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Beat the burn: Planting trees and shrubs in July
Just because July has arrived, there is no need to stop planting trees and shrubs. Early spring and late fall are the traditional times for planting woody ornamentals. But the development of different methods of growing nursery stock and modern transplanting equipment means planting at other times is possible and may be quite desirable.
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Flood-related resources from MU Extension
Access practical tips and guides to stay safe, protect property, and recover after floods.
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Missouri’s youth workforce is shrinking, but more high school grads going straight to work
Many Missouri employers depend on young workers, but there are fewer of them to hire. A new brief from University of Missouri Extension notes that the state’s population of 16- to 24-year-olds has shrunk over the past decade even as a bigger share of young people are entering the workforce right after high school.
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Soybean groups offer free testing for red crown rot
COLUMBIA, Mo. – United Soybean Board and Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, in cooperation with the University of Missouri Extension, are partnering to increase awareness of and diagnostic capabilities for red crown rot (RCR) in soybean.
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Farmers, land to benefit from new agroforestry project
The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry and partners announced the launch of the Expanding Agroforestry Markets and Production project. Eligible producers throughout the 30-state project area are invited to apply for financial and technical support to adopt agroforestry practices—the intentional integration of trees and shrubs with crops and livestock.
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Highway 13 Butterfly Trail connects Missouri communities
RICHMOND, Mo. – Missouri Highway 13 could soon become a living corridor of color, movement and ecological renewal with the Highway 13 Butterfly Trail, says Kathi Mecham, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in horticulture.
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Show Me Neighborhood Art Month sees record participation
University of Missouri Extension has announced the winners of the 2026 Show Me Neighborhood Art Month, celebrating a record-breaking year that brought together artists, neighborhoods, businesses and communities across Missouri.
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A summer slice of heaven
July is National Watermelon Month.
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Mizzou field days set for sites across state
Agricultural producers are invited to save the dates for upcoming events across the state in which extension specialists and researchers from the University of Missouri share the latest findings, highlight best practices and address local emerging issues.
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June is dairy month
In celebration of June Dairy month, Hemme Brothers of Sweet Springs hosted the Missouri Dairy summer social event, where dairymen and industry supporters gathered to learn more about benefits of on-farm technology, including robotic milking and feeding systems.
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Keep the sparkle, skip the ER: Fireworks safety for July 4
They light up the sky, but fireworks can also send people to the emergency room. Before you celebrate, take a few simple steps to keep your family safe.
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Food safety tips for picnics
Keep your picnic safe with tips on proper food storage, handling, and avoiding contamination outdoors.
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What you needle to know about the Asian needle ant
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A small, hard-to-spot insect is making a big entrance in Missouri. The Asian needle ant, with its painful sting and potential impacts on both people and forests, has now been confirmed in the state. For many Missourians, including University of Missouri Extension urban entomologist Emily Althoff, it was a relatively unfamiliar name until recently.
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Livestock tour highlights farms, research facilities in Oklahoma, Texas
STOCKTON, Mo. – “The MU Extension Livestock Bus Tour will visit livestock operations in Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas beginning Sept. 22,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist.
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Opportunity of a lifetime for NW Missouri 4-H’ers
This November, 20 Missouri 4-H delegates will travel to Atlanta for a once-in-a-lifetime experience at National 4-H Congress. During the event, youths will connect with peers from across the country while participating in workshops, service-learning projects and tours of Atlanta’s most notable landmarks.
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Keep July 4 cookouts sweet with fresh-picked corn
COLUMBIA, Mo.—Nothing says summer like biting into delectable, juicy sweet corn at a Fourth of July cookout. Whether boiled in a pot or charred over an open grill, savoring freshly picked sweet corn embodies the patriotic spirit of a midsummer celebration before fireworks light up the night sky.
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Prepare for high heat on the Fourth of July
The Fourth of July in Missouri might be hotter than a firecracker this year. A heat wave is forecast to blanket the state with highs in the upper 90s or even the low triple digits, according to the National Weather Service. Thunderstorms and humidity may add more discomfort.
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Corn leafhopper detected in Boone County
MU Extension offers scouting, identification and management options.
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When the heat is on, these shrubs deliver
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Midwesterners are all too familiar with scorching summers. While midsummer doesn’t offer the vivid floral displays of spring shrubs, great options are available, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Gardeners willing to embrace a more subtle look can choose from several tough, drought-tolerant shrubs that continue to bloom beautifully despite the heat.
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Three-day school provides tools to make your grazing operation successful
MU Extension, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Missouri State University will host a Management Intensive Grazing School, Sept. 8-10. The school will cover livestock and forage management for all grazing species, with special focus on cattle and sheep.
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Rainfall, fertilizer costs complicate corn nitrogen decisions
COLUMBIA, Mo. – High fertilizer prices and heavy rainfall in many parts of Missouri are complicating nitrogen management in corn. Growers should evaluate the return on investment before applying rescue nitrogen, says University of Missouri Extension state nutrient management specialist John Lory.
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Registration open for MU Extension Master Gardener class in Carthage
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Registration is open for the University of Missouri Extension Master Gardener fall 2026 course in southwestern Missouri. The class runs Aug. 6 to Oct. 15. An informational session on July 2 will give an overview of the course. Registration deadline is Aug. 6.
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MU Extension, MDC continue to offer free testing for oak diseases
MU Extension’s Plant Diagnostic Clinic, in partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation, offers free testing for common oak tree diseases.
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Clover Classic tees up success for Missouri 4-H
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The16th Annual Missouri 4-H Clover Classic Golf Tournament, June 2 at the Gustin Golf Course in Columbia, raised more than $80,000 to support Missouri 4-H youth programs across the state.
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Stay cool at the fair
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Long walks, crowded midway lines and hours spent outdoors can turn a summer fair into a risky place during high heat. University of Missouri Extension health and safety specialist Karen Funkenbusch says a little planning can help fairgoers stay safe and enjoy the day. “It’s not cool to be hot,” Funkenbusch says. “Water, rest and shade are key.”