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Hatching chicks in the classroom with Missouri 4-H
Each spring across Missouri, classrooms come alive with the sounds of chirping chicks as students gather around incubators to watch life unfold. Through the Missouri 4-H “Show Me Embryology” project, thousands of young learners are discovering the science behind those tiny cracks in an eggshell.
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Kirksville Area Master Gardeners share Milkweed for Monarchs
Kirksville Area Master Gardeners have given away more than 9,000 milkweed plants since 2014. Then-chapter president Diane Johnson launched the crusade after reading about the decline of monarch butterfly populations. Since the early 1990s, populations of eastern monarchs have decreased by as much as 90%.
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It's time to protect plants from frost
Learn how to protect plants from frost with tips on timing, insulation, and care for sensitive species as cold weather nears.
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20 Missourians named 2025 Most Engaged Neighbors
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Twenty Missouri residents have been honored as the state’s Most Engaged Neighbors for 2025. These awards highlight everyday Missourians whose commitment to their neighborhoods strengthens community bonds and creates belonging.
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Nov. 21 Show-Me-Select sale offers 275 high-quality spring-calving heifers
The Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program educates cattle producers on management, reproduction and genetics to create a reliable source of quality replacement heifers. About 275 spring-calving (late January to April) SMS bred heifers from 13 consignors will be for sale Nov. 21 at Joplin Regional Stockyards near Carthage.
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Free Hay Quality Management workshops coming to central Missouri
University of Missouri Extension will offer Hay Quality Management workshops this fall in Cole, Miller, Gasconade and Osage counties. Local livestock and hay producers are invited to attend these free programs intended to help farmers improve hay quality to reduce feed costs and enhance livestock performance.
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Big profits in 2024-25 Missouri Steer Feedout
STOCKTON, Mo. – “The Missouri Steer Feedout Finale showed that producers were very profitable in feeding steers over the last year,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Held in conjunction with the Barton County Cattlemen’s Association meeting on Sept. 9 in Lamar, the event discussed the results of the steers fed at the Show Me Youth Ag Academy Feedlot near Newport.
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Mums burst with big, beautiful, bold color
Discover how fall mums offer long-lasting, bold blooms in vibrant colors and tips on selecting and caring for them.
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Time to take plants indoors
As frost approaches, gardeners are tempted to dig up plants and place them in pots for use indoors. The results are often disappointing. Many garden plants do not make good houseplants. But if you are determined to try, MU Extension horticulturist David Trinklein has suggestions.
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Have you scheduled your bull breeding soundness exam?
STOCKTON, Mo. – Have you scheduled your bull breeding soundness exam? Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist, suggests your bulls have a BSE prior to each breeding season.
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SW Missouri All Breeds Performance Tested Bull Sale set for Oct. 27 in Springfield
STOCKTON, Mo. – The 106th Southwest Missouri All Breeds Performance Tested Bull Sale is scheduled for Oct. 27 in Springfield, says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. The offering consists of 26 bulls: 23 Angus, one Hereford, one Gelbvieh and one SimAngus. This long-running sale on by the Southwest Missouri Beef Cattle Improvement Association is 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, at the Springfield…
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Learn about beekeeping Nov. 8 at Pearls of Production
Women in production livestock can learn about beekeeping Nov. 8 at Pearls of Production in Columbia. The Heroes to Hives program seeks to address financial and personal wellness of military veterans through free professional training and community development centered around beekeeping.
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Data-driven insights for harvest timing
The MU Extension publication “Days Suitable for Fieldwork in Missouri” can help farmers plan with confidence. It draws on 20 years of weather data to show weekly averages of days suitable for fieldwork. It also includes formulas to estimate how much acreage can be covered per day and size equipment to match available field time.
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Improving habitats for ring-necked pheasants in Missouri
Missouri landowners can take practical steps to improve habitat for ring-necked pheasants, whose populations have declined across the Midwest due to habitat loss and changing land use. A new publication outlines science-based strategies to support pheasant populations.
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It’s fall, and here come chirping crickets
Crickets are the buglers of September and October in Missouri homes. These noisy insects make their way indoors for warmth and shelter once temperatures start to drop.
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Tackling the child care challenge
In the Lake of the Ozarks region, there is a shortage of accessible, affordable and high-quality child care. To address this concern, local leaders, educators, employers and residents are invited to Crisis to Collaboration: Tackling the Childcare Challenge, a public panel and workshop on Nov. 12.
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Training for women landowners begins Oct. 21
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Center for Regenerative Agriculture at the University of Missouri recently launched the Women Landowners Leading Regeneration (WLLR) project. It offers trainings and outreach activities available in Missouri, Iowa and Kansas.
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Urban ag risk management series offered this fall
University of Missouri Extension and Annie’s Project are offering an urban agriculture risk management class in the St. Louis area in October and November.
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Be vigilant for spotted lanternfly in Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri residents are urged to be on the lookout for spotted lanternfly (SLF), an insect that could have devastating effects on the state’s $4.2 billion wine and grape industry. SLF can damage fruits including grapes, as well as ornamentals and urban landscapes.
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Industry veterans embrace changing manufacturing landscape
To meet the growing demand for advanced manufacturing expertise, Mizzou Engineering has launched the Industry 4.0 certificate, a hybrid program to equip today’s technical experts with the know-how to thrive and lead in tomorrow’s smart manufacturing environments.
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MU Extension offers sessions on farm leases
University of Missouri Extension is offering multiple workshops on farm leases in October and November. The in-person classes are 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, in Macon and 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5 in Montgomery City. There will be an online class 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6.
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The plot fixer
From county to county, MU Extension specialists such as Justin Keay carry the university’s promise into fields and families, planting knowledge that lasts.
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Resources for Suicide Prevention Month
September is Suicide Prevention Month, and MU Extension has compiled resources to help break down barriers to mental health services for Missourians.
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Ag lenders seminars offer practical insights for the year ahead
Agricultural lenders across Missouri are invited to attend the 2025 Agricultural Lenders Seminar series, which is designed to equip professionals with essential updates for the 2026 growing season. The series looks at commodity markets, production costs, farmland values and region-specific topics affecting Missouri agriculture.
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MU Extension hosts 'Baled Late, Fed Smart' for livestock producers
MU Extension will host “Baled Late, Fed Smart,” a series of programs in October designed to help livestock producers effectively manage and utilize lower-quality hay. Sessions in Wright, Taney and Ozark counties will provide strategies for feeding cattle when forage quality is compromised.