convenient. A garden is wildlife’s equivalent of a fast food drive-thru.
Keep the sparkle, skip the ER: Fireworks safety for July 4
They light up the sky, but fireworks can also send people to the emergency room. Before you celebrate, take a few simple steps to keep your family safe.
Kochia found in NW Missouri soybean fields
Kochia, a highly competitive weed that can reduce yields by as much as 70%, has been found in northwestern Missouri soybean fields. Kochia is not new to Missouri, but this may be the first report of kochia showing up in cropland.
CEC Conference keynote to explore combating small-town apathy
Urban planner and author Jeff Siegler will talk about “Civic Apathy and Civic Pride” at the 2025 Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference, Sept. 30-Oct. 2 in Excelsior Springs, Mo. Siegler, whose work focuses on restoring civic pride and reversing community disengagement, will deliver the closing keynote address at the conference.
CEC invites community builders to recharge, reconnect and reimagine local impact
University of Missouri Extension invites economic developers, chamber of commerce directors, nonprofit professionals and community leaders from across the state to attend the 2025 Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference, Sept. 30-Oct. 2, in downtown Excelsior Springs.
Expert comment: Potential cuts to federal food assistance, nutrition education
The U.S. House Agriculture Committee recently approved a proposal that would make it harder to qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), reduce benefits and make other changes. Jo Britt-Rankin, director of MU Extension SNAP-Ed, is available for interviews about SNAP, SNAP-Ed and how the proposed changes could affect Missourians.
Report outlines Missouri population growth
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Analysis from University of Missouri Extension has placed Missouri as the 19th-most-populous state in the U.S. as of 2024, with 6.25 million residents.
Missouri's best-kept secret is hiding in plain sight
How MU Extension helps people help themselves—all across the state.
The 'soy of gardening' includes edamame
COLUMBIA, Mo. – You may have seen edamame in grocery stores or on salad bars and not known what it is, says Todd Higgins, University of Missouri Extension specialist in horticulture. Edamame is a type of soybean grown for direct consumption by people. Edamame (pronounced eh-duh-mah-may) translates from Japanese as “beans on a branch” since they are often sold with the pod still attached to the stem.
MU Extension, Extension Foundation launch national group to support veterans
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension, in collaboration with the Extension Foundation, has launched a new Connect Extension subgroup, “Extension for Veterans: Honoring Service, Providing Support.” This initiative is designed to support extension professionals who work with or are interested in engaging veterans, serving as a national hub for sharing resources, best practices, and innovative programs.
Extension horticulturist named Conservationist of the Year
Todd Higgins was honored as 2025 Conservationist of the Year for promoting soil health and conservation practices across northwest Missouri.
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.
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.
10 ways to manage high input costs in 2025
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension agronomist Wayne Flanary says 2025 likely will be a year when corn producers need to batten down the hatches to offset low sale prices and high input costs. MU Extension ag business economist Ben Brown and others predict that corn prices will fall below the $4.30 mark by the end of 2025, a marked drop from $6.54 per bushel in 2023.
MU Extension calls for speakers for Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension invites dynamic speakers and facilitators to share their expertise at this year’s Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities (CEC) Conference, Sept. 30-Oct. 2 in Excelsior Springs.
Gardening boosts your immune system
Discover how gardening can strengthen your immune system, reduce stress, and promote overall well-being through nature and physical activity.
Serving those who served
Discover how dedicated programs support veterans with resources, education, and community services to ease their transition to civilian life.
Heroes to Hives offers veterans training, camaraderie and purpose
Heroes to Hives provides veterans with beekeeping training, fostering camaraderie and a renewed sense of purpose.
Missouri Good Neighbor Week documents more than 31K acts of neighboring
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The tally is in, and 31,129 acts of neighboring were documented this year as part of the fourth annual Missouri Good Neighbor Week, Sept. 28 – Oct. 4. The goal had been to reach 20,000 acts.
Sedum: Pollinators love this easy-peasy purple and pink plant
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Sedums, also known as stonecrop, are low-maintenance plants that come with a host of benefits. They withstand extreme heat and drought, yet some are winter-hardy as far north as USDA hardiness zone 3. “In short, sedums are about as low-maintenance as plants can get,” said University of Missouri Extension state horticulturist David Trinklein.
Missouri growers are sweet on honey of a berry
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – The 2024 “Miss Congeniality” of Missouri backyard fruits might be honeyberry. Honeyberry’s ability to thrive in conditions that often challenge blueberries makes it a promising choice for gardeners seeking a productive and low-maintenance fruit, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Tamra Reall. This crowned jewel of a bush grows in a variety of soils and resists disease and pests.
MU study looks at poultry litter's impact on soybean yields
ROCK PORT, Mo. – A six-year study at the University of Missouri’s Graves-Chapple Extension and Education Center in northwestern Missouri looked at the impact of poultry litter on soybean crops. “Poultry litter is increasingly being applied to row crops in northwest Missouri,” said MU Extension agronomy specialist Wayne Flanary, who conducted the research. “Manures such as litter are valuable because they add organic matter and…
Mosquitoes can take a bite out of outdoor fun
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. - With summer rain come mosquitoes, and with mosquitoes come not just itchy bites but the risk of diseases such as West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, malaria, Zika virus and yellow fever, among others, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist and entomologist Tamra Reall. Prevention
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…