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Upgrades expand capacity at MU Graves-Chapple Center
FAIRFAX, Mo. – At the Graves-Chapple Extension and Education Center near Rock Port, a refurbished combine is shaving hours off harvest time, detailed soil maps are helping researchers apply fertilizer more precisely, and even a new mower is freeing up staff time for more research and outreach.
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Forage soybean emerges as a promising summer forage for Missouri
TUSCUMBIA, Mo. – Livestock producers across Missouri continue to face rising feed costs, unpredictable weather and seasonal forage shortages during the summer. A recent study led by University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist Rudra Baral found that forage soybean shows promise for bridging the summer forage gap.
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Missouri 4-H tops 2.5 million meals through 4-H Feeding Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri 4-H youths helped provide 250,271 meals to families facing food insecurity through the 2026 4-H Feeding Missouri campaign, pushing the initiative past 2.5 million meals statewide since 2019.
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Fragrant plants invite pollinators to your garden
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Fragrance gardening is an easy way to enhance the enjoyment of gardens, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Our sense of smell has the power to evoke deep emotions, Trinklein said. Fragrance is an extension of a plant’s charm, transcending its physical space.
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Cattle fly and tick control more important than ever
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Fly and tick control is important to reduce the spread of diseases that negatively impact cattle operation’s productivity,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Health problems in cattle such as pinkeye, Theileria orientalis (Ikeda) and anaplasmosis are spread through flies and ticks. Davis discusses management strategies to reduce these problems in your cattle operation.
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Healthy aging: Why staying connected matters
By 2030, one in five Missourians will be over 65. At the same time, the prevalence of chronic and degenerative disease is expected to increase. This raises an important question: Are we helping people age well?
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Managing cattle and pastures for a successful summer grazing season
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Cool-season pastures are becoming overmature and need to be reset,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Keeping pastures in their optimum quality range supports cattle performance and contributes to a successful operation. In this article, Davis discusses cattle and forage management strategies for a productive summer grazing season.
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Strong bidding breaks records at Show-Me-Select SW Mo. sale
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Strong bidding at the recent Show-Me-Select sale in southwestern Missouri set new records for both high and average prices,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Twelve consignors sold 165 heifers for a record average of $4,947 per heifer. That is more than $900 higher than the spring 2025 average on 124 heifers and more than $700 above the fall 2025 average on 246 heifers.
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Viticulture field day highlights latest grape research
MOUNT VERNON, Mo. — Grape growers, winemakers and enthusiasts are invited to attend a viticulture field day at the University of Missouri Southwest Research, Extension and Education Center on Friday, July 17. The free event, 1-5 p.m. at 14548 Highway H, Mount Vernon, will focus on grape production, research and industry updates.
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Conditions right for tar spot in Missouri corn crops
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Frequent rain and unseasonably cool weather this May are creating favorable conditions for tar spot to develop in Missouri cornfields in June. “We’ve detected tar spot in June in each of the last three years, and I anticipate the same for 2026,” says University of Missouri Extension plant pathologist Mandy Bish.
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How extreme precipitation can affect crop health, yields
NOVELTY, Mo. – Waterlogging and flooding are among the most damaging weather-related stresses in crop production worldwide, and their impacts are increasing as extreme rainfall becomes more frequent. Flooding ranks second only to drought among abiotic stresses.
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From festivals to workforce training, Jefferson Farm and Garden keeps growing
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Jefferson Farm and Garden Extension and Education Center already draws crowds for events like the Tomato Festival and Butterfly Festival. Now, with a newly expanded education center, University of Missouri Extension is preparing the Columbia-area farm for a larger role as a year-round hub for classes, workshops and community programs.
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Free online tools help farmers manage costs, forage challenges
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Frequent drought and rising input costs have livestock producers continuing to feel the pressure of finding feed for their herds. University of Missouri Extension specialists encourage farmers and ranchers to use free online tools to improve feed sourcing and budgeting decisions.
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Stink bugs widespread in Missouri soybeans
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Stink bugs are an all-too-familiar foe for Missouri soybean growers, but new University of Missouri research shows just how widespread they are, and how farmers can better time and target their scouting.
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MU Extension recommends treating clothing to repel ticks
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension specialists are urging farmers, gardeners, hunters, fishermen and other outdoor enthusiasts to take precautions against ticks by treating clothing with permethrin, a highly effective repellent that both repels and kills ticks.
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Summer wildflowers bring color to roadsides and backyards
For many, the term “wildflower garden” conjures images of a delicate spring native to lightly shaded woodland sites or moist meadows. But there are may summer-blooming wildflowers native to dry, sunny hillsides, glades and other places with more austere growing conditions.
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Importance of good manufacturing practices for food safety
Good manufacturing practices (GMPs) are a key part of ensuring food safety, quality and regulatory compliance in the food industry. They guide food manufacturers in maintaining hygienic conditions, preventing contamination and consistently producing safe food products.
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Loneliness: A hidden health problem in Missouri
Loneliness is affecting the health and well-being of Missourians across all ages and communities. University of Missouri Extension and local partners are working to strengthen social connection through programs, volunteer opportunities and community engagement.
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Poppy: A tribute to fallen heroes
Poppies honor fallen soldiers, symbolizing remembrance and sacrifice each Memorial Day and beyond.
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Key considerations for canning food safely
Canning is an effective way to preserve foods, but it requires care to prevent foodborne illness, particularly botulism.
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Camden County youth workforce pilot program earns national recognition
In just its first year at Camdenton High School, the REACH program has connected hundreds of students with local employers, helped young people better understand career options in their own communities and strengthened ties between schools and the workforce.
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Insights from MU's survey of custom rates for farm services
The cost of hiring fieldwork in Missouri has risen an average of 9% since 2023, according to an update to University of Missouri Extension’s Custom Rates for Farm Services in Missouri.
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Missouri is already paying for its childcare problem
When we think infrastructure, we picture roads and bridges. But childcare is infrastructure too. In Missouri, gaps in care are sidelining workers, hurting businesses and costing the state more than $1 billion a year.
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Preventing summer learning loss through everyday activities
Research dating back to the late 1990s shows that children can lose ground in reading and math over the summer months. But with a little creativity, everyday activities can become meaningful learning moments all summer long.
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Happy Beef Month from your MU Extension dairy specialist
Happy Beef Month. Yes, that message is coming from your University of Missouri Extension dairy specialist. Across Missouri, where cattle operations of all kinds form the backbone of rural communities, the lines between beef and dairy are not separate conversations. They are part of the same cattle industry and, increasingly, the same supply chain.