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Goats: 'Don’t fence me in'
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Goats are curious animals and their gregarious social skills and healthy appetites know no boundaries, or fences.However, new types of fences make it easier for goat owners to dissuade their “don’t fence me in” bleating, according to Charlotte Clifford-Rathert, small-ruminant specialist at Lincoln University Cooperative Extension and Research in Jefferson City.
Simple steps to cut energy costs in livestock facilities
COLUMBIA, Mo.– With a few simple steps, farmers with heated livestock buildings might be able to cut their energy expenditures substantially at little or no cost. The biggest loss of energy is through the ventilation system, says University of Missouri Extension energy specialist Don Day. “We need a certain amount of ventilation to keep humidity and odors down, but if we overventilate with fans running when heaters are on, there is a…
Livestock lease agreements a new option
MEXICO, Mo. - Older farmers and young farmers strapped for capital are teaming up in increasing numbers to form livestock lease alliances.“Leasing land is common. Why not cattle?” said University of Missouri Extension agribusiness specialist Mary Sobba.Young producers who may not have adequate finances are working with ready-to-retire producers to share income and profits on cattle by sharing land, machinery, breeding stock, labor,…
Livestock insurance can protect against price losses
COLUMBIA, Mo.–While crop insurance has been popular for a long time, producers have largely overlooked similar safety nets for livestock. But that may be changing, says a University of Missouri Extension agriculture economist.Two forms of livestock insurance have been available for a number of years through the USDA Risk Management Agency, said Ray Massey at the recent 2013 Missouri Swine Institute in Columbia.
Turkeys: Great for dinner but not very bright
COLUMBIA, Mo. - It is said that turkeys are so stupid that they’ll look up when it rains and drown. Well, they’re not quite that stupid, but pretty darn close. The domesticated turkey will panic at the least little thing.
Hay baled late needs supplements, but test first, says MU beef nutritionist
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Temperatures drop, sunshine dims and pastures stop growing. That’s when cow nutrition becomes critical, says Justin Sexten, University of Missouri Extension beef nutritionist.More hay was baled in 2013 than in the drought of 2012. But quantity doesn’t equal quality. Much of the hay may not contain enough nutrients.
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Mistletoe: A dangerous holiday decoration
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Use it to steal a kiss, but keep it away from children, pets and yourself. Every part of mistletoe, an evergreen plant with white berries, is highly toxic.
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White Christmas not always a dream come true in Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? If you live in Missouri, you might need to adjust your expectations.The official definition of a white Christmas is an inch or more of snow on the ground on Christmas Day, said Pat Guinan, climatologist for University of Missouri Extension’s Commercial Agriculture Program.
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Care of the wild
KANSAS CITY, Mo.– Sometimes visitors at the Kansas City Zoo warn Kelsey Goens that there are kangaroos on the loose. She reassures them that no marsupials have escaped. Two dozen or so kangaroos roam the zoo’s Australia section at will during the day.
Right seeding rate can boost yield
COLUMBIA, Mo.– When it comes to corn seeding rates, sometimes less is more.Planting more seeds per acre in an effort to maximize yields won’t always maximize your return on investment, says Brent Myers, University of Missouri Extension corn specialist.The drought of 2012 and 2013’s roller-coaster weather showed that planting date, precipitation, growing degree days and other factors influence the relationship between seeding rate and…
Study space heater claims carefully
MARSHFIELD, Mo. –Buyers trying to reduce winter heating costs should closely examine claims by manufacturers of infrared space heaters, said a University of Missouri Extension natural resource engineering specialist.“Portable box-style infrared heaters are being promoted heavily in stores and in advertisements,” said Bob Schultheis. Some manufacturer claims may be misleading.One claim is that these space heaters can slash heating…
Drone on the range
COLUMBIA, Mo. – For centuries, farmers have braved the elements to walk their land to check for problems ranging from wind damage and calving cows to pests and predators.Unmanned aerial vehicles may save farmers time and money with bird’s-eye views of farmland, says Bill Wiebold, University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist. It opens up endless possibilities for precision agriculture, he said.
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Bringing sunshine indoors
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Getting plants to grow and thrive indoors can be a challenge. Indoor light is often too low and of poor quality. A light garden can correct that.“A facility to grow plants under artificial light inside the home is a light garden,” said David Trinklein, horticulture specialist for University of Missouri Extension. “It can be used to grow tropical plants like African violets, but most often it is used for starting seeds.”
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Houseplants can't run away from home, so be nice to them
COLUMBIA, Mo. – You might love your houseplants, but our homes often do not provide the best environment for them to thrive.
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Cucumbers: A cool slice of life
COLUMBIA, Mo. – It’s one of the most popular crops in the home garden. It’s 95 percent water, low in calories and an excellent source of vitamin K. It’s been grown in space and a mile underground.
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Flowing grain: 'A farmer's worst nightmare'
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A wet fall harvest and a cold winter might make conditions especially dangerous for grain producers emptying grain bins to fulfill commodity contracts and prepare for wheat harvest. In 2010 there were a record 26 deaths nationwide due to grain bin accidents, according to U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports. And there were many more unreported “near misses,” say University of Missouri Extension…
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Container gardens to supply your salads
COLUMBIA, Mo. – It’s easy to grow lettuce in container gardens, says Kim Martin, manager of Tiger Garden, the student-run floral shop on the University of Missouri campus.
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It's time to plant peas
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Peas will never be considered an exotic food, but they’ve been cultivated for at least 5,000 years. This ancient plant is a cool-season vegetable that needs to be planted early.
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Big fish
WARSAW, Mo.– These fish aren’t biting. Paddlefish never do. They eat by filtering plankton as water passes through their gills. But here on the Osage Arm of the Lake of the Ozarks, paddlefish do put up good fight after being hooked.“It feels like all of a sudden you just slam into a wall,” says Mark Bagwell after snagging his first paddlefish. “It’s a lot bigger than the trout in Georgia,” he said.
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Cash does grow on trees
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri river hills would look beautiful lined with chestnut trees and they’d turn a pretty profit.“Missouri has a lot of acres in the river hills, which are fertile, deep, well-drained soils perfect for growing chestnuts,” said Michael Gold, professor of forestry at the University of Missouri.
Cold rain right after planting causes problems
COLUMBIA, Mo. – It may be too early to think about replanting corn yet, but it’s a good time to look at guides from University of Missouri Extension or seed dealers, said MU Extension agronomy specialist Bill Wiebold.
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Beautiful bulbs
COLUMBIA, Mo.– The long, harsh winter coupled with last fall’s drought caused a lot of damage to evergreen trees.
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Boots on the Green
GRANITE CITY, Ill.– After Bobby Hutchinson lost his left leg in 1991 during Operation Desert Storm, he thought he’d never play golf again. “I just kind of had it in my head that that chapter in my life was over,” says Hutchinson, who was a heavy equipment operator in the U.S. Navy Construction Battalion when his leg was crushed in an accident in Saudi Arabia.
When grass seed heads appear, hay quality drops
COLUMBIA, Mo. – So far, it’s a bad hay year. Cool weather, lack of sun and dry soil slowed grass growth.Dry matter per acre is about one-third of what we expect this time of year, says Rob Kallenbach, University of Missouri Extension forage agronomist.He spoke to regional extension specialists in a weekly teleconference.“There’s hope,” he adds. “With warmth and rain, we can still grow lots of good hay. It will take management to make…
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Pruning winter-damaged evergreens
COLUMBIA, Mo.– The long, harsh winter coupled with last fall’s drought caused a lot of damage to evergreen trees.