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10 ways to manage high input costs in 2025
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension agronomist Wayne Flanary says 2025 likely will be a year when corn producers need to batten down the hatches to offset low sale prices and high input costs. MU Extension ag business economist Ben Brown and others predict that corn prices will fall below the $4.30 mark by the end of 2025, a marked drop from $6.54 per bushel in 2023.
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'Growing Success' webinar series supports food and farm entrepreneurs
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Small-scale food and farm entrepreneurs face unique challenges with business planning and marketing. To help meet these needs, University of Missouri Extension is launching “Growing Success: Marketing and Business Development for Small Farms.” Running throughout March, this evening webinar series is designed to equip attendees with practical skills and resources for success.
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MU studies how varieties, seed treatments reduce SCN
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Soybean growers can’t rely on seed treatments alone to combat soybean cyst nematode (SCN), says University of Missouri Extension state plant pathologist Mandy Bish.
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Prepare for a successful calving season
STOCKTON, Mo. – “When planning for a successful calving season, plan for everything that might happen with the goal of the cow giving birth with little difficulty to a healthy calf,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Furthermore, manage cows to provide adequate quality and quantity of nourishment to the calf and rebred during the next breeding season.
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Missouri 2025 Ag Outlook shows road ahead
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri experts have released the Show-Me 2025 Missouri Agricultural Outlook, which shows a mixed outlook for Missouri’s crops and livestock and the challenges and opportunities ahead. The report is available at https://mizzou.us/MAO25.
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MU Extension calls for speakers for Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension invites dynamic speakers and facilitators to share their expertise at this year’s Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities (CEC) Conference, Sept. 30-Oct. 2 in Excelsior Springs.
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Genetics for a better cow herd
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Improving fertility in cows involves leveraging genetic selection and advanced genomic tools to enhance reproductive performance. But genetic potential is only half the battle. Environment is the other half, said University of Missouri Extension state beef genetics specialist Jamie Courter at the recent Missouri Livestock Symposium in Kirksville.
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Show-Me State shows strong growth
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri’s economy surged ahead in the third quarter of 2024. The state’s gross domestic product grew at an annualized rate of 3.8%, outpacing the U.S. average of 3.1% and ranking 16th nationwide for economic growth during the quarter.
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Do fungicides pay off in soybean?
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Fungicides can be an essential part of an integrated pest management plan, but they do not always provide a positive return on investment for soybean producers, according to University of Missouri strip trial research.
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Gardening boosts your immune system
We tend to think about our immune system more during the cooler months, as they coincide with cold and flu season. Research shows that gardening can naturally boost the immune system, making it a great way to stay healthy year-round. Three ways gardening helps our bodies fight off illness and infection are: 1. Increased movement
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Tools help farmers estimate American Relief Plan assistance
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri specialists have developed online tools to help farmers estimate their potential payments from the American Relief Act, which was passed by Congress late last year. “Economic assistance payments to Missouri crop producers are expected to provide significant liquidity to the local farm sector,” said Alejandro Plastina, director of the MU Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center (RaFF).
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Cattle care during prolonged extreme cold
MARSHFIELD, Mo. – Cold weather has moved into Missouri quickly with no plans of leaving soon, according to forecasts.
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Look for signs of corn leafhoppers in 2025
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension state crops entomologist Ivair Valmorbida expects that growers will see corn leafhoppers again in 2025. MU Extension faculty found corn leafhoppers in Missouri corn crops for the first time in 2024. Corn leafhoppers carry corn stunt disease, which can lead to 100% yield loss, says Valmorbida.
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Start plant care now for 2025 holiday blooms
Source: David Trinklein, 573-882-9631 COLUMBIA, Mo. – Holiday plants can live to bloom another year with proper care, said University of Missouri Extension state horticulturist David Trinklein. Now is the time to start that care. Plants such as amaryllis and Christmas cactus received as gifts this past Christmas are fairly easy to rebloom next holiday season. They truly are “gifts that keeps on giving,” said Trinklein.
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Patience can pay off in saving storm-damaged trees
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Homeowners eager to apply aggressive first aid to storm-damaged trees could be removing trees that might have survived. As long as there is no physical risk to you or your family, be patient. If you are unsure about the tree’s condition, keep the tree for now, advises Hank Stelzer, University of Missouri Extension forester.
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Prepare cattle for frigid temperatures
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Extremely cold weather, ice and snow are putting Missouri cattle at risk. Temperatures below zero degrees Fahrenheit are predicted, with the wind chill factor much lower in many parts of Missouri this week. As temperatures drop, producers need to ensure their cattle are kept safe in the harsh weather, said University of Missouri Extension state beef nutritionist Eric Bailey.
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Final fall 2024 Show-Me-Select sale sets record
PALMYRA, Mo. – The sixth and final fall sale of Show-Me-Select heifers, Saturday, Dec. 14, in Palmyra, set a local record for total cost of heifers sold. The 53 buyers set a northeastern Missouri record $1,162,600 worth of bred heifers exchanging hands in one-and-a-half hours. Thirty-five repeat buyers purchased 192 head, or 59% of the total consignment, said Daniel Mallory, University of Missouri Extension regional livestock…
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Say bah 'hum-bug' to uninvited tree pests
COLUMBIA, Mo. – You want folks to “ooh” and “aah” when they see your holiday decorations, not “eww” and “ugh!” “There is a risk that fresh trees and garland will bring unwanted gifts – insects – when moved from nature to inside,” says University of Missouri Extension urban entomologist Emily Althoff. “While many insects can be beneficial, they may not be ‘tree-mendous’ in our homes.”
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Be on lookout for stink bugs in soybean in 2025
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri soybean farmers should be on the lookout for several species of stink bugs in 2025, says University of Missouri Extension state crops entomologist Ivair Valmorbida.
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Red crown rot: No cure for this soybean disease
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Once red crown rot spreads, you cannot unspread it, says University of Missouri Extension state plant pathologist Mandy Bish. Currently, soybean and disease specialists know of no cure for red crown rot, which can reduce yields by an estimated 80% in severe cases. Seed treatments may reduce symptoms and infection, but these treatments cannot eliminate the fungus, which persists in the soil.
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MU Extension updates guides on horse trail riding, haltering and tying
WEST PLAINS, Mo. – One of the many perks of owning horses is riding them on trails. University of Missouri Extension has updated its guide on Community Pleasure Trail Riding and published a new Trail Riding Checklist. MU Extension also has updated a publication on Haltering and Tying Horses.
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Deck the halls with proper caution
COLUMBIA, Mo. – For many, the holiday season would not be complete without evergreens, holly, mistletoe and other traditional plants. But it’s important to exercise care with some of these plants for happy and safe holidays, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
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Dreaming of a green Christmas
The leaves have dropped, branches are bare, and the garden blooms are gone, but trees and flowering plants still bring us cheer during the winter holidays.
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Online ag research: When more is less
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Information in the digital age is like porridge in the tale “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” How do you know what is too much, too little, just right – or maybe not right at all? The digital age has put vast amounts of information at your fingertips, which is good, says University of Missouri Extension weed scientist Kevin Bradley. What is not good is the confusion from trying to parse out what information is reliable…
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Missouri youths attend National 4-H Congress in Atlanta
This year’s National 4-H Congress, in Atlanta, hosted more than 700 youth delegates representing 45 states and Puerto Rico. From an evening of culture at the Atlanta History Center to an international dinner and a morning of community service, members of the Missouri 4-H delegation connected with youths from across the country, said Megan Kershner, University of Missouri Extension state 4-H leadership and civic engagement educator.