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Experts see rise in sloth fever among travelers
COLUMBIA, Mo. – If winter travels are in your plans, you might bring back more than just a sunburn and souvenirs. Emily Althoff, extension urban entomologist for the University of Missouri and Lincoln University, says travelers who become ill after visiting South and Central America should let their doctors know their travel history. The Pan American Health Organization recently upgraded the risk of Oropouche virus disease, commonly…
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Lanes Prairie 4-H Club kicks off new year with apple butter meeting
BELLE, Mo. – The Lanes Prairie 4-H Club proudly hosted its September meeting, bringing together youths and families to embark on a new 4-H year. The event began with the Pledge of Allegiance and the 4-H pledge, setting a positive tone for the gathering, said Bethany Prenger, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in 4-H youth development.
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Weather station upgrades will help plan for flood, drought
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension’s network of weather stations will soon be updated to provide long-term soil moisture information to help forecast, monitor and respond to flood and drought. MU Extension state natural resources specialist Michael Sunde and state climatologist Zack Leasor will work alongside John Travlos, co-director of the Missouri Mesonet, to add new soil moisture sensors to many of the network’s 45…
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Sedum: Pollinators love this easy-peasy purple and pink plant
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Sedums, also known as stonecrop, are low-maintenance plants that come with a host of benefits. They withstand extreme heat and drought, yet some are winter-hardy as far north as USDA hardiness zone 3. “In short, sedums are about as low-maintenance as plants can get,” said University of Missouri Extension state horticulturist David Trinklein.
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Producer expertise needed to shape future of state's small ruminant industry
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Extension specialists from Lincoln University in Jefferson City and the University of Missouri in Columbia are working to gain deeper insights into sheep and goat production in the Show-Me-State. “Our initiative aims to uncover valuable insights that will benefit producers and contribute to the state’s economy and inform policy decisions,” said Ye Su, assistant professor of agribusiness with Lincoln University.
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Speaking for the trees
BRAYMER, Mo. – Jim Ball says his motivation to plant trees comes from his love for the outdoors developed while growing up hunting, fishing, hiking and camping in Braymer, Mo. Ball put that outdoor experience to use during Army training in places like Panama, where he was designated a jungle expert, followed by a yearlong tour in Vietnam.
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Missouri 4-H celebrates Hall of Fame inductees
SEDALIA, Mo. – The 18th annual Missouri 4-H Hall of Fame ceremony on Aug. 10, 2024, honored outstanding volunteers and supporters who have made lasting contributions to the 4-H program and the youths of Missouri.
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Dahlias dazzle and delight as gardens dim
COLUMBIA, Mo. – As autumn approaches, many garden flowers show the ravages of a long, often brutal summer. However, it’s at this time that dahlias are most spectacular, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Warm days and cool nights associated with late summer and early fall cause dahlias to produce flowers with intense, dazzling color.
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Record-breaking attendance at eighth MU Extension Feedlot School
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – More than 65 cattle producers from Missouri, Iowa and Illinois attended the University of Missouri Extension Feedlot School in Kirksville in late August. That’s more than double the number of attendees from previous schools, according to MU Extension state beef nutrition specialist Eric Bailey, one of the coordinators of the school. More than 40 of the attendees were young producers.
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High rate of suicide by firearm in NE Missouri being studied
CLARENCE, Mo. – It’s harvest time in northeastern Missouri. Rows of corn furl their browned leaves up at the blazing sky in Shelby County, one of Missouri’s least-populated counties. Barely 6,000 residents live here, many of them on one of Shelby County’s 150 Missouri Century Farms recognized by University of Missouri Extension for being owned by the same family for 100 or more years.
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Nitrogen fertilizer boosts fescue yields but increases toxin
COLUMBIA, Mo. – It is difficult to make blanket recommendations on fall nitrogen fertilizer rates to pastures because of the variability in how forages are managed in the Fescue Belt, says University of Missouri Extension state nutrient management specialist John Lory. But fescue pastures need a source of nitrogen to thrive, he says.
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Don't fall victim to PTO accidents on the farm
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Based on 2021 data, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the agricultural sector is still the most dangerous in America, with fall harvest as the most dangerous season for the agriculture industry. For this reason, the third week of September has been recognized as National Farm Safety and Health Week, says Karen Funkenbusch, University of Missouri Extension health and safety specialist.
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Tips for reporting near misses and accidents on the farm
COLUMBIA, Mo. – When things go bad on the farm during harvest, it is important to act quickly and report later, says University of Missouri Extension health and safety specialist Karen Funkenbusch. During National Farm Safety and Health Week, Sept. 15-21, Funkenbusch bring attention to reporting methods. Learn more at https://www.necasag.org/NationalFarmSafetyandHealthWeek.
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Prepare bulls for the upcoming breeding season
STOCKTON, Mo. – “It is time to begin preparing for the upcoming breeding season,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. In preparation for the upcoming breeding season, Davis will discuss management strategies to make sure bulls are ready for a successful breeding season.
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Grant boosts 4-H Youth Futures program
University of Missouri Extension’s 4-H Center for Youth Development has received a five-year project award totaling $607,115 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Children, Youth and Families at Risk grant program. The funding, beginning September 2024, will support 4-H Hopeful Paths for Youth Futures, which provides college and career programming to middle and high school youths in Jackson, St. Louis and McDonald…
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From cancer research to fossils, camps bring Mizzou to young scientists in the making
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri middle school students learned the basics of cancer biology and pathology research this summer in a hands-on “mini-medical school” camp. Another group of fourth through sixth graders took a walk back through geological time and calculated who ran faster: humans or dinosaurs.
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Joro spiders are nothing to worry about – yet
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Flying monkeys, creepy crawlies and monsters under the bed need to make way for the Joro spider. But Missouri arachnophobes can rest easy for a bit, says University of Missouri Extension urban entomologist Emily Althoff. Introduced to the United States a decade ago, the Joro spider is a slow traveler.
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MU Extension offers tips on safely handling livestock
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Good livestock handling practices can improve animal comfort and make livestock management safer for people and animals, says University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Brenda Schreck. Accidents happen most often during common activities such as feeding, handling, loading and transporting. Schreck says animal behavior specialist Temple Grandin teaches that it is important to understand the behavioral…
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Missouri farmland, hunting cash rental rate insights from MU Extension
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri rental rates rose again in 2024, according to the latest cash rental rates survey from University of Missouri Extension. More than 600 Missouri landowners and tenants responded to the survey earlier this summer and shared their insights into rental rates and leasing arrangements for cropland, pastureland, hunting land and farm facilities.
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Teach teens about social networking dangers before fairs, conventions
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Everyone loves seeing social media posts of smiling farm kids with their animals at local fairs. But no one enjoys seeing these photos more than criminals who could put your family’s safety and property at risk, says Brenda Schreck, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in livestock.
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MU Extension selects winner, finalists for NW County Council of the Year
NORTHWEST MISSOURI – The University of Missouri Extension County Council of the Year award is a recognition given during Extension and Engagement Week, held each October, to build relationships between MU Extension, campus, and community partners. The award recognizes the central role Extension Councils have in:
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Show-Me MO Success podcast: MO Pac Lumber looks to the future
FAYETTE, Mo. – When Bucky Pescaglia began thinking about retiring from his family business, MO Pac Lumber, after nearly 50 years, he Googled “I need help with doing a strategic plan for my business,” and the Missouri Small Business Development Center came up. He contacted the Missouri SBDC and was connected with business counselor Paul Zacharias.
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Missouri 4-H'ers celebrate summer's best story at the State Fair
SEDALIA, Mo. – The Missouri State Fair offers an opportunity for members to exhibit their skills in the 4-H Building, their showmanship in the livestock arenas and their character through demonstrations. For many, this is a culminating experience that affects youths beyond just the premium and ribbon.
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Angelo tops State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest
SEDALIA, Mo. – Lexi Angelo earned high individual honors at the State 4-H Dairy Judging Contest held Aug. 17 at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia.
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Missouri growers are sweet on honey of a berry
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – The 2024 “Miss Congeniality” of Missouri backyard fruits might be honeyberry. Honeyberry’s ability to thrive in conditions that often challenge blueberries makes it a promising choice for gardeners seeking a productive and low-maintenance fruit, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Tamra Reall. This crowned jewel of a bush grows in a variety of soils and resists disease and pests.