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New World screwworm: What you need to know
A New World screwworm detection in Texas has triggered a coordinated U.S. response. MU Extension’s Craig Payne, DVM, explains risks to livestock, what to watch for, and why early detection and reporting are critical to limiting spread.
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Youth leaders gather for learning, fun at 4-H State Congress
COLUMBIA, Mo. – More than 200 Missouri 4-H members and volunteers gathered on the University of Missouri campus in May for the 80th annual Missouri 4-H State Congress, a leadership event designed for youths in grades nine through 12.
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Sheep and Goat Field Day to highlight management-intensive grazing
MOUNT VERNON, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension will host the fourth annual Sheep and Goat Day, Aug. 7 at the MU Southwest Missouri Research, Extension and Education Center in Mount Vernon, says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist.
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4-H Teen Conference helps youths grow as leaders
The 2026 Missouri 4-H Teen Conference welcomed 218 youths and 24 chaperones from across the state.
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Scout soybean, corn crops for Japanese beetles
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri’s Pest Monitoring Network is reporting the first Japanese beetle captures of 2026 and calling for growers to begin scouting soybean and corn crops.
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Don’t let your profits wander: Invest in new pasture fences
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Few things will get a rancher’s attention like that late-night call from the neighbor about the cows being on the highway. Improving pasture fences can reduce the likelihood of that dreaded ringing in the wee hours of the morning.
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Time to pull samples for Ozark Empire Fair Hay Contest
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Now that hay season has begun, it’s a good time to make plans to pull samples from your best hay for the Ozark Empire Fair Hay Contest, says University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist Tim Schnakenberg. Entry deadline is July 17. To enter, contact your county University of Missouri Extension Center. Specialists are available to help pull the core samples from the 10-bale entry.
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New investments boost Hundley-Whaley's impact
ALBANY, Mo. – Recent repairs and upgrades at the University of Missouri Hundley-Whaley Extension and Education Center are strengthening the site’s ability to deliver high-quality research and practical education for Missouri farmers.
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Refusing to quit
After a devastating brain injury, Zane Volkmann made the life he wanted.
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Missouri leaders meet to set the future course of AI
Participants in the AI-Ready Missouri Summit advanced toward a coordinated, statewide strategy to ensure that the benefits of AI reach communities across the entire state.
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Flood-related resources from MU Extension
Access practical tips and guides to stay safe, protect property, and recover after floods.
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Upgrades expand capacity at MU Graves-Chapple Center
FAIRFAX, Mo. – At the Graves-Chapple Extension and Education Center near Rock Port, a refurbished combine is shaving hours off harvest time, detailed soil maps are helping researchers apply fertilizer more precisely, and even a new mower is freeing up staff time for more research and outreach.
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Forage soybean emerges as a promising summer forage for Missouri
TUSCUMBIA, Mo. – Livestock producers across Missouri continue to face rising feed costs, unpredictable weather and seasonal forage shortages during the summer. A recent study led by University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist Rudra Baral found that forage soybean shows promise for bridging the summer forage gap.
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Missouri 4-H tops 2.5 million meals through 4-H Feeding Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri 4-H youths helped provide 250,271 meals to families facing food insecurity through the 2026 4-H Feeding Missouri campaign, pushing the initiative past 2.5 million meals statewide since 2019.
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Fragrant plants invite pollinators to your garden
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Fragrance gardening is an easy way to enhance the enjoyment of gardens, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Our sense of smell has the power to evoke deep emotions, Trinklein said. Fragrance is an extension of a plant’s charm, transcending its physical space.
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Cattle fly and tick control more important than ever
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Fly and tick control is important to reduce the spread of diseases that negatively impact cattle operation’s productivity,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Health problems in cattle such as pinkeye, Theileria orientalis (Ikeda) and anaplasmosis are spread through flies and ticks. Davis discusses management strategies to reduce these problems in your cattle operation.
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Butterfly Festival is June 13 at MU Jefferson Farm and Garden
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri’s Jefferson Farm and Garden in Columbia will host its ninth annual Butterfly Festival 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, June 13. The free event offers visitors the chance to learn about native butterfly species, their life cycles and the importance of pollinators in our ecosystem, said Debi Kelly, coordinator of Missouri Extension Master Gardeners.
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Healthy aging: Why staying connected matters
By 2030, one in five Missourians will be over 65. At the same time, the prevalence of chronic and degenerative disease is expected to increase. This raises an important question: Are we helping people age well?
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Managing cattle and pastures for a successful summer grazing season
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Cool-season pastures are becoming overmature and need to be reset,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Keeping pastures in their optimum quality range supports cattle performance and contributes to a successful operation. In this article, Davis discusses cattle and forage management strategies for a productive summer grazing season.
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Strong bidding breaks records at Show-Me-Select SW Mo. sale
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Strong bidding at the recent Show-Me-Select sale in southwestern Missouri set new records for both high and average prices,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Twelve consignors sold 165 heifers for a record average of $4,947 per heifer. That is more than $900 higher than the spring 2025 average on 124 heifers and more than $700 above the fall 2025 average on 246 heifers.
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Viticulture field day highlights latest grape research
MOUNT VERNON, Mo. — Grape growers, winemakers and enthusiasts are invited to attend a viticulture field day at the University of Missouri Southwest Research, Extension and Education Center on Friday, July 17. The free event, 1-5 p.m. at 14548 Highway H, Mount Vernon, will focus on grape production, research and industry updates.
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Conditions right for tar spot in Missouri corn crops
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Frequent rain and unseasonably cool weather this May are creating favorable conditions for tar spot to develop in Missouri cornfields in June. “We’ve detected tar spot in June in each of the last three years, and I anticipate the same for 2026,” says University of Missouri Extension plant pathologist Mandy Bish.
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Master Gardener state conference offers tours, workshops and breakout sessions
Gardeners of all experience levels can explore new techniques and ideas at the 2026 University of Missouri Extension Master Gardener State Conference, June 4–7 in Springfield. Attendees do not need to be certified Master Gardeners to participate.
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How extreme precipitation can affect crop health, yields
NOVELTY, Mo. – Waterlogging and flooding are among the most damaging weather-related stresses in crop production worldwide, and their impacts are increasing as extreme rainfall becomes more frequent. Flooding ranks second only to drought among abiotic stresses.
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From festivals to workforce training, Jefferson Farm and Garden keeps growing
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Jefferson Farm and Garden Extension and Education Center already draws crowds for events like the Tomato Festival and Butterfly Festival. Now, with a newly expanded education center, University of Missouri Extension is preparing the Columbia-area farm for a larger role as a year-round hub for classes, workshops and community programs.