Reading Role Models
Families are reading role models and promote the importance of literacy in a child’s life. Modeling engaged reading helps children form their beginning literacy skills. Children learn to use verbal and nonverbal communication including speech and sign language through early literacy skill development.
Grow your own veggies to ease COVID-19 financial stress
COLUMBIA, Mo. – In response to the tremendous interest in home food production, University of Missouri Extension now offers a free online course in basic vegetable gardening.“The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has put an added financial strain on many Missouri families,” said MU Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. This has resulted in many people putting out vegetable gardens for the first time in an attempt to lower their food bills.
Podcast offers relationship advice during social distancing
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Coronavirus has changed our lives one way or another, including our ability to have and maintain relationships during social distancing.
Considerations for bagged storage
Before deciding to use bags for storage, consider these key aspects of successfully using bagged storage:
MU Fire and Rescue Training Institute director to retire in August 2020
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Kevin D. Zumwalt, director of the University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Training Institute (MU FRTI), will retire this August. “After a distinguished career, Kevin Zumwalt leaves us with the legacy of a safer Missouri and a standard of excellence in the training of emergency service personnel,” said MU Vice Chancellor for Extension and Engagement Marshall Stewart.
Temporary grain storage piles
Characteristics needed to build a temporary grain storage pileA grain storage pile can be constructed as either a short-term or long-term storage facility, depending upon whether a grain aeration system is included. Aeration is a necessary component of a grain storage structure to successfully manage grain, so it can be stored for long periods of time. The steps below outline the basics of constructing a covered, grain storage pile…
MU Foremost Dairy colostrum management exceeds industry standards
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri’s Foremost Dairy developed a colostrum management system that helps it far exceed Gold Standards set by the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association, says MU Extension dairy veterinarian Scott Poock.
Farmers markets: Safe, reliable, local food during COVID-19
ST. PETERS, Mo. – You can still safely shop and eat local during COVID-19, says a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist. “Farmers market managers across the state are working with advisers and local health departments to ensure the safety of their customers,” said Justin Keay, an extension horticulture specialist in the St. Louis area.
Houseplants may improve your health
Houseplants may improve your health
Safe gardening grows your mindfulness
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Looking for a way to improve your physical and mental well-being during stressful times? A University of Missouri Extension horticulturist recommends gardening as a perfect solution. “Gardening provides many health benefits that are needed during these stressful times,” said Jennifer Schutter. “These benefits include exercise, a boost in mental health from time spent in nature and growing your own healthy food.”
Spinach's popularity grew during Great Depression
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Many unsubstantiated stories exist about why cartoonist E.C. Segar chose spinach to give superhuman powers to his comic strip character Popeye the Sailor during the Great Depression.
Resources on COVID-19 in multifamily and public housing developments
The National Healthy Homes Partnership at the University of Missouri presented three webinars in May on COVID-19 mitigation strategies for multifamily and public housing developments. The webinars and handouts give developers, apartment owners and public housing directors important and timely information on how to maintain, clean and disinfect properties to mitigate exposure to COVID-19. Each webinar is about an hour long. One of the…
Longtime 4-H volunteer shows no sign of slowing down
Elaine George is no stranger to 4-H. For more than 30 years she’s been club leader to the Hallsville Go-Getters, and there’s no sign of her slowing down. Her club is among the largest in the state. “It’s just a part of my life,” Elaine said.
Wet, cool wet weather playing havoc with crops
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Some Missouri corn producers are seeing damage from cold, wet soil conditions and hail.Corn growers participating in the University of Missouri Extension Plant Sciences weekly online town hall meeting on May 8 reported seeing seedling leaves of corn twist and unfurl underground.
East Central Ag Tidbits offers quick and timely tips
STEELVILLE, Mo. – Ag Tidbits, produced by University of Missouri Extension faculty in east-central Missouri, provides relevant and timely online tips for farmers and ranchers statewide at facebook.com/MUecAgTIDBITS.
Remove cool-season grass seed heads before they emerge
WEST PLAINS, Mo. – “Missouri livestock producers have some options to manage tall fescue seed head development and the toxic endophyte issues we have in Missouri,” says Tim Schnakenberg, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in agronomy. Seed heads emerge in tall fescue grass pastures by mid-May across most of Missouri.
MU Extension offers Wednesday town hall meetings online for farmers, gardeners
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension is offering online town hall meetings led by agronomy, livestock and horticulture specialists.“MU Extension has long served as a trusted and necessary resource to help Missourians get food on the table and gardens in the backyard,” says Lee Miller, coordinator of MU’s Integrated Pest Management program. “We’ll strive to continue this even through COVID-19.”
Noel Primary in-school 4-H wraps up successful first year
NOEL, Mo. - Noel Primary School’s Tiger Paws in-school 4-H club had a very successful first year with teacher Dene’e Jones as club leader.
Wayne County's weekly adventures
GREENVILLE, Mo. – “So, if the thrill of counting Easter eggs has faded and sightings of neighborhood bears in windows have become less frequent, would you be up for a new adventure?” asks Kelley Brent, county engagement specialist in nutrition and health for University of Missouri Extension in Wayne County.
May proclaimed Older Americans Month in Columbia
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The city of Columbia has designated the month of May as Older Americans Month — a fitting recognition of the insights and contributions older adults bring to society during a pandemic that has disproportionately affected this vulnerable population globally, said Jack Wax, advisory council chair for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Mizzou.
Bah humbug to so-called murder hornets
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missourians need not worry about insects dubbed “murder hornets” in social media, says University of Missouri Extension entomologist Kevin Rice.He hopes to put a halt to hysteria about the Asian giant hornet.“The name circulating on social media is misleading,” Rice says. “Scientists do not use the term murderous to describe this interesting insect. These headlines sound like something from a Stephen King story and…
The benefits of outdoor play for children
The weather is getting warmer and families are spending more time outdoors. This gives families more opportunities to use outdoor play as teachable moments. Playing is part of learning and advancing a child’s development. When children play outside they are able to learn by exploring the world around them. Below is a list of a few benefits associated with outdoor play. Children learn science
MU Extension develops guidelines for emergency mortality management in swine herds
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension agricultural engineers and economists recently released emergency mortality management recommendations to help producers forced to depopulate swine herds because of COVID-19 impacts."It is unfortunate that we are facing supply chain issues caused by the COVID-19 and that some pigs might need to be euthanized," says Teng Lim, MU Extension agricultural engineer and a member of the MU…
Working together can discover solutions to parking for Main Street
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Most towns have parking problems, normally in the downtown area. Whether you are a Springfield, a Republic or an Ash Grove resident, there are ways to get more parking without paving, striping or getting a permit. For starters, it is important to find hidden parking, according to David Burton, a county engagement specialist in Greene County with University of Missouri Extension.