

MU vet recommends CVI for safe showing of animals
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Biosecurity should be top of mind when showing animals at county and state fairs, and having the paper to prove their health is important, said University of Missouri Extension veterinarian Cory Bromfield.

Review biosecurity basics to keep your herd safe
Summer is a good time to review how to prevent disease from coming onto your farm, says University of Missouri Extension dairy specialist Chloe Collins.

Pasture renovation workshop set for Aug. 7 in SW Missouri
PINEVILLE, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension agronomy and agricultural business specialists will hold an evening workshop on pasture renovation and rebuilding the cattle herd Thursday, Aug. 7, at the Pineville Community Center, 602 Jesse James Road, Pineville. Registration for the free event begins at 5 p.m. with a dinner provided by Newton & McDonald County Cattlemen at 5:30 p.m.

July 25 is Turnip Day in Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. – There is an old Missouri saying, “On the 25th of July, sow your turnips, wet or dry.” This local proverb vaulted into the national spotlight during the presidency of Missouri native Harry S. Truman, said University of Missouri Extension state specialist David Trinklein.

MU Extension and partners host 'Healthy Trees - Healthy Wildlife' tour
PORTLAND, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension and partners invite the public to a forest and wildlife field day Saturday, Sept. 13, in Callaway County. The workshop will be held on Bill and Margie Haag’s property near Portland, Mo., from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

10 reasons you should quit making hay
LINNEUS, Mo. – Missouri ranks eighth in the nation in hay production, producing 4.83 million tons per year, according to the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Hay is a major feed for beef production and other livestock industries in Missouri.

Crop, forage producer event set for Aug. 14 in Palmyra
PALMYRA, Mo. – Row crop and livestock producers can hear the latest disease, insect and forage updates at the fourth annual University of Missouri Extension Crop and Forage Chat on Aug. 14 at Hall’s Hall in Palmyra. Doors open at 5 p.m. with dinner at 5:30 p.m. Presentations run 6-8:30 p.m. The event is free, but registration is required.

Cattle and forage management for grazing success
“Now is the time to prepare forage and cattle for the fall and winter grazing season,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Proper management of cattle and forage right now leads to fall and winter grazing success as well as setting up your operation for spring. Davis provides forage and cattle management suggestions for successful grazing through the fall, winter and into the future.

MU Extension Livestock Bus Tour is Sept. 23-26
STOCKTON, Mo. – The University of Missouri Extension Livestock Bus Tour will visit livestock operations in northwestern Missouri, northeastern Kansas and southwestern Nebraska beginning Sept. 23, says Patrick Davis, MU Extension livestock field specialist.

Free MU tool can help plan for flooding, other risks
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Understanding your land’s geological features, terrain and climate is crucial for anticipating and responding to natural disasters, says University of Missouri Extension assistant professor Ryan Milhollin. “A little planning and knowledge about your land can significantly enhance disaster resilience,” Milhollin says.

Beat the back-to-school stress
UNION, Mo. – We know returning to school after a fun-filled summer break can be hard for kids and parents alike. Making appropriate preparations for back-to-school time can reduce stress for you and your family. Tips to ease your child’s transition back to school Reestablish routine. Resume school-year routines a week or two before the start of the new school year. These routines might include:

Daisies bring sunshine and blooms year after year
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Anyone who has driven through the country in late June or July probably has likely noticed an abundance of white daisies along roadsides and in fields. Commonly is called oxeye or field daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), this plant is sometimes used in flower gardens and is one of the easiest of all perennial flowers to grow, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.

MU Extension, UMSL launch fellowship to create communities of leaders in St. Louis
The belief that lived experience creates expertise is the foundation of Civic Collaboration Fellows (CCF), a new program from MU Extension and the University of Missouri–St. Louis with funding by the James S. McDonnell Foundation. The program invites leaders to create solutions to the challenges in the St. Louis community with shared responsibility and ideas.

Time to head out and sow some Chinese cabbage
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The sunny, warm days and cool nights of a typical Missouri autumn are ideal for cool-season vegetables such as Chinese cabbage, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Now is a good time to sow Chinese cabbage seeds so plants will be ready to establish in the garden in late summer.

Prepare cattle for second heat wave
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The first heat wave of summer can have negative effects on Missouri cattle, but it’s the second heat wave causes the most damage, say University of Missouri Extension specialists. MU Extension state specialist in veterinary toxicology and animal health Tim Evans says cattle may still be recovering from the first major heat event and be less resilient to future stresses.

Survey of St. Louis gardeners shapes MU Extension programs
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – St. Louis area residents can help shape gardening programs offered by University of Missouri Extension in St. Louis. MU Extension horticulturist Eliza Pessereau says MU Extension is encouraging gardeners to complete a Gardening Needs Assessment to learn what topics are of interest.

MU Extension workshops help farmers build drought resilience
Two free workshops from University of Missouri Extension will help producers build long-term resilience against weather risk through conservation practices. The workshops will be held Aug. 18 in Union and Aug. 19 in Columbia.

Learn need-to-know skills at cattle reproduction short course
HOUSTON, Mo. – Missouri cattle producers can take a deep dive into essential topics at the Cattle Reproduction Short Course, hosted by University of Missouri Extension specialists Chloe Collins and Elizabeth Picking. The program is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, at the MU Extension Center in Texas County, 114 W. Main St., Houston.

Registration open for Missouri Master Gardener online training
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Registration is open for the fall online University of Missouri Extension Master Gardener course. The 15-week class begins on Aug. 10 and ends in December.

Scout crops now for corn leafhopper
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension specialists are urging Missouri growers to scout corn crops for corn leafhopper. It was first confirmed in southwestern Missouri in Christian County in 2024 and in Lawrence and Boone counties on the week of July 7, 2025, says MU Extension state crops entomologist Ivair Valmorbida.

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.

Spotted lanternfly knocking at Missouri's door
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension specialists say the spotted lanternfly (SLF) might appear in Missouri this summer. MU Extension and Lincoln University urban entomologist Emily Althoff says SLF recently was found in Illinois. “It’s knocking at our door,” says Althoff. First detected in the U.S. in 2014, SLF has now been confirmed in 18 states, according to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Food safety tips for picnics
Picnics are a great way to enjoy the outdoors, good weather and delicious food with family and friends. But before you head outside, make sure foodborne illness doesn’t spoil your day, said Kantha Channaiah, University of Missouri Extension food safety expert.

Drone training offered Aug. 7 at Albany
ALBANY, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension specialists will provide a full day of discussion and hands-on training for using drones in Missouri agriculture 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, at the MU Hundley-Whaley Extension and Education Center in Albany.

Drone training offered Aug. 5 at Fairfax
University of Missouri Extension specialists will provide a full day of discussion and hands-on training for using drones in Missouri agriculture Tuesday, Aug. 5, at the MU Graves-Chapple Extension and Education Center in Fairfax. The event will cover kinds of drones used in agriculture and what is required of remote pilots to use these technologies.