SW Missouri Show-Me-Select sale sets new records
STOCKTON, Mo. – “People are enjoying high cattle prices, and the 57th Southwest Missouri Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program sale on May 16 at Joplin Regional Stockyards near Carthage was no different,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Eight consignors sold 124 heifers for a record average price of $4,010 per heifer.
MU Management Intensive Grazing School set for June 16-18 in Arcola
Efficient forage management and utilization are crucial to the profitability of a livestock operation. MU Extension, the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Missouri Forage and Grasslands Council, and the Dade County Missouri Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) will host a Management Intensive Grazing School June 16-18 at the Arcola Community Building at First Street and Highway 39 in Arcola.
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.
Registration open for Show-Me Neighborhood Art Week
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – From June 1 to June 15, 2025, Missouri neighborhoods will once again become outdoor art galleries celebrating local talent, civic pride and neighborly connections. “After a wildly successful debut last year, Show-Me Neighborhood Art Week is back and bigger than ever,” said David Burton, University of Missouri Extension community development specialist.
Good cattle market led to a strong bull sale in Springfield
“People are enjoying high cattle prices, and the 105th Southwest Missouri All Breeds Performance Tested Bull Sale was no different,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. A total of 26 bulls sold for an average price of $5,458 per bull.
Produce high-quality hay to reduce cattle supplementation
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Hay harvest is approaching, and producing high-quality hay reduces cattle supplementation,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Davis discusses harvest management strategies to achieve optimal hay quality.
Invasive plants workshop set for May 30 in West Plains
Free workshop on May 30 in West Plains covers invasive plant ID, treatment and safe pesticide use; includes field tour and lunch.
Missouri's best-kept secret is hiding in plain sight
How MU Extension helps people help themselves—all across the state.
Pre-breeding exams for replacement heifer selection
WEST PLAINS, Mo. – For cow-calf producers, it is ideal to have one healthy calf on the ground per cow per year. Producers should also strive to have cows that are productive in the herd for many years. On average, a cow must stay in the herd for six years for the producer to break even on that cow’s initial investment along with yearly maintenance costs.
Use sacrifice pastures now to spare best pastures for later
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Cattle producers welcome the rain, but it leads to muddy pastures and proper management is needed for optimum grazing the rest of the year,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Davis feels sacrifice pastures may be needed to help in promoting forage production for the rest of the grazing season.
Mitigating pregnancy loss in cow herds
MOUNTAIN GROVE, Mo. – With spring calving season underway, producers want as many healthy calves on the ground as possible. “A lot of folks see pregnancy loss within their herd and think of it in two ways: either a cow aborting a calf during gestation, or losing the calf after it is already made it on the ground,” said Chloe Collins, University of Missouri Extension dairy specialist. But multiple factors go into pregnancy loss, both…
Strong bull sale in Springfield
STOCKTON, Mo. – “There was a strong showing at the 104th Southwest Missouri All Breeds Performance Test Bull Sale on Oct. 28 at the Springfield Livestock Marketing Center in Springfield,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Thirty-two bulls sold for an average price of $4,263 per bull. By breed, the 30 Angus bulls sold for an average of $4,303 per bull, one Hereford bull sold for $3,700 and…
Results from fall SW Mo. Bull Breeding Soundness Exam Days
STOCKTON, Mo. – “It is important for reproductive performance and profitability of the cattle operation to identify bulls that are not sound breeders and replace them prior to the breeding season,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. This is the goal of the Southwest Missouri Fall Bull Breeding Soundness Exam (BSE) Days, which also educate cattle producers on bull management for a successful…
SW Missouri Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer sale results
STOCKTON, Mo. – Strong sale with record prices were seen at the Southwest Missouri Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer sale at Joplin Regional Stockyards on Nov. 15, says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. This sale had eight consignors sell 112 heifers for an average price of $3,205 per heifer. Compared to the fall 2023 sale, the sale average was $299 higher per heifer and 27 more heifers were…
New MU weather station measures soil moisture in forest
A new weather station at Echo Bluff State Park in Shannon County marks the 46th station in the Missouri Mesonet, the state’s expanding weather station network. University of Missouri Extension state climatologist Zachary Leasor says the location was chosen in part to more closely monitor weather conditions in forested environments.
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.
Federal disaster assistance available in southern Missouri
Federal aid available for southern Missouri residents and businesses affected by May 2024 storms and flooding.
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…
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.)
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.