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Missouri 4-H celebrates its amazing volunteers
COLUMBIA, Mo. – During National Volunteer Week, April 17-23, Missouri 4-H wants to shout out heartfelt thanks to its amazing volunteers. Thousands of people choose to spend their time volunteering for Missouri 4-H. Because of their efforts, 4-H can provide a wide variety of opportunities for Missouri youths.
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Tonia Zeiler honored with Missouri 4-H volunteer leadership award
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Celebrating National Volunteer Week, April 17-23, the Missouri 4-H Foundation is presenting Tonia Zeiler, of Lafayette County, with the 2022 Naomi Crouch 4-H Volunteer Leadership Award for 13 years of service and support to 4-H.“We are honored to recognize Tonia Zeiler for her outstanding efforts on behalf of Lafayette County 4-H,” said Rachel Augustine, director of the Missouri 4-H Foundation.
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Jenise Burch honored with Missouri 4-H volunteer leadership award
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Celebrating National Volunteer Week, April 17-23, the Missouri 4-H Foundation is presenting Jenise Burch, of Vernon County, with the 2022 Naomi Crouch 4-H Volunteer Leadership Award for nearly 60 years of service and support to 4-H.“We are honored to recognize Jenise Burch for her outstanding efforts on behalf of Vernon County 4-H,” said Rachel Augustine, director of the Missouri 4-H Foundation.
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After the bloom fades, Easter lily can see new life
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Easter lily used for spring decorations can provide beauty and fragrance for another season.After blooming ends, plant Easter lilies outside as soon as the ground can be worked, says University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist Jennifer Schutter. The following year, they will bloom in June and have a sweet fragrance.
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Guard against emerging tick-borne disease in Missouri
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – As temperatures rise, humans and animals become meal tickets for ticks.Heartland disease, an emerging infectious disease first found in northwestern Missouri in 2009, is another reason to take precautions against ticks, says University of Missouri horticulture specialist and entomologist Tamra Reall.
Evaluating costs and benefits of renovating endophyte-infected pastures
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Nearly 98% of Missouri’s pastureland is tall fescue infected with an endophyte that can cause fescue toxicosis in grazing livestock. Fescue toxicosis lowers reproduction rates, milk production, gain and weaning weights. It also causes health problems, including lameness and heat stress.By replacing toxic fescue with other forages, producers eliminate animal exposure to the harmful endophyte. You can start the process…
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Strengthening Missouri's local food systems
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A new partnership between the University of Missouri Interdisciplinary Center for Food Security (ICFS) and MU Extension will make it easier to access information about local and regional food systems and food security.
A key Missouri asset: MU Extension generated $1.2 billion economic impact in FY21
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension generated an estimated $1.2 billion economic impact throughout Missouri in fiscal year 2021, according to a recent impact analysis. That amount contributed to the University of Missouri System’s overall $6.5 billion economic impact statewide.
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Food tastings are on the menu in this elementary school nutrition class
Nutrition program associate Sarah Geist has been working with Macon Elementary School in Macon County to deliver nutrition classes to children. The classes follow the Show Me Nutrition curriculum for kids from preschool to junior high. Topics range from making proper food choices based on the individual’s needs to the various food groups and their nutritional benefits.
Co-grazing: Diversification could boost farm profits
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Have you ever considered diversifying production on the farm?Producing beef cattle and meat goats on the same farm may improve your financials, says University of Missouri Extension agricultural business specialist Jennifer Lutes.Lutes developed a model that looks at the economics of co-grazing – a diversification strategy involving production of more than one livestock species on the same farm.
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Lawn Art With Neighbors (LAWN) Strengthens Social Bonds Through Art April 23 – May 8 in Greene County
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Along with the invigorating energy of Spring, Lawn Art With Neighbors (LAWN) is popping up near you from April 23 to May 8, 2022, with front lawn art created by your neighbors throughout Greene County. Think of it as a museum without walls says Deidre Argyle, an art professor at Missouri State and founder of LAWN. “LAWN is a city-wide public art exhibition made for front lawns by community members located in and…
Adding value to farm commodities can ease supply chain strain
COLUMBIA, Mo. – For two years, shoppers have seen how supply chain problems can shock the food system. Initially triggered by the pandemic, these problems have persisted due to labor shortages, transportation bottlenecks and now international conflict.
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More Missouri workers commuting to jobs outside their counties
COLUMBIA, Mo. – While the past two years have fueled growth in remote work, most workers in Missouri still commute to their jobs. And some are opting for longer commutes: A new report from University of Missouri Extension shows that more workers in the state are commuting to jobs outside their home counties compared to 20 years ago.
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Hog Wild
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Having grown up on a farm in the foothills of the Missouri Ozarks, Jerry Richards was prepared for droughts, snowstorms and torrential rains. He wasn’t prepared for feral hogs.
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Bells of Ireland: A St. Patrick's Day favorite
COLUMBIA, Mo. – St. Patrick’s Day is a time to celebrate Irish culture and everything green, including leprechauns and shamrocks. While shamrock is a well-known symbol of good luck, another interesting plant associated with good fortune is bells of Ireland, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Michele Warmund.
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Missouri Dairy Hall of Honors recognizes 2020, 2021 leaders
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Missouri Dairy Hall of Honors announced its 2021 award winners during the organization’s Jan. 28 meeting. Because last year’s meeting was canceled due to COVID-19, the organization also recognized the 2020 award winners at the event, which was held in Columbia at the Trowbridge Livestock Center on the University of Missouri campus.2021 award winners
Try These 100 Acts of Kindness To Celebrate Mister Rogers' Birthday on March 20
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - It only takes a small act of kindness to make a big difference in the life of someone in your community, like a service provider, a community leader, a lonely person or a neighbor.
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Strengthening Missouri manufacturing
ST. PETERS, Mo. – Manufacturing is a key segment of Missouri’s economy, representing 12%, or nearly $40 billion, of Missouri’s gross state product. But Missouri manufacturers struggled during the pandemic and continue to face pressing challenges, such as worker shortages, inflation and supply chain disruptions, said U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer at a Feb. 25 gathering of St. Charles-area manufacturers.
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Creating Entrepreneurial Communities: Promoting community revitalization through entrepreneurship
HANNIBAL, Mo. – Last September, more than 70 people gathered in Hannibal for the 2021 Creating Entrepreneurial Communities conference.
Reducing grass tetany in cattle
“With lush grass growth coming in the spring, it is time to manage cattle and implement mineral supplementation strategies to reduce the incidence of grass tetany in your cattle operation,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Cattle grass tetany symptoms result from low blood magnesium levels.
How to properly care for the newborn calf
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Many beef and dairy calves will be born in the next three months. As spring calving season approaches, University of Missouri Extension experts stress the importance of properly caring for newborn calves.
Black female entrepreneur “being the change,” Locs of Glory - St. Louis, MO
Tameka Stigers is passionate about seeing more Black-owned businesses serving the needs of the Black community. “We [Blacks] are consumers,” Stigers said. “We’re always consuming and not owning. We have to change that.”
Missouri youths attend National 4-H Congress in Atlanta
Missouri youths gathered with others from across the nation for the 2021 National 4-H Congress, Nov. 26-30 in Atlanta.
Converting from Kentucky 31 begins in the spring
GALENA, Mo. – Ernest Newton Fergus, a University of Kentucky forage specialist in the 1930s and 1940s, did the livestock industry a great favor when he propagated Kentucky 31 fescue, says University of Missouri Extension agronomist Tim Schnakenberg.
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Food Truck Festival: Just one of the ways to nourish a county
Jennifer Williams, county engagement specialist (CES) in community economic development, has been going above and beyond for MU Extension in Carter County. One of the most exciting things? Despite the challenges of mounting an event during a pandemic, Jennifer planned and put on the first annual Current River Food Truck Festival in Van Buren.