Conditions ripe for ergot this year
GALENA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension specialists warn livestock producers to be on the lookout for ergot this year.A cool, cloudy and wet spring with a prolonged flowering period was followed by high temperatures and humidity, setting the stage for infection, says Tim Schnakenberg, field specialist in agronomy.
Broadband is a necessary utility. Let’s treat it like one.
Editorial by Marshall Stewart, University of Missouri vice chancellor for extension and engagement, and chief engagement officer for the University of Missouri System.
Missouri Food Finder connects consumers and safe local food options
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Many consumers have had to revamp their grocery shopping routines these last months. Supply chain issues have disrupted some farm operations, leading to unpredictable store shortages at the same time that some consumers have been looking for alternatives to crowded supermarkets.
Parenting with Resilience
Parents often find themselves stressed by everyday words and thoughts. As they navigate their daily lives thoughts like “where did the time go”, “I feel exhausted”, and moments of “I’ll get to that later” or “I can do all of this at the same time” can overwhelm them. They find themselves in autopilot routines and jumping from one activity to another.
Nanova — Columbia
Updates to Nanova’s story:
Spotted Wing Drosophila
Spotted Wing Drosophila has been found in fruit crops all over Missouri, starting in 2013. This reference page includes articles, photos, and links to web sites with more information. Photos are at bottom of this page. Newspaper columns from Tim Baker, NW Region Horticulture Specialist
Wet weather triggers mole activity
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Follow the food.That is the mantra of moles as they follow their favorite food, earthworms, and tunnel throughout your yard.A molehill creates an upheaval of soil surrounding a vertical tunnel shaft, which often occurs after big rains, that is an exit point for moles to get some air, says University of Missouri Extension turf pathologist Lee Miller. Both tunnels and molehills can trap falling worms and serve as fast-…
Mow high to keep weeds under control
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Use your mower’s highest setting for fewer weeds and lusher grass.University of Missouri Extension turf pathologist Lee Miller says mowing too low is a common mistake.“We want your grass to be the trees of your lawn,” he says. “Your feet should sink into the grass.”
Hitchhiking hammerhead worm kills native earthworms
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Some Missouri gardeners are finding a new type of flatworm in landscape soils.The hammerhead worm is a “voracious, top-level predator,” says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Kelly McGowan. “It will eat anything in its path,” she says. It primarily feeds on native earthworms.
Hot tips for keeping cool
COLUMBIA, Mo. – It’s not cool to be hot, says University of Missouri Extension health and safety specialist Karen Funkenbusch. Water, rest and shade help workers beat the heat. During heat waves, farmers and ranchers face increased risk of heat-related illness, which in severe cases can be fatal if untreated.
MU research: Sunn hemp benefits rotational grazing systems
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Sunn hemp’s vigorous growth makes it a great complement to cool-season forages, says Harley Naumann, University of Missouri forage physiologist. Naumann’s six-year research shows that the quick-growing summer annual provides a boost during summer slump in rotational grazing systems.
Macon County 4-H club transitions to remote learning during COVID-19
Aaron Baker.ATLANTA, Mo. – 4-H club leader Aaron Baker says transitioning online was easy for 4-H’ers, and adults are the ones playing catchup.
Lively bidding at revived central Missouri Show-Me-Select heifer sale
VIENNA, Mo. – The Show-Me-Select Bred Heifer Sale at Vienna’s South Central Regional Stockyards on May 22—the first SMS sale in central Missouri since 2003—saw a large turnout and active bidding, said University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Anita Ellis, who coordinates the sales for central Missouri.
MU beef researchers find improved pregnancy rates with new synch protocol
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A new estrus synchronization protocol evaluated at the University of Missouri greatly improves heat response and pregnancy rates to fixed-time AI in beef cows.
4-H alumnus profile: Richard Maltsbarger
“In good times, 4-H is a wonderful resource to help develop the youth of America and around the world. In hard times, like what we’re going to feel through this crisis and into the coming recession, that value expands exponentially,” said Richard Maltsbarger, president and CEO of Pet Retail Brands, a multinational pet products company.Maltsbarger is also a 4-H alumnus from Pettis County, Missouri, and member of the National 4-H Council…
Show-Me-Select fall-calving heifer sale draws first-time buyers
PALMYRA, Mo. – The Northeast Missouri Show-Me-Select Bred Heifer Sale at Palmyra’s F&T Livestock Auction May 30 saw a large turnout and active bidding on most lots, according to University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Daniel Mallory.Sales receipts topped a quarter million dollars.
Gooey, orange tree slime grows after wet, cool days
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Some Missouri trees are producing a gooey, orange slime that seeps and grows.Bright orange tree slime brings wonder to the woods after cool, wet spring days, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Tamra Reall.This slime from Mother Nature grows from a number of fungi, including budding yeasts that feed on the sugary sap flowing from tree wounds, says Hank Stelzer, MU Extension forester.
Reduce food waste to save money
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – With the COVID-19 pandemic causing disruptions in the food supply chain, it’s more important than ever to reduce food waste, says a University of Missouri Extension food safety specialist.“In 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service estimated that 30% to 40% of edible food in the United States went to waste,” said Londa Nwadike. “At the household level, the average U.S. family of four…
Nostoc, wicked witch of wet lawns
COLUMBIA, Mo. – It’s wickedly dark and goopy as the melting Wicked Witch in Wizard of Oz.Nostoc, sometimes known as witch’s butter, looks like it sound, says University of Missouri Extension turf pathologist Lee Miller.Even your mangy little dog likely whimpers when it sees the unsightly blob take on a life of its own during cool, wet weather. Despite its gruesome appearance, this genus of cyanobacteria does not harm plants or animals…
MU Extension helps with feed mill training
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension, in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Agriculture, offers Missouri feed mill operators training to help them comply with federal Food Safety Modernization Act guidelines.
Virtual town halls meet producers where they are
LAMAR, Mo. – When COVID-19 paused face-to-face programming, University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist Jill Scheidt knew producers would still need assistance with the growing season. Living by MU Extension’s mission of taking university research and knowledge to the people, Scheidt began brainstorming on ways her team could help.
New COVID-19 tracking tool monitors continuous 14-day trends as nation, states reopen
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A new tracking tool developed at the University of Missouri provides a continuously updated 14-day snapshot of new cases of COVID-19 in every county in the nation, helping the public monitor trends in cases as local stay-at-home restrictions are lifted and other measures are gradually repealed.
Master Gardeners fight food insecurity
HILLSBORO, Mo. – Master Gardener chapters throughout Missouri are accustomed to donating produce from home and community gardens to those in need. To further assist Missourians fighting food insecurity at this uncertain time, University of Missouri Extension horticulturist and Master Gardener state coordinator David Trinklein reached out to chapters across the state to see if members would plant an extra row of produce in their gardens…
Law enforcement training adapts to COVID-19
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Despite the challenges of COVID-19, the Law Enforcement Training Academy successfully graduated 25 students this spring. The graduates earned peace officer certification as well as certification in 12 other topic areas.