COVID-19 safety tips for volunteers delivering food
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A University of Missouri Extension food safety specialist offers safety suggestions for volunteers delivering food to those in need during the COVID-19 era. “Many people at high risk of being severely affected by COVID-19 due to age or underlying health conditions depend on the generosity of friends, family members and volunteers for food and other necessities,” says Londa Nwadike, who holds a joint extension…
MU research: Corn emerging in 1-week window has little impact on yield
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Research by University of Missouri Extension agronomists shows that there is little yield difference in unevenly emerged corn. MU Extension agronomist Bill Wiebold researched corn emergence’s effect on yield in 2010 and 2011. Wiebold tagged individual plants from emergence through harvest. He compared the weight and height of early-emerging, mid-emerging and late-emerging plants.
Wheat and N: What to do?
It's been another tough year for wheat so far.
Farmers can connect to MU Extension specialists weekly in public town hall meeting format
The need to abide by spring's timetable and produce food for the table doesn't wait for crisis to pass. Continued field crop, forage, and animal production are essential not only for the nutrients they provide, but also for the economic, mental and spiritual health they return to us and our communities.
Grain storage: A systematic approach
Stored dry grain represents a substantial investment of time and money. Protect that investment by properly drying and storing grain. The basics of grain drying, storage, management and care are outlined below.
MU CARES launches COVID-19 Testing Dashboard
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri’s Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems (CARES) has launched the COVID-19 Testing Dashboard, an online mapping and charting tool that provides a graphical look at COVID-19 testing in each state. Testing rates and positive test rates are important indicators for the prevalence of COVID-19 in populations as states move toward easing physical distancing restrictions and allowing…
Why small business owners need to understand copyrights
People see the little copyright sign daily, but do they ever stop to think what it really means? We see it in books, music or any published work as we go through our day. We might hear about copyright occasionally in news dealing with who really owns a certain piece of work, art or even a product.
Final push in 4-H Feeding Missouri food drive
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri 4-H’ers across the state need generous donors to give a hand in this final week of the 4-H Feeding Missouri food drive.“We know that every $1 donated buys 10 meals for a family. If everyone gave just $5, that would be the helping hand we need to meet our goal of donating 250,000 meals to serve hungry Missourians,” said Lupita Fabregas, director of University of Missouri Extension’s 4-H Center for Youth…
MU develops program to prepare for alternative care site staffing
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri is helping to lead a statewide effort to retrain and deploy retired nurses and other health care providers to alternative care sites (ACSs) for recovering COVID-19 patients. The coordinated response ensures that staff would be immediately available to assist whenever the need may arise.
Your business income statement has a few surprises
Many small business owners take their financial statements and put them on the back burner. This lack of attention can result in the business owner being caught in a cash flow crunch or, worse, waking up one day to ask, “Where has my money gone?”
Free webinar series on financial health in the COVID-19 era starts May 1
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Registration is now open for a free three-part series, “Your Financial Health in the COVID-19 Era.” The webinars, starting Friday, May 1, are available online to all Missourians through a collaboration between the University of Missouri’s Department of Personal Financial Planning and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at MU.
Kits offer learning activities for youths without internet access
POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. – What do you do when school moves online but your kids don’t have internet access?In Butler, Carter and Wayne counties in southeastern Missouri, University of Missouri Extension has an answer thanks to generous community support.
Shop safe at farmers markets
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Shopping at farmers markets is a great way to get healthy fruits, vegetables and other foods while supporting local farmers, says Londa Nwadike, University of Missouri Extension food safety specialist. Nwadike, who has a joint extension appointment with MU and Kansas State University, offers some guidelines for safe shopping at farmers markets even in the midst of COVID-19:
Hatching a plan
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Laura Browning never expected to find herself an adoptive parent to three incubators’ worth of chicks — or tending to 19 newly hatched birds in brooders in her garage. But chicks hatch according to their own calendar, oblivious to social distancing and school closures.
How to protect your valuable business ideas
Every business has ideas it has developed to do things more efficiently. It may be that a business owner has come up with a way to produce a product in a manner competitors cannot copy. Better yet, the owner may have devised a variation on an existing product that makes it more durable in the marketplace. The creation of a business customer list is another example of a valuable development.
Leadership lesson: Are you interested or committed?
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- People who are afraid to commit to anything drift through life. Those who make commitments and honor them gain favor and a good reputation, accomplish their goals and reap the rewards, according to David Burton, county engagement specialist with University of Missouri Extension. “If you are interested, you will do what is convenient. If you are committed, you will do whatever it takes,” said Burton.
Ask a Master Gardener: Options for small trees and shrubs, recommendations on hand tools
Readers can pose questions or get more information by calling 417-874-2963 and talking to one of the trained volunteers staffing the Master Gardener Hotline at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Greene County located inside the Botanical Center, 2400 S. Scenic Ave., Springfield, MO 65807.
"Yes Virginia, there is funding for your business … "
Just as the reference to the 1890s editorial in The (New York) Sun indicates, there is funding in the capital world for many businesses if they cannot get it from traditional local or institutional banks.
Small business owners and the financial records payoff
Just the other day, I had a discussion with a local small business owner about where his money went. His financials showed he made a profit, but he did not have it in his bank account. As we talked, I asked questions about his record-keeping. He pulled out his checkbook and indicated that that was his method of keeping records. I asked about balance sheets, cash flow and profit and loss and he was hooked to learn more.
Feed pigs less fat, more fiber to slow growth
COLUMBIA, Mo. – As work at meat processing plants slows during COVID-19, hog producers may want to feed pigs cheaper diets and hold them longer.University of Missouri Extension swine nutritionist Marcia Shannon says producers can feed more fiber and less fat to slow growth.“This is a good time to move to feeding low-energy, high-fiber diets with an adjusted lysine-to-calorie ratio and remove any growth-promoting technologies,” Shannon…
Small farmers markets share strategies at April 30 roundtable
COLUMBIA, Mo. – As summer approaches, Missouri’s estimated 240 farmers markets are struggling with how they will comply with COVID-19-related restrictions. Regarded by many as vital and vibrant community hubs, farmers markets will need to rethink how to work with their vendors and still serve a public hungry for locally grown food.
A time of transition
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Despite suspending all face-to-face programming due to COVID-19, University of Missouri Extension recognizes the continued need to provide university research and knowledge to help farmers and consumers alike. Specialists are creatively transitioning current materials as well as building COVID-19-focused resources on alternative platforms.
Proper cattle identification systems
“Proper identification is key to management of cattle for optimum production and profitability,” says Patrick Davis MU Extension Regional Livestock Field Specialist. Identification is important in tracking cattle performance.
Dairy producers should plan for lower demand
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Dairy farmers may need a plan to offset production costs as demand for milk products drops due to COVID-19, say dairy specialist Stacey Hamilton and veterinarian Scott Poock of University of Missouri Extension.Demand continues to plummet as key dairy customers such as schools and restaurants remain closed. In response, producers began dumping milk they could not sell through local and export markets.
Missouri Food Finder
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Missouri Food Finder (www.MOFoodFinder.org) is a new online tool that easily connects Missouri consumers with people growing and selling locally produced food in their region. (Note: Since initial publication of this news release the site has been renamed Show Me Food and can be found at ShowMeFood.org.)