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Check for brown patch in your lawn before reaching for garden hose
COLUMBIA, Mo.—Homeowners who see parts of their lawn turning brown may reach for a garden hose, thinking the grass needs a drink. But that might just make the problem worse, warns a University of Missouri Extension regional agronomist.Before watering, make sure the browning isn’t the result of a fungal disease called brown patch, said Ted Fry.
Don’t ignore soil fertility after planting
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. – After spring planting, farmers often put soil fertility on the back burner to concentrate on protecting crops from insects, diseases and weeds. This can be a costly mistake, said a University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist. “Farmers should scout for nutrient deficiencies throughout the growing season, just as they monitor for insects, diseases and weeds,” said Travis Harper.
Safely preserve your garden tomatoes
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. – If your garden is producing more tomatoes than you know what to do with, canning or freezing lets you enjoy your tomatoes throughout the year. However, make sure you follow proper procedures to keep your produce safe and flavorful, said a University of Missouri Extension nutrition and health education specialist.
Keeping forestland in the family
COLUMBIA, Mo. – About 42 percent of the nation’s forestlands are in private hands, and most of these are family-owned forests. Many landowners would like to keep their forests in the family, but that isn’t always easy.
Preserving fruit salsas
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. – Fruit salsas offer new flavors for home food preservers. “The vibrantly colored fruit, the herbs and the heat of onions and peppers add zest to meals,” said Susan Mills-Gray, University of Missouri Extension nutrition and health education specialist. To ensure safety, however, it’s important to follow tested recipes when canning homemade salsas.
Fly control in cattle
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. - Flies cost the cattle industry more than $500 million each year, causing slowed weight gain, reduced milk production and diseases such as pinkeye and anaplasmosis. Effective fly control may require combined use of products, said a University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist. The recommended economic threshold for a pesticide program is 200 flies per animal, said David Hoffman.
Getting the best results when freezing produce
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Freezing vegetables is a good option for people who want to preserve their garden produce but are daunted by the idea of canning, said a University of Missouri Extension nutrition and health education specialist. “The color, flavor and texture of the produce are often maintained when it is frozen, and the freezing process is easier and less time-consuming than canning,” said Tammy Roberts. Blanch before freezing
Grubs may pay unwelcome visit to lawns
COLUMBIA, Mo. –During August, homeowners may notice signs of grubs, an unwelcome annual visitor to healthy, green lawns.“The earliest symptoms of white grubs feeding on turf grass roots are wilted patches,” said Brad Fresenburg, University of Missouri Extension turf researcher.
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Seeing green
PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. – When fertilizer was cheap, it made sense for farmers to be generous with nitrogen. With today’s prices, producers want to keep fertilizer costs down without reducing yield.University of Missouri scientists have played a key role in developing new technology that takes the guesswork out of deciding how much nitrogen to apply to crops. The technology has the potential to keep money in farmers’ pockets and help…
Bottled water not necessarily better than water from the tap
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Many Americans believe that bottled water is safer than household tap water, but that isn’t necessarily the case.“Just because the water is said to come from some clear mountain stream doesn’t mean it is completely safe to drink,” said Bob Broz, University of Missouri Extension water quality specialist. “Who knows what a stream may pick up along the way?”
Smart lawn care protects the environment
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. - On a per-acre basis, home lawns affect streams, rivers and lakes more than most farming operations, said a University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist. However, homeowners can be more environmentally responsible by managing stormwater runoff and using proper lawn care techniques.
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Bat Blitz nets more than 600 bats in southeastern Missouri
WAPPAPELLO, Mo. – An intensive, three-night survey of the bat population on public lands in southeastern Missouri netted more than 600 bats, including representatives of several endangered, vulnerable or seldom-seen species.About 80 participants, including professional biologists, students and dedicated amateurs, converged on the University of Missouri’s University Forest Environmental Education Center, which served as headquarters for…
Tree wraps can help prevent winter’s southwest injury
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Tree wraps or guards can lessen the risk of southwest injury, a condition that can afflict young trees in winter, said a University of Missouri horticulturist.Southwest injury, or trunk scald, occurs on the lower portion of the trunk, said Michele Warmund. Low-angle winter sunlight warms trunk tissue during the day. This warming can activate dormant cells that become vulnerable to injury as temperatures plunge in the…
Plants can remove indoor air pollutants
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Overwintering plants indoors may improve air quality in your home during the long, chilly months, said a University of Missouri horticulturist."Research has found that plants can be very useful in absorbing harmful pollutants," said Mary Kroening.
Freezing your credit file
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. - One of the fastest-growing financial crimes in the country is identity theft. One countermeasure is to freeze your credit file to keep thieves from establishing credit in your name, said a University of Missouri Extension family financial education specialist.
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Field borders benefit wildlife on the farm
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Weedy field borders and brushy fence lines may not be attractive to some people, but for many Missouri farm wildlife and game species, those places are prime real estate.
MU students design biodegradable caskets
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Growing interest in environmentally friendly burials has inspired a team of University of Missouri biological engineering students to develop plans for caskets made of biodegradable materials, including linoleum."Biodegradable caskets lack contaminants that would otherwise seep into the groundwater and surrounding ecosystems," said Ben Goldschmidt, a senior in biological engineering from Columbia.
Ice melters may harm nearby trees
COLUMBIA, Mo.- Homeowners should be careful when using ice melters close to trees this winter, said a University of Missouri Extension forester. "Nearly all ice melters are salts," said Hank Stelzer. They work by lowering the freezing point of water to well below 32 degrees.
Warm winter days still bring risk of hypothermia
COLUMBIA, Mo. – People outdoors for prolonged periods are at risk of hypothermia even on warm winter days, said a University of Missouri safety specialist.“People relate hypothermia to subzero temperatures or falling through thin ice into freezing water,” said Karen Funkenbusch.Hypothermia can occur at much higher temperatures, even 50 or 60 degrees, particularly in wet and windy conditions, she said.
Flooded wells may be contaminated; use shock chlorination to disinfect water
COLUMBIA, Mo. - When large amounts of rain fall over a short period of time, private wells may be flooded by rising rivers or runoff. "Wells could be contaminated with bacteria, viruses or parasites that can make you ill," said Bob Broz, an MU Extension water quality specialist.Water from a flooded well should not be used for drinking or food preparation until the well and plumbing system have been disinfected and the water has been…
MU scientists explore techniques to help farmers limit spread of antibiotics in animal waste
COLUMBIA, Mo. - A recent Associated Press report revealing the presence of drugs in many municipal water supplies has raised questions about the risks to humans of long-term exposure to small amounts of pharmaceutical compounds. While it is believed that most of the drugs originate from human medications, University of Missouri researchers are investigating the impact of livestock pharmaceuticals and developing best practices to…
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Missouri "crown jewel" for spring turkey hunting
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Many hunters consider Missouri the top state for spring turkey hunting, which this year begins April 12 with a two-day youth season, followed by the regular season, April 21 to May 11.Wild turkeys are now abundant in Missouri, yet a little more than 50 years ago the wild turkey had all but vanished from the state. "The wild turkey is a conservation success story in Missouri," said Bob Pierce, a University of Missouri…
Trapping still best for removing nuisance moles; repellents, baits and poisons often inadequate
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Homeowners may see some unwanted excavation in their lawns and gardens this time of year-the work of moles. Homeowners should forgo homespun remedies such as razor blades, bleach, lye or human hair, said Robert Pierce, University of Missouri Extension wildlife specialist. Repellents and toxicants also often fail to provide adequate control.
Put some thought into choosing the right lawn-care service
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Homeowners should put a lot of thought in selecting the right lawn-care service, said a University of Missouri turf grass scientist."You should always follow some basic guidelines in choosing a lawn-care company," said Brad Fresenburg.First, know what lawn- or landscape-care services you want. Ask several companies what services they offer and ask for client references.
Tips for growing asparagus
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. - Asparagus is a dependable perennial vegetable, often lasting in the garden for more than 15 years. Asparagus is an excellent source of folic acid and a good source of vitamin C, potassium, B vitamins, copper, vitamin A, iron, phosphorus and zinc. To successfully grow asparagus, it is important to select both a good permanent site and a cultivated variety suitable to the area, said Lala A. Kumar, University of…