The following publications might be of particular interest to people in Webster County. For a complete list of MU Extension publications, visit the main Publications page.
Buying a Horse
Reviewed
Carefully plan your horse purchase with tips on budgeting, selecting, and evaluating horses, and ensuring long-term success in horse ownership.
Community Gardening Toolkit
Revised $15 for bound booklet
Learn how to plan, start, and maintain a successful community garden with tips on organizing, site selection, funding, and long-term management.
Roses: Selecting and Planting
Reviewed
Roses are well adapted to many different environmental conditions. They are useful as landscape plants and prized as cut flowers.
Watering and Fertilizing Tomatoes in a High Tunnel
Reviewed
Proper watering and fertilization are essential for tomatoes in a high tunnel. High tunnels keep out natural rainfall, so timely irrigation is necessary.
Fruit Spray Schedules for the Homeowner
Reviewed
This guide provides seasonal spray schedules for common fruits, helping homeowners manage pests and diseases for healthier harvests.
Plants Poisonous to Livestock
Reviewed
Guide to identifying common Missouri plants toxic to livestock, including symptoms and habitats.
Missouri Fence and Boundary Law Reference Guide
Revised
Learn about Missouri fencing and boundary laws, including duties, rights, and resolving disputes between landowners regarding fences and boundaries.
Verbal Farm Rental Agreements Under Missouri Law
Revised
Learn about the problems and risks associated with informal verbal farm leases, and see the minimum requirements to include in a basic written lease.
Selling Strategies for Local Food Producers
Reviewed
Learn how farms can market local food directly to consumers by building relationships with buyers, discovering customer needs, providing quality service.
Missouri Farm Labor Guide
Revised
Learn good human resource practices related to employee recruitment, hiring, onboarding, training and termination that your farm or agribusiness can use.
Market Channels for Locally Raised Foods
Revised
Sell Missouri vegetables via CSAs; U-pick sales; on-farm, roadside, farmers markets; co-ops; wholesale auctions; restaurants; institutions; supermarkets.
Safe Drinking Water in an Emergency
Reviewed
Learn how to store and purify water safely for emergencies, including boiling, bleach treatment, and proper container use.
Managing Ponds and Lakes for Aquaculture and Fisheries in Missouri: Pond Construction and Management Considerations
Reviewed
A well-designed pond offers recreation, livestock water, and fish production, requiring proper construction and management.
Starting and Operating a Farmers Market: Frequently Asked Questions
Revised
Learn what makes a farmers market successful. Get tips about how to start or improve a market to make local food available in your community.
Common Diseases in the Home Garden
Reviewed
Parasitic diseases and nonparasitic disorders can cause serious vegetable losses in home gardens.
Seasonal and Simple: A Guide for Enjoying Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Revised
Seasonal and simple is a guide to help you select, store and prepare fresh fruits and vegetables. It can also help you find the closest farmers market for purchasing farm-grown produce. Check out the free app.
Cash Rental Rates in Missouri
Revised
Updated with 2024 survey data, this guide provides average cash rental rates for Missouri cropland and pastureland, aiding informed lease decisions.
Home Lawn Watering Guide
Reviewed
Conserve water and maintain a healthy lawn with tips on optimal watering schedules, recognizing drought stress, and choosing drought-tolerant grasses.
Managing Ponds and Lakes for Aquaculture and Fisheries in Missouri: Controlling Nuisance Aquatic Vegetation
Reviewed
Learn to identify and control nuisance aquatic vegetation in Missouri ponds and lakes, ensuring optimal conditions for aquaculture and fisheries.
Forage Crop Irrigation Systems and Economics
Revised
Before choosing a forage irrigation system to mitigate drought risk, explore expected forage response to irrigation, equipment options and the economics.
Identification and Management of Turfgrass Diseases
Reviewed
This publication is designed to be a useful reference for diagnosticians, turfgrass managers, industry representatives and others who want to learn how to diagnose and manage common turfgrass diseases caused by plant pathogenic fungi.
Collection and Submission of Samples for Fish-Kill Investigation and Toxic-Substance Analysis
Reviewed
Fish kills occur in natural and cultured populations. They can be due to disease, poor water quality or a toxic substance. Fish kills represent emergencies, and producers must be prepared for them in advance. Learn more in this guide.
Managing Missouri Fish Ponds During an Extended Drought
Reviewed
Managing fish ponds during drought requires addressing reduced water levels, fish stress, and oxygen depletion.
Flowering Perennials: Characteristics and Culture
Revised
Flowering perennials persist from year to year and are suitable in a flower border shared with annual plants or grouped in special plantings. Learn about some major perennials and their important characteristics and cultural preferences in this guide.
