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.

Starting and Operating a Farmers Market: Frequently Asked Questions

Revised

Learn what makes a farmers market successful and feasible. Get tips about how to start or improve a market to make local food available in your community.

Safe Tractor Operation

Revised

The purpose of this guide is to assist employers and employees in training for safe tractor operation. Farm employers should review this guide with anyone who operates a farm tractor.

How to Can Fresh Vegetables

Revised

Learn to safely can fresh vegetables in this research-based guide covering asparagus, beans, beets, carrots, corn, okra, peas, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins and spinach. Recommended pressure canner process times are provided.

Introduction to Food Dehydration

Dehydration is one of the oldest methods of food preservation, though methods for drying food have become sophisticated over time. Learn the benefits and methods of dehydrating foods and how to select an electric dehydrator.

Safe Home Canning Basics

Revised

Safely preserve fresh fruits and vegetables — and meat, poultry, seafood, soups and sauces — by the proper canning method: boiling water, steam or pressure. Learn the basics in this guide.

How to Can Fresh Fruit

Reviewed

Did you know there's more than one way to can fresh fruit? Learn the options and what they mean for your final color and taste.

How to Can Sweet Spreads

Revised

Jelly, jam, preserves, conserves, marmalades and fruit butters are similar products. All are made from fruit, preserved by sugar and thickened or gelled to some extent.

How to Dehydrate Foods

Revised

Dehydrated foods are a sensible way for busy families to make healthy, portable snacks or store seasonal produce for use. You need to carefully follow directions for preparing and pretreating produce to maintain quality.

How to Can Meat, Fish and Poultry

Revised

Developed by Barbara Willenberg

Revised by Susan Mills-Gray
State Nutrition Specialist

Steps for Successful Home Canning

Revised

Developed by Barbara Willenberg

Revised by Susan Mills-Gray
State Nutrition Specialist

How to Can Fresh Tomato Products

Revised

Developed by Barbara Willenberg

Revised by Susan Mills-Gray
State Nutrition Specialist

How to Freeze Fruits

Reviewed

Developed by Barbara Willenberg

Revised by Susan Mills-Gray
State Nutrition Specialist

Selling Strategies for Local Food Producers

Revised

Learn how farms can market local food directly to consumers by building relationships with buyers, discovering customer needs, providing quality service.

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.

Farmers’ Liability for Their Animals

Revised

Animal owners can have legal liability for acts of their farm livestock or pets. Learn about animal owner responsibilities and how to protect yourself from a lawsuit.

Missouri Frost/Freeze Probabilities Guide

Reviewed

Where in Missouri you live can make a big difference on when to expect your first or last frost. See this guide for probabilities based on past years.

Composting Dead Swine

Reviewed

Teng Teeh Lim
Extension Agricultural Engineer, Food Systems and BioengineeringJoseph Zulovich

Tree Pests: Emerald Ash Borer

New

Emerald ash borer is an invasive, wood-boring insect that infests and kills native North American ash trees. Learn the signs, symptoms and management of EAB and how you can slow the spread on the University of Missouri Extension Tree Pests site.

How to Use Dehydrated Foods

Reviewed

Developed by Barbara Willenberg
Revised by Susan Mills-Gray, State Nutrition Specialist

Bacteria in Drinking Water

Revised

Bob Broz
Extension Water Quality State Specialist
Division of Food Systems and Bioengineering

Controlling Runoff and Erosion at Urban Construction Sites

Reviewed

Runoff from construction sites is a major source of sediment. Visit our site to learn about Controlling Runoff and Erosion at Urban Construction Sites.

Insects

Reviewed $10

Chapter 12 of the Missouri Master Gardener Core Manual

David Trinklein
Division of Plant Sciences

Vegetable Planting Calendar

Reviewed

Plant a vegetable garden to save on your family food bill and promote good dietary habits. The tables in this guide help Missourians plan what to plant, when to plant and how much of each vegetable to plant.

Tree and Shrub Pests Around the Home: Symptoms, Signs and Control

Revised $10

Learn to identify common insect and mite infestation on nearly 100 trees and shrubs and their potential treatments with the help of the University of Missouri Extension publication.

Community Gardening Toolkit

Reviewed

A community garden means many things to many people. Community gardens also take many shapes and forms. Regardless of why people choose to take part in a community garden or how a garden is organized, the activity of gardening with others can be both rewarding and challenging.