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Fall tree planting: Rooting for a greener tomorrow
COLUMBIA, Mo. – As autumn paints Missouri’s landscapes in brilliant hues, it also signals the start of the best season for planting trees, says University of Missouri Extension state forestry specialist. “Fall offers a unique window of opportunity for tree establishment, making it the preferred time for forestry professionals, municipalities and homeowners alike,” says Stelzer.
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Free workshops help beekeepers safeguard losses
ST. CHARLES, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension workshops will help beekeepers learn how to leverage USDA insurance, disaster assistance and tax exemption to strengthen their businesses. MU Extension horticulture specialist Eli Isele says the two free workshops will help beekeepers safeguard their businesses and profitability. Participants will learn about safety nets for colony losses due to precipitation and other adverse…
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Missouri woodland owners learn from the best at the annual conference
Woodland owners and natural resource professionals gathered Oct. 3-4 in Mountain Grove for the Missouri Woodland Owners Conference. The conference provided hands-on learning through three field tours.
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How an Irishman, a turnip and the devil shaped Halloween
For many people, Halloween would not be complete without a jack-o’-lantern. Americans are projected to spend more than $867 million on Halloween pumpkins this year, said MU Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. We can thank Irish immigrants and a mythical character named “Stingy Jack” for our rush to buy pumpkins in October.
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Learn to save the cuss words, secure your load at Pearls of Production
MU Extension specialists will show women in agriculture how to hone their shop skills at “Save the Cuss Words 2.0: You Got This” during the annual Pearls of Production Women in Agriculture Conference on Nov. 8 in Columbia. Other sessions will cover swine and beef topics, small ruminant management, beekeeping and emergency management.
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Southern rust can affect nutrient value of winter feed
Southern rust, a fungal disease, can reduce nutrients and lower digestibility in infected corn fed to livestock, says MU Extension agronomist Nick Wesslak. Early dry down caused by southern rust can cause problems with proper silage packing, which increases risk of poor fermentation and higher mold and yeast populations.
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Seeding cover crops aerially can boost grazing potential
MOUNT VERNON, Mo. – Stored hay can be a livestock producer’s best insurance, says University of Missouri Extension plant science specialist Caleb O’Neal, who is also a cattle producer. It provides flexibility for cattlemen to rest pastures in the event of drought and is often the feed of choice for winter herd maintenance.
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MU Extension offers workshops on alpha-gal syndrome
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension will hold a series of free educational workshops on alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), an allergic condition associated with tick bites. “AGS is more than just a health concern. It’s a growing public issue in Missouri and the Midwest,” says MU Extension nutrition and health specialist Rachel O’Halloran.
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Celebrate Pork Month by considering value-added production
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The average Missourian eats 63 pounds of pork each year. “If you’ve thought about supplying pork to Missouri markets but haven’t decided for sure, then Intel for Ag (Intel for Ag) can help,” said Mallory Rahe, University of Missouri Extension state specialist and Intel for Ag contributor.
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Missouri 4-H Hall of Fame honors inductees, celebrates legacy volunteers
SEDALIA, Mo. – Missouri 4-H recently honored outstanding volunteers and supporters who have who have made lasting contributions to the 4-H program and the youth of Missouri.
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Harvest creates rural roadway hazards
Fall harvest brings heavy equipment, dust, limited visibility, stressed drivers, slow turns and traffic on rural gravel roads—stay alert.
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Cellphones and rural roadways do not mix at harvest
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Fall harvest and texting do not mix, says University of Missouri Extension safety specialist Karen Funkenbusch. Turn your cellphone to TTYL (talk to you later). Rural roads are full of hazards in the fall. Farmers move large equipment from one field to another during harvest. They make wide turns, and large equipment reduces visibility. School buses make frequent stops on their morning and afternoon runs.
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Manufacturing Day Symposium paints a picture of regrowth
Academics and insiders offered a hopeful vision of American industry at the University of Missouri Manufacturing Day Symposium on Oct. 1. Speakers and panelists explored the evolving landscape of U.S. manufacturing, with a special focus on semiconductors, workforce development and Missouri’s growing role in the global supply chain.
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Free webinar series looks at virtual fencing
The Oct. 24 session of the free “Virtual Fence Foundations” webinar series offers a chance to hear firsthand from producers and companies working with virtual fencing. Attendees can ask questions to company representatives, and Missouri producers who have used virtual fencing in their operations will join the discussion.
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Missouri State Fair queen an advocate for ag
Bailey Schneider, the 2025 Missouri State Fair queen, is a 4-H alum and a junior at the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.
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The sky’s the limit for drones on the farm
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Enthusiasm for drone use in agriculture is growing quickly, says Caleb O’Neal, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in plant science.
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4-H youths are ‘Beyond Ready’
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe officially proclaimed Oct. 5-11 as National 4-H Week in Missouri, recognizing the organization’s impact in preparing the next generation of leaders through hands-on learning, service and leadership. During National 4-H Week, Missouri 4-H joins others nationwide in showcasing how 4-H equips young people with the skills, confidence and resilience to lead in a world full of opportunity and change.
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Hatching chicks in the classroom with Missouri 4-H
Each spring across Missouri, classrooms come alive with the sounds of chirping chicks as students gather around incubators to watch life unfold. Through the Missouri 4-H “Show Me Embryology” project, thousands of young learners are discovering the science behind those tiny cracks in an eggshell.
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Kirksville Area Master Gardeners share Milkweed for Monarchs
Kirksville Area Master Gardeners have given away more than 9,000 milkweed plants since 2014. Then-chapter president Diane Johnson launched the crusade after reading about the decline of monarch butterfly populations. Since the early 1990s, populations of eastern monarchs have decreased by as much as 90%.
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It's time to protect plants from frost
Learn how to protect plants from frost with tips on timing, insulation, and care for sensitive species as cold weather nears.
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20 Missourians named 2025 Most Engaged Neighbors
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Twenty Missouri residents have been honored as the state’s Most Engaged Neighbors for 2025. These awards highlight everyday Missourians whose commitment to their neighborhoods strengthens community bonds and creates belonging.
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Nov. 21 Show-Me-Select sale offers 275 high-quality spring-calving heifers
The Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program educates cattle producers on management, reproduction and genetics to create a reliable source of quality replacement heifers. About 275 spring-calving (late January to April) SMS bred heifers from 13 consignors will be for sale Nov. 21 at Joplin Regional Stockyards near Carthage.
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Free Hay Quality Management workshops coming to central Missouri
University of Missouri Extension will offer Hay Quality Management workshops this fall in Cole, Miller, Gasconade and Osage counties. Local livestock and hay producers are invited to attend these free programs intended to help farmers improve hay quality to reduce feed costs and enhance livestock performance.
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Big profits in 2024-25 Missouri Steer Feedout
STOCKTON, Mo. – “The Missouri Steer Feedout Finale showed that producers were very profitable in feeding steers over the last year,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Held in conjunction with the Barton County Cattlemen’s Association meeting on Sept. 9 in Lamar, dthe event discussed the results of the steers fed at the Show Me Youth Ag Academy Feedlot near Newport.
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Mums burst with big, beautiful, bold color
Discover how fall mums offer long-lasting, bold blooms in vibrant colors and tips on selecting and caring for them.