Annie's Project empowered Marion County farmer Amy Lehenbauer
PALMYRA, Mo. – Annie’s Project, a program offered by University of Missouri Extension for two decades, gave Amy Lehenbauer the confidence she needed to become active in the family farm.Lehenbauer is one of more than 19,000 women across the nation who completed the program during the past 20 years, says MU Extension agriculture business specialist Karisha Devlin.
4-H Feeding Missouri grants awarded by Missouri Farmers Care Foundation
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Seventeen Missouri 4-H clubs have been awarded 2023 4-H Feeding Missouri grants through the Missouri Farmers Care Foundation. This is the fourth year the Foundation has provided grants for Missouri 4-H clubs to fund local food security efforts.
Womack Ag Outlook Conference offers domestic, global perspectives
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri’s Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI-MU) will host the annual Abner W. Womack Missouri Agriculture Outlook Conference April 12 at MU Bradford Research Farm near Columbia.Each spring, FAPRI-MU uses this public forum to unveil its baseline outlooks for agricultural production, prices and consumption for the next nine years.
Show-Me MO Success podcast: Good Neighbor Day in Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Quality of life is affected by the quality of the neighborhoods in which people live. In the latest episode of “Show-Me MO Success,” the University of Missouri’s Business and Community Extension podcast, listeners learn how the Neighborhood Leadership Academy helps community volunteers develop projects to improve their neighborhoods.
Avoid applying nitrogen to tall fescue pastures in spring
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Livestock producers can learn how to reduce toxins that damage performance and profits during the March 23 Alliance for Grassland Renewal workshop in Mount Vernon, Missouri.University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Craig Roberts says ergot alkaloids in Kentucky 31 tall fescue begin to increase about mid-April in Missouri. Tall fescue is the state’s main cool-season grass.
Cheap hay isn't cheap
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Squatty, squishy bales are making their way out of the ditch and into the cow pasture as post-drought supplies dwindle and winter lingers.Bad bales are costly in many ways, says Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension agribusiness livestock specialist. Peel spoke at the 39th annual Southwest Missouri Forage Conference sponsored by University of Missouri Extension and others.
Get back to the basics on post-drought pastures
CLEVER, Mo. – Recurring drought calls for forage producers to get back to the basics of farming, says University of Missouri Extension agronomist Terry Halleran.“Practice standard farming practices to rebuild pastures following drought,” he says. Halleran spoke March 7 at the Christian County Livestock and Forage Conference in Clever, Missouri. Southwestern Missouri livestock producers have been especially hard hit from drought in…
A livestock legacy lives on
An Eldon Cole Memorial Fund has been established to recognize the late Eldon Cole’s long career as an Extension livestock specialist, according to James Preston, chief development officer with the Office of MU Extension and Engagement. The University of Missouri Board of Curators recently approved naming a new livestock facility at the Southwest Research, Extension and Education Center (SW-REEC) in Mount Vernon in honor of Cole.
All Things Missouri: A free online tool for accessing, analyzing and visualizing state, local data
COLUMBIA, Mo. – All Things Missouri (www.AllThingsMissouri.org) is a free online resource that can help media outlets enhance their reporting and storytelling by providing context and insights, identifying trends, and enabling comparisons among geographical areas.
Extension Master Gardener program turns 50
COLUMBIA, Mo. – 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the first Extension Master Gardener program at Washington State University. What began with 300 volunteers in Washington state has grown to more than 84,000 volunteers across the country, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist and state Master Gardener coordinator David Trinklein.To commemorate the event, March 20-26 of this year has been designated National Extension…
Neighborhood Leadership Academy awards 20 mini-grants
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Neighborhood Leadership Academy has awarded 20 mini-grants totaling $46,805 to groups across Missouri. The grants, ranging from $380 to $2,500, support neighborhood initiatives including community gardens in schools and parks, neighborhood gatherings to build community and programs to improve the mental and physical health of neighborhood residents.
MU joins celebration of Annie's Project
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension is celebrating the 20th year of Annie’s Project, a national nonprofit to educate and empower women in agriculture.
Be ready to manage spring flush
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Get a head start on pastures for the year with good management of spring flush, says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Harley Naumann.Early decisions determine pasture health for the rest of the season, Naumann says.
MU Plant Diagnostic Clinic offers free wheat virus tests
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri Plant Diagnostic Clinic will offer free screening for five wheat viruses this spring.A partnership of MU Extension’s Integrated Pest Management and Field Crop Pathology programs allows the clinic to waive the usual fee of $65 per sample.
Join the Missouri 4-H goes mobile movement
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri 4-H has taken a big step forward in communicating with 4-H’ers across the state by launching the Missouri 4-H app. When downloaded, it not only gives the user access to the statewide app but also lets users choose county-specific apps.
2023 Missouri 4-H State Meats Judging Contest
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri Extension 4-H State Meats Judging Contest drew 45 competing 4-H members from across the state last month. Held in partnership with the MU Meat Science program, the competition provided youths the opportunity to hone their judging skills and explore career and educational opportunities, said Maria Calvert, MU Extension state 4-H agriculture educator. Results – Junior division (ages 8-13)…
Now is time to enjoy wildlife and plan to improve habitat
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Spring is just around the corner and, with the final doldrums of winter, many Missouri wildlife species are showing an abundance of activity, says University of Missouri Extension state wildlife and fisheries specialist Bob Pierce.“This time of year provides many opportunities for conducting management practices on your property and also for getting outdoors and observing wildlife,” Pierce says.
Pansy: The smiley face flower
COLUMBIA, Mo. – “If ever there was a flower that brings a smile to people’s faces, it has to be pansy,” said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.This delightful, cool-loving garden flower bears blotched petals that resemble a face smiling back at those who admire it. Midwesterners enjoy pansy’s unique palette of colors and delicate fragrance in spring and fall, Trinklein said.
Keep your eyes peeled for colorful St. Patrick's Day spuds
COLUMBIA, Mo. – It’s no blarney, potatoes are a staple for St. Patrick’s Day meals, along with corned beef, cabbage and soda bread.
MU experts offer HACCP training for food processors
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri will hold food safety training for food processors March 29-31 on the MU campus in Columbia.Lakshmikantha “Kantha” Channaiah, MU Extension state specialist in food processing, and Andrew Clarke, MU Food Science program coordinator, will lead the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) training.
MU Extension Feedlot School set for March 22-23, Kirksville
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Missouri cattle producers interested in feeding out their cattle are invited to attend a two-day University of Missouri Extension Feedlot School, March 22-23 in Kirksville.
Survey to help guide state broadband efforts
COLUMBIA, Mo. – To guide the state’s internet expansion and training efforts, the Missouri Office of Broadband Development and University of Missouri Extension are conducting a brief online survey on household internet access and use.The anonymous survey, which takes about six minutes to complete, is at muext.us/MissouriInternetSurvey.
Registration open for fescue workshop
MOUNT VERNON, Mo. – Registration remains open for the March 23 Alliance for Grassland Renewal workshop at the University of Missouri Southwest Research Center in Mount Vernon.The one-day workshop brings nationally known experts on toxic tall fescue to Missouri. They will tell how to renovate toxic tall fescue pastures and integrate novel fescue varieties into grazing systems, says Gene Schmitz, MU Extension field specialist in…
Sowing the seeds to grow
Kahlil Gibran once shared, “Education sows not seeds in you, but makes your seeds grow.” The love of agriculture was planted in 4-H alumni and Mizzou freshman Emma Bauer at an early age on her farm in St. Charles, Missouri. In between Emma’s 4-H paths of growing vegetables in her garden and caring for her chickens, Emma nurtured dreams of studying Animal Science with the goal of becoming an animal nutritionist.
MU Grape and Wine Institute expands as interest in winemaking grows
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Interest in Missouri winemaking exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the University of Missouri Grape and Wine Institute (GWI) has responded to meet the demand.