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5 tips to protect your pet from household hazards
COLUMBIA, Mo. – National Pet Poison Prevention Month in March is a good time to review how household items can endanger pets, says University of Missouri Extension veterinary toxicologist Tim Evans. Evans lists a few things to check in your home: 1. Safely store all household items that could be a danger to your pet. Pay particular attention to bedside or tableside medications that could cause serious injury or death to your pet.
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Free soil health workshops offered in Waynesville, Owensville
University of Missouri Extension will offer free training on “Understanding Your Soil Needs” March 19 in Waynesville and April 26 in Owensville. “This comprehensive in-person class will help you improve your land’s productivity,” says MU Extension agronomist Rudra Baral. “Whether you’re a farmer, gardener or landowner, you’ll gain practical knowledge and learn hands-on techniques to improve soil health and boost crop growth.”
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Survey seeks insights from Missouri sheep, goat producers
Missouri sheep and goat producers are encouraged to participate in a survey to help shape the future of the state’s small ruminant industry. The initiative is a collaboration between University of Missouri Extension and Lincoln University Extension.
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Kick-start the gardening season by turning it inside out
COLUMBIA, Mo. – It is hard to think about gardening when the weather is cool. “However, now is the perfect time to start seeds of certain garden plants indoors so they will be ready for transplant when warmer weather arrives,” said University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist David Trinklein. By kick-starting the growing season, you will have flowers and produce earlier, said Trinklein.
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MU Extension holds short-term operating plan workshops
WARSAW, Mo. – If key decision-makers on a farm are unable to make decisions for a short time (two weeks to six months), how well would their farm operations continue? Starting March 27, University of Missouri Extension will host “On My Own: Planning for the Unplanned” workshops on short-term operating plans to help landowners and farm operators make sound decisions when preparing for the unexpected.
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Spring cleaning for the mind, body and spirit
UNION, Mo. – Spring can be a great time to hit reset in multiple facets of life. Many think about cleaning up a messy space in their home or refreshing their natural spaces. Spring cleaning isn’t just for your home but also can be for your mind, body and spirit. • Create a list of short- and long-term goals and prioritize them.
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4-H'ers shine at State Horse Judging Contest
FULTON, Mo. – The University of Missouri Extension State 4-H Horse Judging Contest on March 1 drew 88 4-H members from across the state to William Woods University in Fulton. The event provided youths and their coaches the opportunity to tour the university’s facilities and learn more about its equine program from faculty and staff, said Kelsey Fuller, MU Extension state 4-H agriculture educator. Top 10 competitors, ages 8-10
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MU Extension offers webinar series on warm-season gardening
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension offers a webinar series on growing summer vegetables 6-8 p.m. on April 8, 10, 15 and 17 to help small farmers grow warm-season crops.
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Use sacrifice pastures now to spare best pastures for later
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Cattle producers welcome the rain, but it leads to muddy pastures and proper management is needed for optimum grazing the rest of the year,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Davis feels sacrifice pastures may be needed to help in promoting forage production for the rest of the grazing season.
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Add magnesium to prevent grass tetany in cattle
STOCKTON, Mo. – “As spring and lush grass growth arrives cattle producers need to plan for prevention of grass tetany,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Grass tetany arises from a cattle mineral imbalance, so Davis suggests cattle producers use management strategies discussed below to reduce the incidence in their cattle operations.
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SW Mo. All Breeds Performance Tested Bull Sale is March 31 in Springfield
STOCKTON, Mo. – “The 105th Southwest Missouri All Breeds Performance Tested Bull Sale is scheduled for March 31,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. The offering consists of 37 bulls, and the breed breakdown includes 34 Angus bulls, two Gelbvieh bulls and one Balancer bull. This long-running sale put on by the Southwest Missouri Beef Cattle Improvement Association will be held 7 p.m.
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Women in livestock webinar series starts March 25
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension’s Pearls of Production committee is hosting five online sessions for women livestock producers across the state over the next few months. Although the content is created for women producers, all producers are welcome to attend.
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Harvest all season long with succession sowing
ST. LOUIS – With a little bit of planning, gardeners can enjoy small amounts of fresh produce throughout the season by succession sowing, says University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist Eliza Pessereau. Succession sowing, sometimes called relay planting, means planting seeds of a particular crop at regular intervals so that the plants mature at different times.
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Regenerative ag businesses can unlock potential of direct marketing
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension, in partnership with the Missouri Forage and Grasslands Council and the MU Center for Regenerative Agriculture, will host a free, hands-on direct marketing workshop March 21 in Mount Vernon.
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Understanding grass tetany in beef cows
COLUMBIA, Mo. – If you’ve ever seen a cow suddenly collapse in early spring, seemingly out of nowhere, you might have witnessed a case of grass tetany, says University of Missouri Extension state beef nutritionist Eric Bailey.
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MU Extension to hold acidified foods training in April
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension’s food safety expert is hosting a training in acidified foods in April. Kantha Channaiah will teach the FDA-recognized Better Process Control School April 17-18 in Columbia. What are acidified foods?
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Resources for Severe Weather Preparedness Week
COLUMBIA, Mo. – March 3-7 is Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Missouri, notes Conne Burnham, University of Missouri Extension emergency management coordinator with the Missouri Extension Disaster Education Network.
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Warren County 4-H'ers cook at food pantry competition in Memphis
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Four teens from Warren County represented Missouri 4-H in the Mid-South 4-H Food Pantry Competition at the 73rd annual Mid-South Farm & Gin Show in Memphis, Tenn., on Saturday, March 1. The competition challenged 4-H competitors to apply their knowledge to create a healthy meal using common food pantry ingredients along with a surprise mystery ingredient, said Bethany Rippy, University of Missouri Extension 4-H…
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New guide helps ag drone pilots maximize efficiency, precision in aerial seeding
NOVELTY, Mo. – A new University of Missouri Extension publication can help farmers and ag drone pilots maximize efficiency and precision in aerial seeding. Gurbir Singh, state extension specialist in soil science, agroecology and landscape management, has published a first-of-its-kind guide on calibrating utility drones for broadcast spreading pattern check.
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Persistent drought costs Missouri ag industry
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Drought is costing Missouri agriculture significant amounts of money. Since the 1980s, Missourians have had 16 drought disasters costing $1 billion or more, says University of Missouri Extension state climatologist Zachary Leasor. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates the total cost of these disasters is between $10 billion and $20 billion.
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St. Patrick's Day: Time to rock your shamrock knowledge
CARROLLTON, Mo. – If a leprechaun leaps from the faerie den this St. Patrick’s Day to ask if you know a shamrock from a clover, what will you answer? “If you said the shamrock is a clover, you’re in luck,” says University of Missouri Extension field horticulturist Kathi Mecham. In short, all shamrocks are clovers, but not all clovers are shamrocks.
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Participate in the Farmland Values Opinion Survey
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri’s landowners, agricultural lenders, rural appraisers and others with firsthand knowledge of land transactions are invited to participate in the annual Missouri Farmland Values Opinion Survey conducted by University of Missouri Extension.
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Sign up now for 2025 crop pest alerts
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension’s Pest Monitoring Network offers free, timely pest alerts to farmers and gardeners, says MU Extension crops entomologist Ivair Valmorbida. Early detection allows farmers to take quick action before infestations become severe. By scouting and monitoring their fields, farmers can make management decisions to prevent yield loss and reduce pesticide use.
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Missouri Dairy Hall of Honors names winners
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Missouri Dairy Hall of Honors honored its 2024 winners in a special ceremony on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, at the University of Missouri.
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Gardening can protect monarch butterflies
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – With spring around the corner, University of Missouri Extension field horticulturist Kelly McGowan urges gardeners to consider how they can help monarch butterflies.