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Cropland to pasture: Linneus workshop offers the how and why
LINNEUS, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service specialists will join with the Alliance for Grassland Renewal to present a March 3 workshop on how to convert cropland to pasture.
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Give Valentine's Day flowers TLC for extended enjoyment
Learn how to extend the life of Valentine's Day flowers with a simple homemade preservative and expert tips to keep them fresh longer.
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Jefferson County Ag Conference is Feb. 21 in Hillsboro
HILLSBORO, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension in Jefferson County and the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District will hold the 102nd Jefferson County Ag Conference (formerly the Soils and Crops Conference) 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at Hillsboro High School, 123 Leon Hall Parkway, Hillsboro.
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Christian Co. Livestock and Forage Conference is March 3
OZARK, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension specialists will offer updates to help producers grow better forages for healthier herds and better profits at the annual Christian County Livestock and Forage Conference, 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 3. The free event will be held in the Agriculture Building of Ozarks Technical Community College’s Richmond Valley campus, 3369 W. Jackson St., Ozark, said MU Extension agronomist Tim Schnakenberg.
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Grazing during spring green-up
Seeing the bright green new growth pop up in our pastures signals the end of winter and the transition into spring. As that short green carpet starts to come up, cattle start chasing that short growth and may turn their noses up to hay they were previously eating well. However, allowing cattle to nip off this short regrowth can slow down the pasture growth moving into the spring.
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Veteran R.E.A.D.S. event to highlight Kansas City Medal of Honor recipient
MU Extension’s Veteran R.E.A.D.S. program will host a Feb. 23 talk on Willy Frederick James Jr., Kansas City’s only native Medal of Honor recipient. James was one of seven African American soldiers whose Medals of Honor were approved decades after their wartime service due to discriminatory barriers in the awards process. His widow, Valcenie James, received the medal from President Bill Clinton in 1997.
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Add value, manage market volatility by selling beef directly to consumers
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Despite cattle prices being near all-time highs, marketing beef direct-to-consumer still adds value to beef operations. Two updated University of Missouri Extension guides help producers understand the numbers and methods behind marketing your beef to consumers.
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Fight the summer slump with annual lespedeza
During hot, dry summer months, tall fescue growth slows, forage quality declines, toxicity levels rise and overall forage availability can become limited. Annual lespedeza is a forage option that offers a simple, low-input way to help fill this summer slump while improving overall pasture performance and soil health.
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Quick, right response essential after pesticide exposure
BOONVILLE, Mo. – Pesticide handling remains one of the most hazardous tasks on the farm, says Todd Lorenz, University of Missouri Extension agronomist.
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10 tips to keep the romance in relationships
Keep the spark alive with these 10 expert-backed tips to nurture romance, deepen connection, and strengthen your relationship every day.
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Tax changes affecting tips come with limits, paperwork hurdles
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Recent changes to the federal tax code have drawn attention for creating a new tax break for workers who earn tips. While often described as “no tax on tips,” the provision is more limited and more complicated than that phrase suggests, says Andrew Zumwalt, director of the University of Missouri’s Personal Financial Planning program.
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Preparing Missouri's next generation of farmers
Column by University of Missouri Extension agricultural business specialists Wesley Tucker, Denice Ferguson and Mary Sobba, and Robert Jones, director of Integrated Marketing Communications for MU Extension.
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100th annual Audrain County Soils & Crop Conference set for March 2
MEXICO, Mo. – The 100th annual Audrain Soils & Crops Conference is 6:20-8:40 p.m. Monday, March 2, at the top floor of the Hart Career Center, 905 Wade St., Mexico.
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MU Ag Lender School offers hands-on training
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Agricultural lenders looking to enhance their expertise can register for the University of Missouri Agricultural Lenders School, June 1-4 in Columbia. This program, tailored for early-career lenders and those new to agricultural loan responsibilities, aims to equip participants with the knowledge and confidence to effectively serve farm clients, said MU Extension agricultural economist Ryan Milhollin.
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Plants begin to stir underground in February
Take heart, plant lovers. Winter rest is almost over, spring renewal begins.
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Monett Agriculture Conference set for Feb. 24
MONETT, Mo. – The Monett Agriculture Conference once again features dairy during the morning session and beef production in the evening. On Tuesday, Feb. 24, the Monett Armory in Monett will be filled with vendors supporting the education event for agriculturalist of the region, said University of Missouri Extension dairy specialist Reagan Bluel.
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Keeping Missouri calves home
Each year, thousands of Missouri calves leave the state shortly after weaning. Leaving with them is the opportunity to add value, strengthen local economies and grow producer profits. University of Missouri Extension is working to change that through its expanded Feedlot School program.
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Born Strong, Stay Healthy supports parents before and after childbirth
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Expecting and new parents can build strength, reduce stress and feel more confident in their changing bodies through Born Strong, Stay Healthy, an exercise program offered by University of Missouri Extension. A new series of online classes begins March 23.
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Show your love with these heart-shaped houseplants
While red roses might be the iconic gift for Valentine’s Day, houseplants with heart-shaped leaves represent a longer-lived expression of affection for a special person in your life, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein, who shares several good candidates for Valentine’s Day gifts.
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MU Extension specialist available for commentary on documentary series ‘Neighbors’
With HBO’s new six-part documentary series “Neighbors” debuting Feb. 13, a nationally recognized University of Missouri Extension specialist and neighboring enthusiast is available to provide interviews and commentary for reporters and broadcasters as part of a larger discussion about what it means to be a good neighbor in the United States.
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Alliance for Grassland Renewal offers free two-part webinar
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Alliance for Grassland Renewal will present a free two-part evening webinar on “Improving the Production Efficiency of Tall Fescue-Based Forage Systems” on Feb. 12 and 26. Participants can attend either or both stand-alone events. A full agenda is on the Alliance for Grassland Renewal website.
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Missouri 4-H dairy judging team finishes 4th in Louisville
Missouri 4-H had an outstanding outing with a fourth place overall team finish at the Dr. George Heersche Jr. NAILE Invitational Dairy Judging Contest in Louisville, Ken., Nov. 8, 2025, according to Karla Deaver, teach coach and University of Missouri Extension 4-H youth development specialist. Twenty youth teams competed.
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'Kissing bug' disease concerning, but not kiss of death
COLUMBIA, Mo. – As Valentine’s Day approaches, many are hoping for sweet chocolate and maybe even a swoonworthy smooch, not a kiss from the triatomine bug. This insect, commonly called the “kissing bug,” transmits Chagas disease by biting and then pooping around the bite, says Emily Althoff, urban entomologist with University of Missouri Extension and Lincoln University.
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February is National Pesticide Safety Education Month
COLUMBIA, Mo. – February is National Pesticide Safety Education Month, a time to promote vigilance and best safety practices on the farm, said Sam Polly, coordinator of University of Missouri Extension’s Pesticide Safety Education Program, which has provided commercial pesticide recertification training to about 1,000 Missourians in the past year.
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Civic Muscle Index gauges community strength
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – A few years ago, Claire Rippel came across the term “civic muscle,” referring to a community’s capacity to take action to address shared goals and challenges.