![Youths judge a class of lambs at the 2024 State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2024/20240610-lambs-2.jpg?itok=Ii1dev9C)
![Youths judge a class of lambs at the 2024 State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2024/20240610-lambs-2.jpg?itok=Ii1dev9C)
Youths compete at 2024 State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest
COLUMBIA, Mo – The 2024 University of Missouri Extension State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest was held Monday, June 3, at the University of Missouri Trowbridge Livestock Center in Columbia. The contest brought together 94 youths from across the state to apply their evaluation and communication skills. Youths involved with the livestock judging program develop key life skills to aid in their future career success, said Maria Calvert, MU…
![Eleanor Butler shares her recipe for smoked deviled eggs during the egg demonstration contest at State 4-H Poultry Day.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2024/20240610-eb-1.jpg?itok=lZ4s_cXH)
Youths compete at 2024 State 4-H Poultry Day
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Forty 4-H youths from across Missouri participated in the 2024 State 4-H Poultry Day on June 8 at the University of Missouri Animal Science Research Center in Columbia. Competitions included a poultry judging contest, quiz bowl, egg demonstration contest, photo contest and dozen egg contest.
![Laclede County Ag Week](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2024/436223415_734414068841290_1497560916947690616_n.jpg?itok=Zq30JnDP)
Laclede County commissioners, MU Extension expand county ag tour
LEBANON, Mo. – The Laclede County Commission, in partnership with the University of Missouri Extension Council of Laclede County, will host the inaugural Laclede County Commission Agriconomy Week this fall. This year’s theme is “Growing Laclede County’s Economy Through Agricultural Entrepreneurship,” said Randy Angst, Laclede County presiding commissioner.
![Cicada damage to white oak tree branches. Photo by Hank Stelzer.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2024/20240611-cicada-3.jpg?itok=G6Gr32OI)
Lingering effects of recent cicada emergence
The cicada symphony may be coming to an end, but the effects of the performers are becoming apparent. Calls and emails are beginning to come into University of Missouri Extension offices from homeowners reporting the ends of many tree branches are turning brown and dropping off. “In the past few days I have answered more than a dozen inquiries related to cicada damage,” said Hank Stelzer, MU Extension’s forestry state specialist.
![File photo, MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2024/20240419-cattle-1.jpg?itok=lGu1ULVC)
Marketing matters in direct-to-consumer beef sales
FORSYTH, Mo. – Selling beef directly from the farm to consumers gained significant popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Though adoption has slowed, selling direct to consumers remains a popular option for Missouri beef producers as an alternative to selling live animals, as it allows the producer to capture additional value otherwise obtained by others in the food processing chain,” said Jacob Hefley, University of Missouri…
![Peas](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2024/Doperwt_rijserwt_peulen_Pisum_sativum.jpg?itok=gw1_UCcK)
Early June peas
COLUMBIA, Mo. – No other vegetable is as closely associated with a month of the year as is garden pea, and few things match the gastronomic appeal of fresh peas from the garden. The term “early June peas” often appears on labels to indicate they are young and still have a high sugar content, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Peas are sweetest when they mature in cool weather, before too much of the…
![Dairy poster](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2024/20240607-dairy-1.png?itok=PikHHBFh)
Honoring the nation's dairy farmers
COLUMBIA, Mo. – June is National Dairy Month, when we honor the hard work and dedication of dairy farmers. This cornerstone of American agriculture contributes to the economy and to the health and well-being of communities. University of Missouri Extension offers resources, expertise and research tailored for dairy producers and consumers, connecting dairy products to key production and business information. Putting dairy in your diet
![Pearl millet](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2024/20240606-pm-2.jpg?itok=m_ewPKAC)
Filling the summer forage gap
LINNEUS, Mo. – Gaps in summer forages for livestock producers can be challenging. University of Missouri Extension agronomy field specialist Valerie Tate in Linn County shares management solutions, including planting warm-season annual forages such as pearl millet and sorghum-sudangrass, to fill a void in summer forage production or when renovating forage stands.
![Hereford bull](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/5336-HerefordBull-1200.jpg?itok=6gWC0JCK)
Spring SW Missouri bull breeding soundness exam day results
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Bull breeding soundness exams (BSEs) are important to make sure bulls are ready for the upcoming breeding season,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. The exam evaluates bull physical and reproductive soundness. Using bulls that fail this exam can lead to poor conception, pregnancy, calving and weaning rates, which results in poor operation productivity and profitability,…
![Show-Me-Plus](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2024/g02094-art01.png?itok=R1CmZSZ7)
New guide details Show-Me-Select enhanced option
COLUMBIA, Mo. – An additional marketing opportunity for cattle producers is outlined in a new University of Missouri Extension guide, “Adding Value to Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifers Using Show-Me-Plus,” available at https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g2094.
![Mature soybean. Stock photo.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2024/matureSoybean.jpg?itok=pcKiYbfm)
MU Extension releases soybean yield tool
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A new tool developed by University of Missouri Extension’s state soybean specialist, Andre Froes de Borja Reis, can indicate soybean growth and anticipate yield deviations before the end of the season. “This tool is designed to predict soybean development and yield based on crop growth models,” Reis said. “It simulates soybean growth in various regions of Missouri, using both historical and current weather data.”
![.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/20220525-sms-1.jpg?itok=2wEgLpsk)
Records set at SW Missouri Show-Me-Select heifer sale
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Record prices were seen at the southwest Missouri Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program sale at Joplin Regional Stockyards on May 17,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist.
![Stock photo](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2024/rsz_130759013368_dc7dc152bc_k_0.jpg?itok=0-u3-iWK)
Management strategies to reduce pink eye in cattle
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Warm weather brings on environmental factors that can lead to pink eye in cattle,” says Patrick Davis University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Pink eye can lead to reduced cattle performance, which affects profitability.
![Missouri Master Naturalists teaching 4-H youths.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2024/lake-of-the-ozarks-chapter-building-bird-feeders-4h_original.jpg?itok=W4nMzTGd)
MDC, MU Extension thank Master Naturalists for 2023 accomplishments
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation and University of Missouri Extension thank the Missouri Master Naturalists for volunteering thousands of hours to conserving Missouri’s natural resources in 2023.
![MU Extension specialist Lisa Robinson, left, and community member Wendi Douglas, center, completed Digital Ambassador training in Newton County. Joe Lear, right, consultant for UM System broadband initiatives, guided participants through the course.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2024/20240528-da-1.jpg?itok=Kz0BixWW)
Digital Ambassadors: Connecting Missourians through trusted partners
When Lisa Robinson’s mother was in hospice care, an online consultation with a trusted doctor brought a quick diagnosis, a prescription to clear up an infection — and peace of mind. That experience prompted Robinson, a University of Missouri Extension field specialist, to volunteer to lead a Digital Ambassador pilot project in Newton County.
![AI for Leadership](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2024/AI%20for%20Leadership%20MU%20Career%20Accelerator%20Logo.jpg?itok=salXiF7e)
AI for leadership
COLUMBIA, Mo. – “Businesses that do not consider using AI will fall behind those that do. Businesses without an AI approach will become less and less competitive.” This was the message from Chi-Ren Shyu, director of the University of Missouri MU Institute for Data Science and Informatics.
![Missouri 4-H](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2024/4hlogo.jpg?itok=Hg5ZAYq7)
Missouri 4-H Foundation awards $95,000 in scholarships
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Missouri 4-H Foundation is awarding 70 scholarships totaling $95,000 to Missouri 4-H youths to help further their educations. “We are thrilled to support these exceptional young people as they continue their educational journeys,” said Rachel Augustine, director of the Missouri 4-H Foundation. “Their dedication to 4-H and their communities is inspiring, and we are confident they will continue to achieve great things…
MU Extension to host free Tri-County Economic Summit in SW Missouri
University of Missouri Extension will host a Regional Economic Development Summit for Barry, Dade and Lawrence counties Tuesday, Sept. 3, at the MU Southwest Research, Extension and Education Center in Mount Vernon.
![Five levels of thrips damage.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2024/levels-of-thrips760.jpg?itok=naHul2Ic)
Recommendations for thrips management in the Missouri Bootheel
2024 has not been an ideal year for thrips management due to the consistent overcast during the daytime hours. This restricts thrips movement, and in hand can increase injury. Hot and sunny conditions are ideal not because thrips are more active, but because cotton and growth development occur more rapidly. We highlight some management options for thrips control in 2024.
![Flooding in NW Missouri.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/flood-hero-lg.jpg?itok=bzWgqTwm)
Severe-weather resources from MU Extension
News releases, videos, publications and more. Publications In-depth information is available from these MU Extension publications, which are available for free download. (To access publications, use the links below or go extension.missouri.edu/publications/ and search by publication number.)
![Pink peony. Photo by Oleksandra Deriy, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), via Wikimedia Commons. Attribution required.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/20210526-pink-peony.jpg?itok=x22X-3YN)
Peony: A Memorial Day tradition
COLUMBIA, Mo. – In the 1800s, peonies were one of the few flowers in bloom in late May. After the Civil War, mourners used peonies to adorn the graves of fallen soldiers on Decoration Day, which we now call Memorial Day. The huge, lavish blooms emit a luscious floral perfume that continues to make them one of America’s most treasured garden flowers, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
![Allene Gremaud, left, and Ann McCauley.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2024/image001.jpg?itok=5bSHiqXw)
MU Extension brings Recovery Friendly Workplace model to Nebraska
Missouri’s Recovery Friendly Workplace initiative is working with the Nebraska Safety Council on developing a similar program in Nebraska, said Rural Opioids Technical Assistance Program Director Ann McCauley.
![Lafayette County school districts have used the virtual reality goggles to explore national monuments such as the Mount Rushmore and the Lincoln Memorial. Youths have also visited the pyramids in Egypt, checked out the Great Barrier Reef and various rain forests, and experienced multiple national parks.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2024/20240520-LCVR-1.jpg?itok=-FiYGbbg)
Lafayette County MU Extension District makes strides toward long-term legacy
HIGGINSVILLE, Mo. – In April 2023, local voters approved a tax levy for the expansion and improvement of extension-related services to Lafayette County. This investment focused on financial security, hands-on learning, bridging technology and health gaps, and establishing and improving educational and engagement facilities for Lafayette County.
![Tulip field at Keukenhof in the Netherlands. Photo by Patrick Byers.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2024/20240520-tulip-PB.jpg?itok=dcO-atQK)
Horticulturists tour tulips of the Netherlands
Some University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialists recently traveled to the Netherlands to experience the height of the tulip season. The specialists toured the vast Keukenhof botanical garden in Lisse, Netherlands, where about 7 million tulip bulbs are planted each year.
![From April 2 to May 14, 2024, Missouri has seen significant improvement in drought status.](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop_300x200/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2024/20240517-Figure3.png?itok=C6KAKp_x)
Rains bring drought relief to Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Most of Missouri has transitioned out of drought conditions for now, said University of Missouri Extension state climatologist Zack Leasor. “The past two months have brought abundant rainfall to most of Missouri,” Leasor said. “After back-to-back drought years in 2022 and 2023, drought concerns were high in early 2024 following warm and dry conditions in February and March.”