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Chicken-wing demand helps farm prices; turkeys don’t share consumer taste shift
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Chicken wings helped poultry farm prices take off this year. Wing prices ran at least 30 percent above year-ago levels since late May, say University of Missouri Extension economists.Thighs and legs also sold well above a year ago. Dark meat leads demand, say Scott Brown and Daniel Madison.A trend to dark hasn’t helped turkey sales, however. “Chicken and turkey prices moved in opposite directions in 2017,” Brown says.
MU FRTI staff member deploys to Hurricane Harvey
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Training Institute (MU FRTI) curriculum specialist Erin McGruder does more than just write about disaster response. McGruder, a member of FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Missouri Task Force 1 (MO-TF1), deployed to Texas as a technical information specialist in response to Hurricane Harvey’s devastating August landfall.
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MU Extension receives USDA tech grant for pastures
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension has received a $444,000 grant to create a mobile application to help farmers manage forage better. The Conservation Innovation Grant from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services is one of 33 nationwide. It provides seed money to implement new ideas and techniques for conservation on private lands, says NRCS state conservationist J.R. Flores.
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Mum's forgotten cousin bursts with fall color
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The fall beauty, aster, gets its name from the ancient Greek word for star. And a bright and shining star it is, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
Regional hay school offered Oct. 14 in Linn
LINN, Mo. – Livestock producers and horse owners can learn how to make “Hay That Pays” at the University of Missouri Extension regional hay school Oct. 14 in Linn.The event runs 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, at Community Christian Church, 1598 U.S. Highway 50, Linn.Attendees will be able to decide if making their own hay and balage is right for their farming operations, says MU Extension livestock specialist Anita Ellis.
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Nature's multipurpose utensils
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Our ancestors couldn’t go to the hardware store or shopping mall to buy utensils and other household essentials. Instead, they improvised with items found in nature.
MU Farm Bill Summit, Oct. 18, to discuss needs from new laws
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A day of talks on issues Missourians need in the next farm bill from the U.S. Congress will be Oct. 18 at the University of Missouri.MU Extension pulls together interested parties for lectures and roundtable talks. The meeting is for all farmers.The 2018 Farm Bill Summit follows a tradition of the long-running Breimyer Conference, says Scott Brown, MU economist.
Cover crops improve garden soil
COLUMBIA, Mo. – “You don’t need a green thumb to be a good gardener, but it certainly helps to have good soil,” said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
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Pretty pear trees invasive, hard to kill
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Bradford pear and its cousins may spread more than springtime beauty as these popular ornamental trees escape and become pests.
Missouri youth to celebrate National 4-H Week Oct. 1-7
COLUMBIA, Mo. – For the 75th consecutive year, millions of youth, parents, volunteers and alumni across the country will celebrate National 4-H Week during the first week of October.
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MU FRTI's Tim Hartz participates in 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Tim Hartz, instructional support associate with the University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Training Institute (MU FRTI), participated in the Missouri Division of Fire Safety Stair Climb on Sunday, Sept. 10, in Jefferson City.
MU Extension offers course for public board members
UNIONVILLE, Mo. – You’ve just been elected to a public board of directors. Now what? University of Missouri Extension offers a two-night course to help newly elected board members. The course is offered at Unionville, Kahoka, Trenton, Brookfield, Edina and Palmyra, 6-9 p.m. on Nov. 9 and 16. Topics:
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Plant daffodils now for early spring color
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Fall is an ideal time to establish daffodils for a glorious show of color next spring.
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The flower that thrives on neglect
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Few garden flowers give more and ask for less than daylily.
Cover crop residue can complicate nitrogen management in corn
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Farmers who rely on surface-applied nitrogen may have difficulty if they apply to fields with high surface residue, says University of Missouri Extension nutrient management specialist John Lory.This is especially true for UAN solution, Lory says. Residue can temporarily tie up nitrogen fertilizer because it is taken up by microorganisms decomposing the residue.“This is particularly a problem with liquid nitrogen…
It's time to plant summer's noon ambrosia—sweet corn
COLUMBIA, Mo.
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Testing tells alfalfa's worth
ASH GROVE, Mo. – “Cows and horses think alfalfa looks like candy, smells like candy and tastes like candy,” says University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Andrew McCorkill.However, alfalfa’s proof is in the pudding. Not all hay that looks good is good hay. Not all good hay looks good. The only way to know is by testing samples to determine the nutritional value.
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Rare fish, found only in Perry County, sheds light on improved water quality
PERRYVILLE, Mo. – A rare cave-dwelling fish is shedding new light on how farmers are improving water quality through cover crops and nutrient management. University of Missouri Extension and the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) say new nests of grotto sculpin are growing in caves in southeastern Missouri.
AgrAbility raises awareness of medicines' side effects
COLUMBIA, Mo. – All medicine has side effects. Even minor side effects can be deadly for farmers, says Kelly Cochran of the Missouri AgrAbility Project’s Pharm to Farm program. The statewide outreach program helps farmers identify medical risks through their local pharmacist. In many rural Missouri areas, pharmacists fill health care gaps. They are the first line of defense in farm health and safety.
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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_yVBLIjY PERRYVILLE, 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.
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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.