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Sweeten the Fourth with juicy watermelon
CARTHAGE, Mo. – Nothing says Fourth of July like a juicy, red slice of watermelon. July is observed as National Watermelon Month. University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist Matthew Huchteman says there are a few simple steps to check watermelons for ripeness and flavor. Ripe watermelons have a certain look, weight and sound. Watermelons come in a variety of sizes, colors and shapes, so find your personal favorite, says…
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Tall fescue adds to heat stress in cattle
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Cattle rid their bodies of heat in three ways: radiation, convection and evaporation. “If your cattle can’t use all three methods, they’ll overheat fast,” says University of Missouri Extension state beef nutrition specialist Eric Bailey. Summer heat knocks weight off calves and pounds off milk, Bailey says. Losses come in the form of less gain, weaker fertility and other health issues. “Heat stress costs real money,” he…
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MU Sheep & Goat Field Day set for July 31 in Mount Vernon
University of Missouri Extension’s third annual Sheep & Goat Field Day is set for Thursday, July 31, in Mount Vernon. “The event provides an excellent opportunity for sheep and goat producers, and anyone interested in diversifying their farm with small ruminants, to learn, connect and engage,” said David Brown, MU Extension small ruminant specialist.
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A vision for collaboration
David Baker, assistant dean emeritus in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, was inducted into the 2025 Missouri Agriculture Hall of Fame. Baker is the first MU faculty member or administrator to be inducted.
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American Tractor Club invites owners to show off their machines
Showcase your historic tractor through a new club established by the American Tractor Museum in collaboration with University of Missouri Extension and Missouri Farm Bureau. The MU Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems (CARES) has set up a database for the American Tractor Club, a project of the Perryville, Mo., museum created to celebrate this enduring symbol of American agriculture.
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Clover Classic raises more than $85,000 for Missouri 4-H
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The 15th Annual Missouri 4-H Clover Classic Golf Tournament, June 3 at A.L. Gustin Golf Course in Columbia, raised over $85,000 in support of youth programs across the state. “We are incredibly thankful for the continued support of our Clover Classic community,” said Wendy Hall, chair of the Missouri 4-H Clover Classic. “The funds raised this year will make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people across…
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Free drone event offered for Ozark area farmers, ranchers
POTOSI, Mo. – Ozark area farmers and ranchers can explore how they can use drones in their operations at a free event July 25 in Potosi. “Drones are transforming the way that farmers manage their ground,” says University of Missouri Extension agricultural business specialist Rachel Hopkins. “While drones are not commonly used in the Ozarks, there are still uses that Ozark farmers can take advantage of.”
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Twilight tour covers pest, disease control for small farmers
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri and Lincoln University Extension will offer a free workshop on holistic strategies to manage pests and disease on vegetables and fruit crops 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, July 14, at the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, 1769 Ash St., Columbia. The workshop begins with a discussion of implementing an integrated pest management system to reduce reliance on synthetic insecticides and fungicides, said…
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Show-Me-Select spring heifer sales top $2 million
Some record high prices marked the spring sales of Show-Me-Select bred heifers. The combined gross amount from the five regional sales was $2,321,900 for 602 bred heifers.
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Missouri 4-H Week unites youths for leadership, learning at Mizzou
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Following Memorial Day weekend, hundreds of 4-H members gathered for Missouri 4-H Week, an annual event held on the University of Missouri campus. This weeklong celebration features two major events for the 4-H program: 4-H Teen Conference and State 4-H Congress.
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Free plant disease diagnosis at Crop & Pest Field Day
Those attending the July 10 University of Missouri Crop and Pest Management Field Day in Columbia can bring plants for early-season disease diagnosis. Peng Tian, director of the MU Plant Diagnostic Clinic, says it is a great opportunity for corn, soybean and wheat growers to receive free diagnostic testing for plant health issues resulting from insect, pathogens, weeds, environmental stress or other damage.
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Peppers: Easter eggs of the garden
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Bearing fruit ranging in color from red, orange and yellow to purple, white and chocolate-black, sweet peppers are the Easter eggs of the vegetable garden, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
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Mow or spot spray poison hemlock now
Poison hemlock, a plant that can kill livestock, is flowering and setting seed now in much of Missouri. While early control is recommended, it still can be managed with spot treatments or mowing, says Kevin Bradley, University of Missouri Extension weed scientist. It grows in ditches, roadways, fencerows, occasionally in pastures or hayfields that aren’t mowed regularly, and sometimes in no-till cropping systems.
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SGF Kickball earns Best Neighborhood Program award at Neighborhoods USA Conference
Michael Brittian and Ed Goeke returned to Springfield from the 50th annual conference of Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) in Jacksonville, Fla., May 20-23, with the Best Neighborhood Program award in the Social Revitalization category. This year’s conference had 525 registered attendees from 36 states and featured workshops, speakers, tours, networking and an awards program.
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Use a grazing strategy to get more grass from pastures
Compared to other parts of the agricultural community, graziers of cattle depend less on fossil fuel and more on solar energy to turn a natural resource like grass into a sellable commodity, says University of Missouri Extension agronomist Tim Schnakenberg. Graziers can save on operating expenses and provide quality feed to meet nutritional needs by allowing cows to do selective harvesting.
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Nativars: Superheroes of the plant world
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Nativars, superhero plants that possess the virtues of native plants but in a more attractive package, make good choices for landscaped areas. Use nativars as part of your gardening “green movement,” said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
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Missouri 4-H Foundation awards $101,000 in scholarships
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Missouri 4-H Foundation has awarded 78 scholarships totaling $101,000 to 4-H youths across the state for the 2025-26 academic year.
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Making pizza in the garden
ALBANY, Mo. – University of Missouri’s Hundley-Whaley Extension and Education Center will soon help gardeners learn how to grow their own pizza toppings, says MU Extension field horticulturist Gwen Funk. The idea comes from thinking outside of the pizza box, and it delivers taste and fun, Funk says.
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MU Extension shares research on spray drones at field day
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Attendees at the July 10 University of Missouri Crop and Pest Management Field Day in Columbia will hear updates on how spray drones are modernizing agriculture and what to expect when using these devices for weed control.
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MU RaFF releases policy brief on changes to Federal Milk Marketing Orders
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A new policy brief by the University of Missouri Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center (RaFF) weighs in on changes to the Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs).
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Replant or roll with it? MU guide weighs costs, payoffs
COLUMBIA, Mo. – When faced with a sparse or failed stand, crop producers have to ask themselves a difficult question: Should I replant?
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MU Extension offers free webinar series on virtual fencing
A free webinar series will introduce graziers to technology that uses GPS collars on livestock to create invisible fences. Monthly sessions run June through October.
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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.
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Learn how to grow, market mouthwatering watermelon
University of Missouri Extension offers a free evening workshop on growing and marketing watermelon July 15 at the MU Southwest Research, Extension and Education Center in Mount Vernon. The free event includes an hour of classroom time followed by a tour of the center’s watermelon demonstration site and an early variety taste test, says MU Extension horticulturist Matthew Huchteman.
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Cover crop, silvopasture incentive funding available
The University of Missouri Center for Regenerative Agriculture has opened a third round of funding for fall cover crop planting in Missouri. About $3 million is available for Missouri producers interested in using cover crops on their cropland through the Missouri Conservation Crop and Livestock Project. Payments are also available for planting trees under the silvopasture option.