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Dana Brown Haynes Memorial 4-H Scholarship
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Missouri 4-H Foundation has announced the establishment of the Dana Brown Haynes Memorial 4-H Scholarship, created by the family and friends of Dana Brown Haynes, a former trustee of the Missouri 4-H Foundation who passed away Oct. 27, 2024.
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Free workshop on forest farming set for May 3 in Jefferson City
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Midwest Forest Farming Coalition will hold a free workshop on how to start forest farming 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at the Alan T. Busby Research Farm in Jefferson City. The coalition is a partnership of farmers, landowners, researchers and other organizations, including University of Missouri Extension and Lincoln University.
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Master Pollinator Steward program begins May 5
The Master Pollinator Steward program starts May 5, teaching ways to protect pollinators vital to our environment and food supply.
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MU releases payment plan decision tool for corn, soybean, wheat
COLUMBIA, Mo. – As the deadline approaches for growers to select between USDA safety net programs, University of Missouri’s Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center has developed a tool to help growers decide which plans to choose for their major crops.
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MU Extension drone training day is May 1 in Mount Vernon
MOUNT VERNON, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension specialists will provide a full day of discussion and hands-on training for using drones in Missouri agriculture on May 1 in Mount Vernon.
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Don't plant seeds you didn't order
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension horticulturists ask the public not to plant unsolicited seeds received in the mail. MU Extension horticulturist Kelly McGowan says she has had recent reports from Springfield-area residents who have been mailed seeds they did not order.
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Keep the bedbugs at bay
Learn how to prevent and manage bedbug infestations with practical tips for detection, treatment, and long-term control strategies.
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April is National Gardening Month
COLUMBIA, Mo. – April is National Gardening Month and a good time to plant a garden, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. For those who lacked the motivation in the past to garden, consider these benefits:
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Youths test equine knowledge at State 4-H Hippology Contest
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri Extension State 4-H Hippology Contest on March 15 drew 30 youths along with their coaches. The event tested participants’ knowledge in areas such as equine confirmation, behavior, equipment, diseases, anatomy, terminology and characteristics, said Kelsey Fuller, MU Extension state 4-H agriculture educator.
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MU Extension offers feed safety plan assistance
MONTICELLO, Mo. – The federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), in place for nearly 10 years, requires elevator firms to develop and maintain documentation on their current good manufacturing practices for processing and selling animal feed. Brenda Schreck, University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist, helps Missouri firms meet FSMA requirements through proper documentation.
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Happy 70th birthday to Missouri's state tree
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The flowering dogwood tree celebrates its 70th birthday as the Missouri state tree in 2025. There is no better place to celebrate than Missouri’s Ozark woodlands from mid-April to early May when the dogwood is in bloom, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
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Things to consider when buying replacement heifers
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Cattle prices are good right now, which provides income to invest in the next set of females to rebuild or grow the cattle operation,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. One way to do this is by buying bred replacement heifers. However, it is important that cattle producers ask the right questions so that those purchased heifers are successful in their cattle operation.
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Soil tests key to fertilizing warm-season forages
TUSCUMBIA, Mo. – Soil testing and proper fertilization are key to productive warm-season forages in Missouri, says Rudra Baral, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in agronomy
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MU Plant Diagnostic Clinic offers digital sample submission
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri’s Plant Diagnostic Clinic now offers a digital diagnosis service to quickly identify plant health problems. Growers can easily submit photos of plants injured by insects, pathogens, weeds, environmental stress or improper care, says Peng Tian, director of the MU Diagnostic Clinic in Columbia.
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Clematis, Queen of the Vines
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – You can look high and low, but you likely won’t find a climbing vine that compares to the clematis, known as the “Queen of the Vines,” says Gwen Funk, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in horticulture. Part of the buttercup family, clematis comprises several species and numerous cultivars. Color, bloom time, habitat and even growth habit vary among species. There are varieties to fit into most…
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Missouri youths lead the way at 4-H Day at the Capitol
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – On March 26, almost 900 Missouri 4-H members, staff, volunteers and parents gathered in Jefferson City for 4-H Day at the Capitol, a day of civic engagement, leadership and advocacy.
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The 'soy of gardening' includes edamame
COLUMBIA, Mo. – You may have seen edamame in grocery stores or on salad bars and not known what it is, says Todd Higgins, University of Missouri Extension specialist in horticulture. Edamame is a type of soybean grown for direct consumption by people. Edamame (pronounced eh-duh-mah-may) translates from Japanese as “beans on a branch” since they are often sold with the pod still attached to the stem.
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Easter lilies toxic to cats
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A favorite spring flower, the Easter lily, should be kept away from cats. If ingested, it could kill them. The perennial plant’s white, trumpet-like flowers might not sound the warning that all parts of it are highly toxic to felines.
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MFA Volunteer Fire Grants help firefighters save lives, protect communities
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Since 2020, the MFA Incorporated Charitable Foundation has teamed with University of Missouri Extension’s Fire and Rescue Training Institute to award MFA Volunteer Fire Grants to train and equip rural fire departments throughout the state.
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New resources help small businesses leverage social media
COLUMBIA, Mo.—Social media has changed how consumers connect with brands, but small business owners may find it a challenge to use social media to grow their business, says TaylorAnn Washburn of University of Missouri Extension. Two new MU Extension publications, which are available for free download, help business owners take on social media with a focused approach, Washburn said.
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Economics of drone ownership for agricultural spraying
COLUMBIA, Mo. – As the 2025 growing season approaches, many growers will consider using drones to spray their fields. A new University of Missouri Extension publication, “Economics of Drone Ownership for Agricultural Spray Applications,” introduces cost-estimating tools for farmers and custom operators interested in investing in drones for spray applications.
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MU Extension, Extension Foundation launch national group to support veterans
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension, in collaboration with the Extension Foundation, has launched a new Connect Extension subgroup, “Extension for Veterans: Honoring Service, Providing Support.” This initiative is designed to support extension professionals who work with or are interested in engaging veterans, serving as a national hub for sharing resources, best practices, and innovative programs.
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MU Extension guide looks at corn leafhopper
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A new University of Missouri Extension publication offers corn growers help in identifying Missouri’s newest corn pest, the corn leafhopper. MU Extension state crops and forage entomologist Ivair Valmorbida says “Biology and Management of Corn Leafhopper” offers insights on corn stunt disease and strategies to manage this new pest.
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4-H Clover Clays Charity Shoot raises $19K for youth programs
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The third annual Missouri 4-H Clover Clays Charity Shoot raised more than $19,000 to support the Missouri 4-H Foundation. The March 16 event at the Prairie Grove Shooting Sports Complex in Columbia drew teams and sponsors from across the state for a day of competition, camaraderie and philanthropy.
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Child care gaps cost Missouri $869 million annually, MU Extension research finds
ST. LOUIS — Analysis from University of Missouri Extension reveals that Missouri loses an estimated $869 million annually due to child care shortages. This includes $723 million in employer costs from absentee workers and turnover along with $146 million in tax revenue that would otherwise be collected to support state and local economies.