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New MU soybean growth and yield report available
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri Extension Soybean Growth Monitoring biweekly report for 2026 is now available. The report, in its third year of publication, provides soybean farmers information on the progress of the Missouri soybean crop every two weeks.
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Missouri 4-H State Livestock Judging Contest
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension hosted the 2026 Missouri 4-H State Livestock Judging Contest on Saturday, June 6, at the Trowbridge Livestock Center in Columbia. The event brought 92 youths from across the state to demonstrate their skills in evaluating livestock.
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Vines that shine: Screening views while adding beauty
Ornamental vining plants often are overlooked as a way to screen unpleasant views while adding beauty to a landscape, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
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Missouri 4-H Foundation awards 95 scholarships totaling $127,000
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Missouri 4-H Foundation will award 95 scholarships totaling $127,000 to Missouri 4-H members to help further their education and prepare them for the future. The 2026 scholarship recipients have demonstrated exceptional leadership, community service, and academic achievement, said Rachel Augustine, senior director of advancement for University of Missouri Extension and the Missouri 4-H Foundation.
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Poison hemlock: beautiful and deadly
BOONVILLE, Mo. – White flowers in Missouri pastures, fencerows and along roadsides in June look benign. However, they are anything but, says Todd Lorenz, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in agronomy. Poison hemlock is a prolific, highly toxic biennial weed that poses serious threats to people and livestock. Each plant produces up to 38,000 seeds, guaranteeing its spread, especially in no-till crop fields.
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Pasture thistles can reduce profitability, productivity
BOONVILLE, Mo. – The spiny growth of thistles can shade out desirable pasture grasses and clover, reducing both profitability and productivity of pastureland. Many Missouri fields now have large populations of musk and bull thistles, says Todd Lorenz, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in agronomy.
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100 Miles, 100 Days challenge begins June 16
COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri Extension invites Missourians to get moving this summer through the statewide 100 Miles, 100 Days challenge, a free program that encourages participants to stay active.
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MU Weed Science, Missouri Soybeans join for expanded July 8 field day
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The annual University of Missouri Weed Science Crop & Pest Management Field Day in Columbia will expand this year to offer a full day of learning, thanks to a collaboration with the Missouri Soybean Association’s Ag Innovation Day on July 8.
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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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Yucca: Overlooked star of early summer
COLUMBIA, Mo.—Those towering flower stalks covered with white, bell-shaped blossoms that appear in early June belong to yucca, a plant with a somewhat unfortunate name. Yuccas are resilient and striking additions to water-wise landscapes, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Beyond their tough exterior, they provide year-round evergreen texture and an abundance of flowers each spring that support local…
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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.