![Asparagus.Source: pixabay.com](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/asparagus.jpg?itok=pktKd9QI)
![Asparagus.Source: pixabay.com](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/asparagus.jpg?itok=pktKd9QI)
Asparagus, the food of emperors, reigns supreme
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Nothing sings spring more than asparagus.
Cleansing rain helps wheat after flood
COLUMBIA, Mo.—Wheat flooded before harvest brings questions from affected farmers. What do they do now?University of Missouri Extension field crops specialists said, “Wait and see.” During a weekly teleconference, field staff answered questions from farmers.Dirty or even mud-caked wheat could benefit from more rain. The forecast for many parts the state includes rain.
Let flood-damaged homes dry thoroughly before installing new coverings
Related video: How to use a moisture meter, youtube.com/watch?v=na4_yVBLIjYPERRYVILLE, Mo. – Before replacing drywall and floor coverings in your flooded home, make sure building materials have had enough time to dry out, cautions a University of Missouri Extension community emergency management specialist.
![Black mold can spread quickly in water-damaged buildings.Courtesy Michael Goldschmidt, University of Missouri Extension](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/moldpicture.jpg?itok=sCQA7yTx)
Warm, wet weather can trigger mold growth
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Moisture and rising temperatures can turn parts of your home into ideal sites for mold growth, said a University of Missouri Extension housing and environmental design specialist.Houses damaged by storms and flooding are especially vulnerable, but mold can strike any home. “Mold is everywhere,” said Michael Goldschmidt.
Protect yourself from contractor fraud
COLUMBIA, Mo. – When storms, floods and other disasters leave damaged homes in their path, local contractors often get more business than they can handle. In many cases, out-of-town contractors will arrive in force to pick up the slack. Think twice and exercise caution before accepting the services of an out-of-town contractor, advises a University of Missouri Extension family financial education specialist.
Reducing flood damage to home and property
TRENTON, Mo.– University of Missouri Extension has prepared a checklist of measures people can take to reduce the impact of floodwater on their homes. __KNOW YOUR FLOOD RISK: Call your local emergency management office for information about flooding. Pay attention media reports monitoring the situation and the estimated date/time of arrival.
April rains affect May forages; alfalfa turns yellow in wet fields
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Alfalfa fields fading from green to yellow may mean too much water. Farmers see the change after record-setting rains.Waterlogged soil kills nitrogen-fixing bacteria on roots, says Craig Roberts. The University of Missouri Extension specialist alerted area specialists of the problems. There are fixes.
![Tulips.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/tulips.jpg?itok=ViXCUd1s)
After-bloom bulb care means bigger flowers next year
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The ukulele-playing Tiny Tim may have strummed it best. “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” is good advice for gardeners.
![MU students Breanna Evert, center, and Emily Ostert, right, present information on stress management at a health fair in Owensville, Mo.University of Missouri Extension](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/MAB-1.jpg?itok=wAuhVXct)
Mizzou Alternative Breaks program emphasizes service
OWENSVILLE, Mo. – It’s a beautiful Saturday morning in spring, perfect for outdoor fun and relaxation. But about a dozen University of Missouri students are devoting the weekend to service. They started the day working at a health fair at the Gasconade Manor nursing home. In the afternoon they’ll go to the nearby Head Start center to do some cleaning, sweep the playground and set up a new picnic table.
Perryville tornado shows value of mapping systems, planning
PERRYVILLE, Mo. – New technology and old-school knowledge mixed in the aftermath of the tornado that struck Perry County Feb. 28.The EF4 tornado ripped a 14-mile-long path through Perryville, population 8,225, and rural Perry County in southeastern Missouri. One motorist died when the tornado lifted a parked car and slammed it into the path of traffic on Interstate 55. The tornado stripped more than 50 homes and farm buildings to their…
![Beets are nutritious and easy to grow.Photo by Evan Amos [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/Beets-Bundle.jpg?itok=MitTW0ox)
It's hard to beat beets for nutrition
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Love them or hate them, the beet’s nutritional value is as intense as its striking purple color.
![From left: Jake Logan, assistant vice chancellor for university programs; Sandy Rikoon, dean, College of Human Environmental Sciences; Ryan Kenney, State Farm agency sales leader for northeastern Missouri; Kevin Zumwalt, associate director, Fire and RescuMU Extension](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/StateFarmCheck.jpg?itok=j5kVDY-u)
State Farm gift supports MU Extension programs
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A State Farm Insurance Co. donation of $128,000 presented April 13 includes support for several University of Missouri Extension programs:
![Sweet autumn clematis.Photo by Katrina Wiese [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/Clematis_terniflora.jpg?itok=C8SIeW0E)
Clematis, 'Queen of the Vines,' climbs in popularity
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Few flowering ornamentals are as exquisite as the “Queen of the Vines”—clematis.
![Members of the Don Heil family were on hand at the U.S. Soybean Symposium, where he was named the first inductee in the Missouri Soybean Hall of Fame. Pictured are Charles Foor, Donna Foor, Jan Blankenship, Stephanie Slifer, Brian McBee, Lucille Lane, MicPhoto by Linda Geist](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/Heil_family.jpg?itok=aHIpByf5)
Don 'Mr. Soybean' Heil inducted into Mo. Soybean Hall of Fame
NORBORNE, Mo. – The Missouri Soybean Hall of Fame inducted its first member, a Norborne farmer known as “Mr. Soybean.”The late Donald W. Heil, a lifelong farmer in the Missouri River bottoms of Carroll County, earned honors as an international promoter of soybean, said Bill Wiebold, University of Missouri Extension soybean specialist.
![Flowering dogwood.Public domain image](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/dogwood.jpg?itok=J8jYv4wM)
Missouri’s state tree shines in Ozarks
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The dogwood tree’s stunning beauty echoes from the Ozark hillsides in April.The spectacular show of color bears witness to why the dogwood is worthy of being Missouri’s state tree, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
Prepare for disease outbreaks in livestock operations with written plan
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A written plan to respond to disease outbreaks for your livestock operation is like insurance. You hope you never need it. You may never need it. But if there is an outbreak, the economic survival of your livestock operation might depend on having that plan.Planning and prevention are the best insurance against an outbreak, says University of Missouri Extension economist Ray Massey.
![Purple coneflower "Magnus," a popular nativar.Photo by Elvert Barnes, shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/magnus.jpg?itok=jD3imp68)
Nativars offer the best of both worlds
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Nativars, superhero plants that possess the virtues of native plants but in a more attractive package, make good choices for landscaped areas.
![Even when Audrain County Advanced Master Gardener Sally Maxwell suffered severe osteoporosis, she found a way to be in the greenhouse daily. Photo courtesy of Tom Maxwell](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/SallyMaxwell2011.jpg?itok=PN9eIdSA)
Master Gardener's Big Italian tomato goes national
MEXICO, Mo. – A national tomato growers supply company honors a Missouri Advanced Master Gardener this spring by selling tomato seeds she saved for decades.On the cover of its 2017 catalog, the Tomato Growers Supply Co. features “Mrs. Maxwell’s Big Italian,” an heirloom beefsteak tomato prized for its flavor. The dark pink tomato is the result of seed-saving by the late Sally Maxwell of Mexico, Mo.
MU part of $6.6 million research project on cover crops
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri is part of a $6.6 million research initiative to promote soil health through cover crops.Rob Myers, MU adjunct associate professor and north-central regional director of extension programs for the USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research Education program, was the lead organizer in obtaining funding for the multistate project.
![Brassicas include cabbage, as well as cauliflower, broccoli, kale, turnips and collards.National Garden Bureau](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/RedCabbage.jpg?itok=iK4BPACk)
Cool-loving brassicas add colors, nutrition
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Plant brassicas now so they mature before summer’s heat arrives, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
Meat cooking methods may increase cancer risks
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – Charbroiling, grilling over open flame, broiling and pan frying meats can produce tasty meals. Unfortunately, these methods, especially if the temperature is above 300 degrees Fahrenheit, also result in the formation of certain undesirable chemicals.These chemicals are known as heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), says Lydia Kaume, a nutrition and health education specialist for…
![Joe Lear, regional director for MU Extension's Northwest Region.University of Missouri Extension](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/Joe_Lear.jpg?itok=MwVSBpCl)
Joe Lear returns to NW Missouri as new MU Extension regional director
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Changing jobs from director of enterprise server technology at Kansas State to regional director for University of Missouri Extension might sound like an odd career move, but Joe Lear is not new to extension nor to northwestern Missouri.
Plant these 'fab four' for flowers galore
COLUMBIA, Mo. – It is time to plant some bulbs indoors for later enjoyment outdoors, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
![MU College of Veterinary Medicine graduate Imogene Latimer uses research from MU Extension to improve cattle herds in northeastern Missouri.Photo by Linda Geist](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/Latimer.jpg?itok=qAHnWX-R)
Veterinarian Imogene Latimer beefs up bovine technology for 30 years
SHELBYVILLE, Mo. – Country veterinarian Imogene Hemeyer Latimer wasn’t born in a barn.However, it is where you will find her during spring calving and weaning season.Latimer serves cattle producers in northeastern Missouri. She joined the General Veterinary Clinic in Monroe City in 1987 after graduating from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine.
![Palmer amaranth.Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California - Davis, Bugwood.org](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/PalmerAmaranth.jpg?itok=rbAZJgZo)
Palmer amaranth invades about 5 more Missouri counties each year
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Waterhemp and Palmer amaranth are easily confused.They are like ugly distant cousins at a family reunion. They look alike until you see them side by side. Their differences become apparent upon closer examination.Palmer amaranth is the bigger bully of the two. It takes over fields, choking out crops and profits.