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Marking a 100-year legacy for three Missouri 4-H families
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Missouri 4-H Foundation recently recognized three families with the 2020 Missouri 4-H Century Family Award. Each family represents a combined 100 years or more of membership and volunteer service within 4-H.Bates CountyThe Arnold FamilyPike CountyThe Branstetter FamilyVernon County
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Missouri 4-H faculty share expertise in national journals
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri 4-H faculty have recently shared their expertise and influence nationally about issues as diverse as programming for youths who are homeless and the decision-making process behind going to the State Fair in the midst of a pandemic. Four articles by Missouri 4-H faculty were published this past December in national journals directed at extension and youth development professionals.
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From Idea to Fruition
ROLLA, Mo. – Men have long dominated the forestry industry, but within the last 30 years women have made great strides in forestry, according to the United States Forestry Service. University of Missouri Extension natural resources specialist Sarah Havens is one individual helping women find their passion in the field of forestry.
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Data sheets document UM System's impact
COLUMBIA, Mo. – County-level data sheets on the impact of the University of Missouri System are at www.umsystem.edu/ums/sc/datasheets. The printable two-page PDFs have been updated with data for FY 2020.
Missouri land values continue to grow
COLUMBIA, Mo. – All classes of Missouri land values grew steadily in the past year, according to the University of Missouri Extension’s annual survey of farmers, rural appraisers and agricultural lenders. Ray Massey, MU Extension agricultural economics professor, heads the survey efforts.
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Frost seeding improves yield, quality
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Forage yield and quality improve when legumes are frost-seeded at the right time, says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Craig Roberts. Frost seeding, a method of broadcasting seeds over snow- or frost-covered pastures, improves poor pastures at a low cost. Seeds work their way into the soil and germinate as the ground freezes and thaws between winter and spring.
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Reducing influenza in your community
UNIONVILLE, Mo. – In addition to educating people in Putnam County on topics such as farm leases and fence laws, University of Missouri Extension county engagement specialist Joe Koenen also strives to educate his north-central Missouri community on the importance of staying healthy this flu season.
What will it take to help small towns survive?
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Many small Missouri towns – perhaps most -- need new businesses and improvements in their downtown area, according to David Burton, county engagement specialist with University of Missouri Extension. "One key is going to be rethinking how we do things," said Burton. "I just read 'The Total Town Makeover' by Andrew McCrea. He encourages communities to rethink business, community, and homes in small-town America…
Crafting Seamless Business Plans with the SBDC - Nine Patch Quilt & Fabrics, Nevada, MO
After two years of planning, in April 2006, Erica Skouby said goodbye to her corporate job and started her own quilt shop. In June 2006 Nine Patch Quilt & Fabrics opened to the public, carrying cotton fabric, books, patterns, and handmaid gifts. Skouby also hosts classes on quilting and machine embroidery, completes custom sewing for customers, and donates her time to supplying pillowcases for children staying at Heartland…
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Missouri farmer spreads MU Extension mission to beginning producers
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri’s array of soils and topography allows producers to grow an extensive list of vegetables, from leafy greens to cucurbits. Springfield farmer Curtis Millsap is one of many producers who benefit from University of Missouri Extension guidance on commercial horticulture. Since 2003 he and his wife, Sarah, have been working with MU Extension, particularly horticulture specialist Patrick Byers.
The Myth of Multitasking
Have you ever been paying a bill online, while trying to get dinner ready, while letting the dog out, all while asking your family about their day. Societal norms have told us multitasking makes us more efficient and allows us to get more done all at once. However, the opposite is true we get less done; become more stressed; and tired. Researchers suggest that multitasking can actually reduce productivity by as much as 40%.
Never say never to nitrogen
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Sometimes it pays to be late.Nitrogen application is one of those times, says University of Missouri Extension nutrient management specialist Peter Scharf.Scharf, who has researched nitrogen application in corn, wheat and other crops for 35 years, continues to favor spring nitrogen application over fall-applied application, especially during wet years, which are becoming more frequent.
MU nursing students step up to help with patient care over winter break
COLUMBIA, Mo. – One by one, the 70 nursing students on the late-afternoon video call turned on their cameras. Some were still in nursing uniforms from clinical, some were just taking a break from studying. Every hand was raised.“I was in tears,” said Robin Harris, associate dean for academic affairs at the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing.
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Grant aims to improve lavender growing in Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missourians may learn more about lavender thanks to a grant to University of Missouri Extension from the Missouri Department of Agriculture.The $39,274 grant will determine standardized growing practices for lavender in Missouri.It is one of four grants recently awarded by the Missouri Department of Agriculture to MU Extension. Federal funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant…
Adoption of precision ag varies across generations
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Farmers who fear they are falling behind in farm technology might not be as behind as they think.Kansas State University cropping system economist Terry Griffin explains that a recent Kansas Farm Management Association study on farm technologies dispels the myth that all farmers use all of the latest technology.Griffin was one of the speakers at the December 2020 University of Missouri Crop Management Conference, held…
MU research looks at technology to kill weeds
COLUMBIA, Mo. – If it’s a weed, spray it. That’s the mindset that most in the agriculture industry held for years.That thinking no longer works as more weeds become resistant to herbicides, says Kevin Bradley, University of Missouri Extension weed scientist.Bradley uses waterhemp as an example. Waterhemp is one of 14 herbicide-resistant weed species in Missouri. It is a prolific producer of seeds, and Bradley considers it Missouri’s…
MU entomologist lists pests to watch in 2021
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension field crop entomologist Kevin Rice says Missouri soybean and corn growers should be on the lookout for growing populations of yield-robbing insects in 2021. Soybean gall midge MU Extension found soybean gall midge in two northwestern Missouri counties in 2019.
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Tar spot found in NE Missouri cornfields
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri corn growers should scout for an emerging crop disease, tar spot, in 2021, says University of Missouri Extension plant pathologist Kaitlyn Bissonnette. She identified tar spot in four far northeastern Missouri counties: Scotland, Lewis and Clark in 2019 and Marion in 2020. She expects it to spread in the northern half of Missouri and then to the middle of the state.
Proper hay storage reduces waste, increases profit
COLUMBIA, Mo. – There are two ways to more hay: Grow more or store it better. Many factors influence how bales make the trip from the field to the cow, says Jim Humphrey, a University of Missouri agronomist and member of the NRCS+MU Grasslands Project. Environmental factors such as sunlight, precipitation, evaporation and ground conditions can affect quality.
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Missouri 4-H'ers warm state with handmade blankets
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri 4-H’ers have been hard at work making blankets since the State 4-H Fashion Revue in October. Fifty 4-H’ers from 19 counties donated 72 handmade blankets to Project Linus as a result of a philanthropy challenge at the event.
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Norfolk Island pine: A houseplant for the holidays and beyond
NEVADA, Mo. – If you don’t have time or space for a large Christmas tree, consider a Norfolk Island pine. “Many stores sell these evergreen houseplants during the holidays,” says University of Missouri Extension agronomist Pat Miller. “These easy-to-grow plants often come decorated and are perfect for gift-giving or to keep for yourself.”
Having Communication Problems? We’ve Got Language Solutions, Language Solutions - St. Louis, MO
The relationships Wurst has made with the SBDC gave her the confidence to make decisions for her company during unpredictable times. Wurst has continued to expand and elevate her business and the services that Language Solutions provide.
Helping a Community Stay Connected, St. Charles IT - St. Charles, MO
2020 has shown businesses, employees, teachers, students, and families how important a good internet connection can be. The transition to doing work and school from home, for many, has been difficult. Businesses and schools were not prepared for the curveballs that were thrown this year. St. Charles IT of St. Charles, Missouri, was built for these types of circumstances and has helped hundreds of customers make the switch.
Scaling a Veteran Business, KC Cattle Company - Weston, MO
After exploring various pathways, the 4-year-old KC Cattle Co. of Weston, Missouri, found itself on solid footing the last 18 months, says owner Patrick Montgomery.