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Registration open for Great Plains Growers Conference
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Registration is now open for the 2025 Great Plains Grower Conference, Jan. 9-11 on the campus of Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph. The three-day conference draws vegetable, fruit, flower and specialty crop growers from across Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota and Nebraska, says Denice Ferguson, an agricultural business and policy specialist for University of Missouri Extension.
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Free winter cattle feeding and pasture management workshop set for Nov. 12 in Lamar
STOCKTON, Mo. – “As cattle producers prepare for winter, nutritional management and hay feeding are important topics,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist.
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Big changes for private pesticide applicators coming in 2025
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Big changes are coming for private pesticide applicator training next year. University of Missouri Extension private pesticide applicator training coordinator Rusty Lee says extension specialists will hold workshops across the state after Jan. 1, 2025, to train those who apply restricted use pesticides (RUPs) on owned or rented property. New federal rules change the requirements to earn a private pesticide applicator…
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Seal your home to keep insects from spending the winter with you
COLUMBIA, Mo. – You aren’t the only one getting cozy for fall. While you are pulling out the flannels, insects are looking for a place to be snug as a bug in a rug for the winter. “Over the next few weeks, it is critical to ensure your home is properly sealed to avoid insect roommates this fall,” says Emily Althoff, University of Missouri Extension urban entomologist.
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MU workshop teaches how to find food and money in the forest
GRAVOIS MILLS, Mo. – Learn how to find food and make money in the woods during a forest farming workshop 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, in Morgan County. University of Missouri Extension natural resources specialist Joni Harper says attendees will learn about forest management and how to make an enterprise budget for a small acreage.
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Free soils workshop offered Nov. 6 in Tuscumbia
TUSCUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension and Lake Area Master Gardeners will offer a free 90-minute training on “Understanding Your Soil Needs” on Nov. 6 in Tuscumbia. “This comprehensive in-person class will help you improve your land’s productivity,” says Rudra Baral, MU Extension agronomist. “Whether you’re a farmer, gardener or landowner, you’ll gain practical knowledge and learn hands-on techniques to improve soil health…
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Pumpkin: An ancient vegetable still in vogue today
COLUMBIA, Mo. – This fall, millions of Americans will purchase a vegetable they, unfortunately, are very unlikely to eat, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. In the United States, this colorful member of the gourd plant family is used primarily for decoration, but many people throughout the world use pumpkin as a staple in their diets, Trinklein said.
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Early grape harvest in Missouri in 2024: low yield but high quality
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri’s grape harvest this year is, for the most part, early throughout the state. The reason for the early harvest is the low crop yield, which is mainly due to frost last spring, according to Dean Volenberg, interim director of the University of Missouri Grape and Wine Institute and viticulture program leader. “The good news is the grape quality is very high this year; it should be a very good vintage,” Volenberg…
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New location, new diseases top 2024 MU Crop Management Conference
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Leading agricultural experts will give updates to improve the bottom line at the annual University of Missouri Crop Management Conference, Dec. 4-5 at a new location, the Columbia Hilton Garden Inn and Conference Center.
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MU Extension offering value-added food safety training
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension is offering three different food safety training workshops through early November to help food processors add product value and meet safety requirements. All events will be in person at the Eckles Event Center on the MU campus in Columbia. Oct. 17-18: Applied Food Safety Microbiology Training
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Received a strange text? Be vigilant against 'smishing'
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Smishing, a combination of “SMS” and “phishing,” is a type of cyberattack that targets individuals through SMS or other forms of text messages.
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Youths gather for State 4-H Public Speaking Contest
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri 4-H’ers from across the state recently participated in one of Missouri 4-H’s oldest competitions: the State 4-H Public Speaking Contest. Held Sept. 28 in Columbia on the University of Missouri campus, the event drew 59 youths from 25 counties.
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Rebuild your cow herd with proper heifer development
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Proper heifer development is key to a successful cattle herd and profitable operation,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. As herds rebuild from drought or old cow turnover due to favorable prices, heifer development is taking place to build the next cow herd. Also, as cattle producers look to buy replacement heifers, this can be a way to add value to your cattle operation.
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Gov. Parson proclaims 4-H Week in Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Gov. Mike Parson designated Oct. 6-12 as 4-H Week in Missouri. Missouri and Missouri 4-H proudly join millions across the nation in celebrating National 4-H Week, an annual event that highlights the positive impact of 4-H on youth development. This year’s theme, “Beyond Ready,” celebrates the dedication of youths, families, volunteers and alumni who contribute to the growth and success of 4-H programs.
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Plant bulbs now for a colorful spring
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Springtime favorites such as daffodils, tulips and hyacinths won’t greet you next year if they’re not planted in the fall. “The bulbs of spring-blooming plants need to be in the ground now so they can go through a chilling process in the winter,” said David Trinklein, state horticulture specialist for University of Missouri Extension.
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MU Extension takes to the skies to stamp out invasive weeds
WILLIAMSBURG, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension is taking to the skies to identify and map invasive weed species in one of mid-Missouri’s prized native prairie areas. MU Extension state natural resource specialist Michael Sunde is using drone-based lidar and imagery along with satellite imagery and machine learning to make 3D maps of vegetation and land cover at Prairie Fork Conservation Area, which is in eastern Callaway County…
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FDA finalizes the preharvest water rule: What does it mean for produce growers?
Earlier this year, the FDA issued a final rule related to the preharvest agricultural water requirements for covered produce stipulated in the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule.
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Mums take center stage when summer flowers take a bow
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Few flowers signal fall’s arrival more than the cheerful chrysanthemum, or mum, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Mums’ long-lasting blooms put on a colorful display for weeks when other flowers have called it quits for the season.
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Women learn life-changing skills through Pearls of Production
The opportunity to learn livestock farming skills hands-on and be surrounded by their peers – even during difficult circumstances – had a major impact on two women’s lives. The Pearls of Production conference, hosted each year by University of Missouri Extension, is a hands-on educational program for women in livestock production.
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IT’S CRUNCH TIME! Let’s bring home the win, Missouri!
It’s football season, and fans across Missouri have their hopes set on championship wins. But there’s another victory the entire state is hungry for: Mountain Plains Region “Crunch Off” Champion.
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Registration open for MU Extension Fall Tax Schools
University of Missouri Extension is hosting trainings this fall for professional tax preparers. Fall Tax Schools, which start in late October, have in-person and online options. Attendees can register for a single day (Day 1 or Day 2) or both. The training will use the National Income Tax Workbook 2024. Topics for Day 1 include business tax issues, individual tax issues, related party issues, real estate rental activity issues and…
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It's time to protect plants from frost
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension’s Frost/Freeze Probabilities Guide tells us that frost is likely coming within two weeks in the northernmost part of the state. That means that it’s time to think about protecting plants from frost, said MU Extension state horticulture specialist David Trinklein.
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Despite recent rainfall, Missouri remains dry
COLUMBIA, Mo. – After experiencing drought in 2022 and 2023, Missourians were eager for a wet growing season. Missouri saw above-average statewide monthly precipitation from April to July, says University of Missouri Extension state climatologist Zachary Leasor.
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Experts see rise in sloth fever among travelers
COLUMBIA, Mo. – If winter travels are in your plans, you might bring back more than just a sunburn and souvenirs. Emily Althoff, extension urban entomologist for the University of Missouri and Lincoln University, says travelers who become ill after visiting South and Central America should let their doctors know their travel history. The Pan American Health Organization recently upgraded the risk of Oropouche virus disease, commonly…
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Lanes Prairie 4-H Club kicks off new year with apple butter meeting
BELLE, Mo. – The Lanes Prairie 4-H Club proudly hosted its September meeting, bringing together youths and families to embark on a new 4-H year. The event began with the Pledge of Allegiance and the 4-H pledge, setting a positive tone for the gathering, said Bethany Prenger, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in 4-H youth development.