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Small Dairy Herd Management workshops set for March 7 and 21 in SW Mo.
University of Missouri Extension is offering two Small Dairy Herd Management workshops: March 7 in Douglas County and March 21 in Christian County.
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2025 Womack Missouri Ag Outlook Conference is April 9
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri’s Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI-MU) will host the 2025 Abner W. Womack Missouri Agriculture Outlook Conference on Wednesday, April 9, at the MU Bradford Research Farm in Columbia.
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'Root to Profit' equips producers with fruit tree grafting skills, business strategies
Aspiring and established small farmers can improve their business planning and orchard management skills through hands-on workshops in March and April. University of Missouri Extension will offer “Root to Profit: Apple and Pear Tree Grafting and Small Farm Business Essentials” workshops across the Show-Me State this spring:
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Youths compete in 4-H State Meats Judging Contest
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri Extension 4-H State Meats Judging Contest on Saturday, Feb. 15, drew 60 competing 4-H members from across the state. contestants were able to develop and hone their judging skills and explore career and educational opportunities, said Kelsey Fuller, MU Extension state 4-H agriculture educator. Missouri 4-H holds the contest in partnership with the MU Meat Science Program.
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Weighing the value of eggs amid high prices
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The high price of eggs and egg shortages in some places have led some consumers to seek out other sources of protein.
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Timing, flexibility key to grazing tall fescue spring flush
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Proper management of the spring flush of tall fescue gives pastures and cattle a head start for the rest of the grazing season, says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Harley Naumann.
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Avoid financial heartbreak after drought
POTOSI, Mo. – Missouri is coming off consecutive years of severe droughts and depleted cool-season pastures. As drought lingers, so do old practices that worsen its impact, says Rachel Hopkins, University of Missouri Extension agricultural business specialist. She likens it to an oft-quoted definition of insanity – “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results” – to the mindset of some long-term fescue growers.
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MU Extension publishes vaccination overview for cow-calf operations
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension has a new publication about vaccination programs for cow-calf operations. The publication covers viruses and bacteria of concern, describes the difference between killed and modified live viral vaccines and provides a vaccine schedule example.
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Plant now for seeds of success
JACKSON, Mo. – Get a jump on the gardening season by starting vegetable and flower seeds indoors now, says University of Missouri Extension field horticulturist Donna Aufdenberg. “Starting seeds indoors doesn’t have to be difficult,” she says. “Knowing the basics is the best way to start.”
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March is bull breeding soundness exam month
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Bull management is important in preparation for the upcoming breeding season,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. March is the time to begin preparing those bulls for the upcoming breeding season. Davis will discuss management strategies to make sure bulls are ready for the upcoming breeding season.
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Missouri 4-H'ers compete in FCS National Championship
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Two Missouri 4-H’ers competed in January at the 2025 4-H Family and Consumer Science National Championship. Representing Missouri 4-H was Rebecca McDade of Clay County and Hayley Frevert of Cooper County. While in San Antonio, Texas, McDade competed in Fashion Revue in the Purchased Category. Frevert competed with an Educational Presentation and in Fashion Revue in the Constructed Category.
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Mitigating pregnancy loss in cow herds
MOUNTAIN GROVE, Mo. – With spring calving season underway, producers want as many healthy calves on the ground as possible. “A lot of folks see pregnancy loss within their herd and think of it in two ways: either a cow aborting a calf during gestation, or losing the calf after it is already made it on the ground,” said Chloe Collins, University of Missouri Extension dairy specialist. But multiple factors go into pregnancy loss, both…
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The skinny on what your hay bales really weigh
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Ask five farmers how much their hay bales weigh, and you’ll probably get five different answers — none of which are backed up by a scale ticket. “That’s because most folks think they know their bale weights, but more often than not, they’re guessing,” says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist and associate dean Rob Kallenbach. “And when you’re buying hay by the bale instead of by the ton, those…
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Overcome poor soil, lack of space with straw bale gardening
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Straw bale gardens are becoming popular with growers plagued with poor soil or limited garden space, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Straw bale gardening combines container gardening and raised-bed gardening into one green-thumb package.
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2025 is the Year of the Pea
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Gardeners looking for hap-pea-ness can look no further than the pea. The National Garden Bureau has declared 2025 the Year of the Pea. Few vegetables match the culinary delight of peas fresh from the garden, said David Trinklein, University of Missouri Extension horticulturist. “You might say it is a VIPea in the spring garden,” said Trinklein. When given an early start, growing peas is easy peasy.
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Winter weather resources from MU Extension
COLUMBIA, Mo. – MU Extension has resources to help you prepare for and respond to severe winter weather. Extended cold weather can freeze water in household plumbing. This can not only make your faucets run dry, it can result in burst pipes. Learn how to prevent or safely thaw frozen pipes.
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Turn milk jugs into mini-greenhouses
JACKSON, Mo. – One of your best gardening tools may be in your recycling bin, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Donna Aufdenberg. Use specially prepared milk jugs to jump-start your garden by winter sowing, a method of starting seeds in late winter for spring transplanting.
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Recovery Friendly Workplace-Missouri has new community resources
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Addiction costs Missouri $1.4 million per hour, but a recovery-friendly workplace can increase profits for businesses and foster an employee-focused culture. Enhancements to the Recovery Friendly Workplace-Missouri website provide new resources to help you learn more and do more in your community.
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Better numbers, better farm
WARSAW, Mo. – Handling farm finances wisely means knowing some key numbers that indicate the health of your operation.
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MU Extension offers beef feeding financial tool
POTOSI, Mo. – A risk management strategy for buying or retaining cattle is the goal of a new tool from University of Missouri Extension. The Beef Feeding Profitability Tracker, developed by MU Extension agricultural business specialist Rachel Hopkins, is a free Excel spreadsheet tool that lets producers track input costs of groups of cattle.
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Are insects the future of food?
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – More than a quarter of the world’s population already eats insects as a protein source. You may find these unusual delicacies in your future, too, says University of Missouri Extension field horticulturist Tamra Reall.
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Experts urge biosecurity in poultry flocks
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Strict biosecurity is urged in Missouri poultry operations to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which has been confirmed in five southwestern Missouri counties. Federal officials have confirmed HPAI in commercial poultry flocks in Newton, Jasper, McDonald, Lawrence and Barry counties.
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Missouri Master Gardener class offered at Lake of the Ozarks
LAKE OZARK, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension will offer Extension Master Gardener training at the Lake of the Ozarks, says MU Extension agronomist and Lake Area Master Gardener program coordinator Rudra Baral. Sessions are 6-9 p.m. Mondays, March 24 to June 23, at the Lake Ozark Fire Protection District training room, 1767 Bagnell Dam Blvd., Lake Ozark.
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This Valentine's Day, be a love bug
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Valentine’s Day isn’t just for humans, says University of Missouri Extension urban entomologist Emily Althoff. Missouri insects need and deserve love, too. Insects affect the environment with major roles in pollination, pest control, decomposition and the food web, Althoff says. “Ensuring insects are happy and healthy is important to sustaining our environment as well as agriculture.”
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Candy is dandy, except for pets
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Your furry friends likely share your fondness for Valentine’s Day chocolate and other seasonal confections. But candy, especially chocolate, is anything but sweet for your pet, says University of Missouri Extension veterinary toxicologist Timothy Evans. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center ranks chocolates as the seventh top pet toxin.