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Get the most out of your tax refund
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Some people see their tax refund as a chance to splurge.Not so fast, says Andrew Zumwalt, personal finance specialist with University of Missouri Extension. For the wise, a refund windfall is a chance to splurge a little and save a lot.
Choose your tax preparer wisely
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Exercise caution if you pay someone to do your taxes, says University of Missouri Extension personal finance specialist Andrew Zumwalt. Most tax return preparers are professional and honest, but not all, he says. Beware of preparers who offer high-cost services or arrange refund anticipation loans that reduce refunds. Refund anticipation loans are a costly way to borrow your own money for a few days.
Workshop helps beginning farmers, ranchers, military veterans
ST. PETERS, Mo. – Openings remain for free Feb. 13 and March 7 workshops to help beginning farmers and ranchers, including military veterans, learn about resources offered by state and federal agencies. University of Missouri Extension sponsors the workshops.
Workshop on writing specialty crop grants set for Feb. 5 in Jefferson City
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension will hold a Specialty Crop Block Grant workshop 6-9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 5, in Jefferson City.
High tunnel workshop offered in St. Peters
ST. PETERS, Mo. – A high tunnel workshop will be held 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, at the University of Missouri Extension Center in St. Charles County, 260 Brown Road, St. Peters.Norman Kilmer of Morgan County Seeds presents the workshop, said Debi Kelly, horticulturist with MU Extension. “He has helped hundreds of farmers throughout the United States select the right high tunnel for production,” Kelly said.
Grant writing workshop set in Hannibal
HANNIBAL, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension will hold a Specialty Crop Block Grant workshop 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12, in Hannibal
Beekeeping class set in Hillsboro
HILLSBORO, Mo. – Scott Moser, longtime beekeeper and president of the Jefferson County Beekeepers Association, will teach a beginning beekeeper class at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Jefferson County, 301 Third St., Hillsboro.The class will be 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17. For more information, call 636-797-5391.MU Extension and Jefferson County Beekeepers sponsor the class.
Farmers market workshop set in Hillsboro
HILLSBORO, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension offers a one-day workshop for those thinking about selling produce and other goods at farmers markets. The Feb. 3 workshop covers food safety, sampling, funding, customer service and opportunities for discussion with other vendors, said MU Extension horticulturist Debi Kelly. Participants also may bring scales to be certified.
Land lease programs begin Jan. 31 across the state
University of Missouri Extension offers a Jan. 31 evening session on farm leases throughout the state.“Farm leases are a hot topic right now with cash rents at their current level andcrop prices dropping,” says Joe Koenen, agricultural business specialist with MU Extension. “Property owners and tenants need to make certain they are getting what they believe they should be.” Koenen is a longtime presenter on fair farm leases.Topics…
Apps to keep your fitness resolutions on track
COLUMBIA, Mo. – If you’re losing your way instead of your weight, University of Missouri Extension specialists have evaluated and recommended several smartphone and tablet apps that might help you get your New Year’s resolution back on track. “Monitoring or tracking what you eat each day, as well as tracking your physical activity, can help you incorporate healthy food choices and regular activity into your lifestyle,” said MU…
MU drainage system increases yields, reduces nutrient runoff
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri agronomists found corn and soybean yields increase by 20 percent or more when they use drainage control systems, said Kelly Nelson, MU Extension agronomist at the Greenley Research Center, Novelty. A combination of drainage and subirrigation boosts corn yields by 45 percent and soybean yields by 20 percent in claypan soils, Nelson said. The Greenley system allows excess water to drain and be…
Advice for choosing a tax preparer
If you pay someone to do your taxes, be careful. Most tax return preparers are professional and honest, but some are not. Some preparers offer high-cost services or arrange refund anticipation loans that reduce refunds. Take the time to find a qualified tax professional.
Beware of tax scams
Don’t fall victim to tax scams These schemes take several shapes, ranging from promises of large tax refunds to illegal ways of “untaxing” yourself. The IRS suggests that you remember three important guidelines:
Paying to borrow your own money is a bad deal
Payday loans often trap borrowers in cycles of debt due to high interest rates and fees, making them a costly option for covering expenses.
Grant writing workshop set in Hillsboro
HILLSBORO, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension will hold a Specialty Crop Block Grant workshop 6-9 pm. Monday, Jan. 29, in Hillsboro.
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Downtown Hannibal business cooks up success with MU Extension
HANNIBAL, Mo. – In her 20s, Linda Studer had a dream of opening a business in historic Hannibal.
EPA extends deadline for poultry and livestock facilities
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension agricultural engineering specialist Teng Lim advises poultry and livestock producers to be aware of an approaching deadline that could affect their operations.
Workshop helps new farmers, ranchers, military vets understand ABCs of USDA, other agencies
ELDON, Mo. – Openings remain for a free Jan. 24 workshop to help beginning farmers and ranchers, including military veterans, learn about resources offered by state and federal agencies.University of Missouri Extension sponsors the workshop.
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4-H after-school program nurtures 'seeds of possibility'
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – “Quiet on the set! Camera ready?” “Ready!” The scene: A corridor at Johnson Elementary in Kansas City’s Hickman Mills school district. A girl stands in front of the camera holding a clapper board, a device familiar to anyone who’s watched movies about Hollywood. “Scene one, take six,” she says. “Action!” calls the director. Three actors amble toward the camera. The characters talk about their weekend. “Cut.”
Slow cooker tips for tasty meals
Discover helpful slow cooker tips for creating delicious, easy meals with minimal effort. Perfect for busy days and tasty, nutritious dishes!
Slow cooker heats up winter meals
Use your slow cooker to prepare hearty, budget-friendly winter meals with these helpful tips for easy cooking and cleanup.
Winter a good time to test for radon
MARSHFIELD, Mo.– While you wait for the spring thaw, consider testing your home for harmful radon gas, says Bob Schultheis, a University of Missouri Extension natural resource engineering specialist.
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Compost bedded pack barns offer cow comfort and higher production
Compost-bedded pack barns improve cow comfort, boost milk production, and support herd health with better bedding management.
Protect against colds and flu with vitamin E
BETHANY, Mo. – Cold and flu season is in full swing. One defense against them is to get plenty of vitamin E. Researchers at Tufts University’s USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging found that vitamin E improves the body’s response to the flu vaccine and reduces the risk of upper respiratory infections, says Janet Hackert, regional nutrition and health education specialist for University of Missouri Extension.
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Edgewood Dairy and Creamery's success starts with MU grazing school
PURDY, Mo. – Twenty years ago, Charles Fletcher of Edgewood Dairy and Creamery attended a University of Missouri Extension grazing school. It would change the future of the family dairy operation. Fletcher’s father started the dairy farm in 1966. His father milked cows by hand 365 days a year, morning and night. In 1993, the Fletcher family formed a partnership that included poultry and dairy. Rising input costs and time forced them…