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Making hay to reduce ergot infestation
Learn how to manage ergot infestations in pastures to protect livestock health. Tips on mowing, haymaking, and recognizing symptoms of ergot poisoning.
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Asian needle ant could reach Missouri in 2025
Asian needle ants, an invasive species, may reach Missouri in 2025. Stay alert to protect local environments and health.
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Make sure foot rot doesn't affect your bottom line
Foot rot in cattle can lead to lameness and decreased profitability. Prevention includes proper hoof care and adequate trace minerals.
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Use simple math to find your hay cost
Use basic math and a forage-budget worksheet to calculate baleage production costs—seed, fuel, labor, equipment—and compare making feed versus buying.
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Use caution when hiring tree care professionals
Learn key tips for safely hiring tree care professionals to protect your property and avoid costly mistakes.
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The great okra divide
Discover how to grow okra: from planting tips to harvesting young, tender pods rich in nutrients.
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Results from spring SW Mo. Bull Breeding Soundness Exam Days
“Calf production is perhaps the most important metric that supports the existence of the cattle industry, making bull health and productivity incredibly important” says Ian McGregor, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist.
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Mountain Grove couple named Missouri Tree Farmers of the Year
Max and Lois Schmollinger revived a neglected Ozark woodland and have been honored as Missouri’s Tree Farmers of the Year.
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2025 Missouri 4-H State Livestock Judging Contest
University of Missouri Extension hosted the 2025 State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest on June 6 at the Trowbridge Livestock Center in Columbia. The event drew 87 youths from across the state to demonstrate their skills in evaluating livestock.
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When your garden becomes a drive-thru for wildlife
Most gardeners know the frustration of having a beautiful garden decimated by wildlife. Just like people, deer and other critters are drawn to food that is tasty and convenient. A garden is wildlife’s equivalent of a fast food drive-thru.
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Missouri 4-H State Poultry and Rabbit Day
University of Missouri Extension hosted the 2025 State 4-H Poultry and Rabbit Day on June 14 at the MU Animal Science Research Center. Sixty-six 4-H youths from around the state participated in activities focused on poultry and rabbits. Participants competed in Poultry Judging Contests, Poultry Quiz Bowl, Rabbit Judging Contest, Photo Contests, Rabbit Knowledge Test, Rabbit Breed ID and a Dozen Egg Contest.
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MU Extension and partners develop appraisal guide for wild turkey habitat
Landowners interested in improving habitats for wild turkeys on their property have a new tool: University of Missouri Extension, in collaboration with the Missouri Department of Conservation and the National Wild Turkey Federation, has developed a publication featuring habitat evaluation tools landowners can use to rate conditions on their property and then begin to address any limiting factors to enhance habitats for wild turkeys.
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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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Self-care for the caregiver
“To be an effective caregiver, you have to be able to take care of yourself,” says Naomi Meinertz, University of Missouri Extension state specialist in aging. MU Extension offers a six-week program that helps caregivers do just that. MU Extension specialists began offering the course, "Powerful Tools for Caregivers," in the spring of 2025.
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Missouri 4-H'ers explore equine careers across 5 states, Canada
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri Extension State 4-H Equine Careers Tour, May 19-25, offered 40 Missouri youths the opportunity to explore careers in the equine industry through hands-on learning and professional engagement across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Canada.
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Kochia found in NW Missouri soybean fields
Kochia, a highly competitive weed that can reduce yields by as much as 70%, has been found in northwestern Missouri soybean fields. Kochia is not new to Missouri, but this may be the first report of kochia showing up in cropland.
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Stabilizing prices, shifting interests: Inside 2025 Missouri farmland market estimates
COLUMBIA, Mo. – While Missouri’s farmland market remains relatively stable, new survey data points to rising interest—and prices—for timberland and recreational properties. That’s one of several key takeaways from the latest Missouri Farmland Values Opinion Survey, conducted annually by University of Missouri Extension.
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First reports of Japanese beetles received in Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Integrated Pest Management reports the capture of its first Japanese beetles of the season, says MU Extension crops entomologist Ivair Valmorbida. The beetles appeared in Stoddard, Barton, Christian and Holt counties, as reported by MU’s Pest Monitoring Network, which gathers information from across the state.
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Sweeten the Fourth with juicy watermelon
Celebrate National Watermelon Month with tips on selecting ripe, juicy melons for your summer gatherings.
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Tall fescue adds to heat stress in cattle
Cattle rid their bodies of heat in three ways: radiation, convection and evaporation. “If your cattle can’t use all three methods, they’ll overheat fast,” says University of Missouri Extension state beef nutrition specialist Eric Bailey. Summer heat knocks weight off calves and pounds off milk, Bailey says. “Heat stress costs real money.”
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A vision for collaboration
David Baker, assistant dean emeritus in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, was inducted into the 2025 Missouri Agriculture Hall of Fame. Baker is the first MU faculty member or administrator to be inducted.
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American Tractor Club invites owners to show off their machines
Showcase your historic tractor through a new club established by the American Tractor Museum in collaboration with University of Missouri Extension and Missouri Farm Bureau. The MU Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems (CARES) has set up a database for the American Tractor Club, a project of the Perryville, Mo., museum created to celebrate this enduring symbol of American agriculture.
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Clover Classic raises more than $85,000 for Missouri 4-H
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The 15th Annual Missouri 4-H Clover Classic Golf Tournament, June 3 at A.L. Gustin Golf Course in Columbia, raised over $85,000 in support of youth programs across the state. “We are incredibly thankful for the continued support of our Clover Classic community,” said Wendy Hall, chair of the Missouri 4-H Clover Classic. “The funds raised this year will make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people across…
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Show-Me-Select spring heifer sales top $2 million
Some record high prices marked the spring sales of Show-Me-Select bred heifers. The combined gross amount from the five regional sales was $2,321,900 for 602 bred heifers.
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Missouri 4-H Week unites youths for leadership, learning at Mizzou
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Following Memorial Day weekend, hundreds of 4-H members gathered for Missouri 4-H Week, an annual event held on the University of Missouri campus. This weeklong celebration features two major events for the 4-H program: 4-H Teen Conference and State 4-H Congress.