Image
With high fertilizer prices, are you better off buying fertilizer or supplemental hay?
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Increases in fertilizer prices add to the cost of growing forage for grazing. This leads farmers to ask if they should buy hay or fertilizer, says University of Missouri Extension nutrient management specialist John Lory. Comparing the benefits of buying hay vs. applying fertilizer for better yields is complicated, but it is crucial to the bottom line, says Lory.
As temperatures drop, watch for fescue foot
MOUNT VERNON, Mo. – When temperatures fall, beef producers should watch for signs of fescue foot in their beef herds.“As the cold weather moves in, you are likely to notice some cows or yearlings on fescue pastures may be slow-moving early in the day,” says University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Eldon Cole. This might be an early warning sign of fescue foot.
Planting seeds of thought for choosing seeds
COLUMBIA, Mo. – As winter sets in, gardeners thumb through seed catalogs in anticipation of next year’s gardens.But not all seed sources are created equal, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Katie Kammler.Choose a reputable source known for disease-free seed, high germination rates and good results, says Kammler. Consider the variety selection, seed treatments and organic versus non-organic.
MU Extension agronomist offers tips to offset high nitrogen prices
GALENA, Mo. – If there was ever a time to do a soil test, this is it, says University of Missouri Extension agronomist Tim Schnakenberg. Rising fertilizer prices make it too expensive to guess on how to apply nutrients, says Schnakenberg. Soil tests can prevent buying and applying fertilizer where not needed. See the MU Extension publication “Soil Sampling Hayfields and Row Crops” at extension.missouri.edu/publications/g9217.
Reduce holiday stress with these tips
COLUMBIA, Mo. – It’s the most wonderful time of the year, or so they say. Picture-perfect families with perfectly coiffed hair and pearly white smiles appear in matching holiday attire in countless holiday television commercials. Perfectly wrapped gifts wait under perfectly decorated trees. How merry and bright! And then there’s the rest of us, says Jeremiah Terrell, a University of Missouri Extension human development and family…
Image
Survey finds Missouri land values increased across the board in 2021
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Landowners who purchased Missouri property in 2021 paid more for land than buyers who purchased land in 2020, according to the latest Missouri Farmland Values Opinion Survey report from University of Missouri Extension.
Image
Statewide survey shows that drugs affect 70% of Missouri employers
A new statewide survey illustrates a growing substance use disorder problem in Missouri workplaces. According to the survey of 619 Missouri business owners and human resource professionals, more than 70% of Missouri employers surveyed say they are suffering consequences such as absenteeism, decreased productivity and accidents.
Image
Poinsettia: America’s No. 1 potted flower is relative newbie to the holidays
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Poinsettia is America’s most popular flowering plant, with annual sales approaching $200 million. Despite its close association with the Christmas season, however, it’s a relative newcomer as holiday home decor, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
Give yourself the gift of a debt-free shopping season
SHELBYVILLE, Mo. – ’Tis the season to be jolly. And in debt. Plan your seasonal shopping purchases to avoid overspending, says University of Missouri Extension family financial education specialist Wendy Brumbaugh. Santa may bring gifts for everyone, but you don’t have to, she says. There’s nothing Scrooge-like about being smart with your money, says Brumbaugh. Brumbaugh offers these tips for holiday shoppers:
10 steps to protect your identity this holiday season
MEXICO, Mo. – Don’t let an identity thief steal the sparkle out of your holiday season.Identity theft is when someone steals your personal information and uses it without permission. It can damage your finances, credit history and reputation. “Identity theft can wreck your life,” says University of Missouri Extension family financial education specialist Virgil Woolridge.
Holidays can be lonely for some
MACON, Mo. – Upcoming gatherings can be a sad reminder of who’s not home for the holidays this year.Merriment of the season sometimes highlights loneliness and loss of a loved one through death, illness, distance or broken relationship, said Jeremiah Terrell, University of Missouri Extension human development and family studies specialist. For many, there’s nothing worse than feeling alone in a crowd of laughing friends and relatives.
Beware of post-holiday scams
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Increasing use of social media creates opportunities for thieves to rob you during the post-holiday season, says University of Missouri Extension Law Enforcement Training Institute director John Worden.Facebook swap shop pages and Craigslist ads bustle with items for sale. Sellers tempt you with phrases like “got two for Christmas, selling extra for cheap” or “child didn’t like.”
Image
Toxic poinsettias a myth
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Although scientific studies have declared the poinsettia harmless, the plant still has a questionable reputation regarding its safety, said a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist.“It’s a myth that poinsettias are toxic,” said David Trinklein.
Homegrown small business ready to scale and diversify, Hannibal Machine - Hannibal, MO
From wielding a broom to welding metal art, Scott Haycraft grew from a youngster helping around the shop to a skilled machinist and part-owner of Hannibal Machine in Hannibal, Missouri.
Image
Plan to kill toxic perilla mint this spring or summer
MOUNT VERNON, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Eldon Cole said he received a report recently of cows in southwestern Missouri being killed by perilla mint, a toxic plant. Cole urges producers to plan to destroy the annual plant in pastures next spring or summer. Broadleaf pasture herbicides, applied April through June before seed set, provide control when applied at the correct rate, he says.
Image
Founders Fund helps ensure Osher@Mizzou’s future vitality
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Missouri (Osher@Mizzou) has announced the establishment of an endowed Founders Fund — a step that will help ensure the long-term vitality of this University of Missouri Extension program that provides educational, cultural and social opportunities for learners ages 50 and over.
Image
Wesley Tucker named first recipient of new Brown Professional Development Award
Farm families count Wesley Tucker among Missouri's best resources for help with intergenerational farm transfer and succession issues. Tucker, a University of Missouri Extension field specialist in agriculture business and policy, also is recognized nationally as an expert on the economics of forage livestock systems.
Properly Fitted Bike Helmet Key to Reducing Injuries
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Bicycles remain a popular holiday gift purchase but the gift would be incomplete without a bicycle helmet according to Willa Williams, 4-H youth specialist in Greene County with University of Missouri Extension and a League Cycling Instructor. “When people are thinking about buying bicycles this holiday, remember to include a bicycle helmet,” said Williams. “All bike riders should wear bicycle helmets.”
Image
Garden strengthens community across differences
NOEL, Mo. – Food is a bridge that brings people together. That conviction was the seed for a garden that now flourishes on what was once a rocky hillside plot in Noel, a town of 1,800 in the southwest corner of Missouri.
From friendship bracelets to order fulfillment and beyond: One entrepreneur’s journey, Court Street Custom Fulfillment - Fulton, MO
Some people are born entrepreneurs. Beth Snyder is among them.
Humility is Key Attribute for Best Leaders According to Current Research
OZARK, Mo. – Superheroes may not be powered by humility, but great leaders are, according to Dr. Pam Duitsman, a county engagement specialist with University of Missouri Extension. “Many would not readily associate the quality of humility with strong leadership. We usually think of attributes like being strong, bold, confident, and decisive,” said Duitsman. “But a growing body of research is showing that humility is a key attribute…
Sweet potato a recent guest at Thanksgiving
COLUMBIA, Mo. –Though sweet potato is one of the most widely served side dishes at Thanksgiving dinner today, it probably wasn’t on the menu at the first Thanksgiving in 1621, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. According to an account by Plymouth settler Edward Winslow, waterfowl, venison and seafood dominated the meal. He also mentions corn. “Everything else at the three-day feast is speculative,”…
Image
Tigers United: Mascots set aside rivalries to help save relatives in the wild
Missouri families and educators! Truman has something important to share with you. As any loyal fan knows, Mizzou’s mascot, Truman, is a Bengal tiger. Sadly, the number of tigers in the wild has declined sharply over the last century. Today, there are fewer than 4,000 tigers left worldwide!
Why we no longer neighbor
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Many Americans recognize that relationships with neighbors are different today than 20 or 30 years ago. One study from the Harvard Medical School shows that 50 years ago, neighboring was talked about in terms of social relationships, but today it is spoken of in terms of etiquette. Specifically, things like "be quiet and leave me alone."
Image
Missouri SBDC receives grant to help businesses in underserved communities
The Missouri Small Business Development Centers received a $125,000 award for specialized training, business counseling and technical assistance for R&D-focused small businesses under the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program.