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MU Extension expert recommends replacing older smoke detectors
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Even if you regularly check the batteries and test your home smoke detectors, you may not be alerted if a fire breaks out.Residential fires accounted for 83 percent of fire deaths in the United States during 2011-2013. Deaths are twice as high in homes without smoke alarms or with nonworking alarms, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
4-H camp counselor with Down syndrome brings humor and compassion to job
HANNIBAL, Mo. –Marissa Todd has Down syndrome, but that hasn’t stopped the Marion County high school senior from getting involved in her 4-H club, holding office or becoming a 4-H camp counselor.“I have Down syndrome,” she says. “This problem makes me a slow learner in a lot of things. I have to try things over and over until I get it. It just takes a long time…I just have to never give up.”
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Helping picky eaters 'grow' into healthy eaters
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Picky eaters can turn every meal into a battle of wills. If it’s too green, too crunchy, too soft, too orange or just any vegetable, they will not eat it.The key to getting your picky eater to try new things isn’t wrestling at the dining table, but rather to take them outside. Teaching young children to grow a garden can make them more adventurous eaters.
Osher at Mizzou helps Columbia make Kiplinger’s top 10 list of great places to retire
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute makes Columbia one of the top 10 places to retire, according to the August 2015 edition of Kiplinger’s, a Washington, D.C.-based magazine of business forecasts and personal finance advice. Osher, part of University of Missouri Extension, complements Columbia’s institutions of higher learning with its noncredit programs for adults 50 and over.
Timing is key for nitrogen application on winter wheat
COLUMBIA, Mo.– With winter wheat coming closer to green-up, producers need to consider fertilizer management options. A University of Missouri Extension nutrient management specialist says proper timing of fertilizer application is important.
Cover crops can provide many benefits
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Having plant growth in fields year-round can improve the soil, according to Tim Reinbott, superintendent of the University of Missouri Bradford Research Center. He says using cover crops in the fall and spring can provide large benefits.“We have our grain crops in the summertime, but crops in the fall and spring are extremely important in helping soil health,” Reinbott said.
Location, timing critical for double-crop success
COLUMBIA, Mo.–Double-cropping soybeans after wheat provides the opportunity to harvest two crops in the same year from the same piece of land. But there are challenges and concerns with double-cropping, and a University of Missouri Extension agronomist says location is a big factor.
Practice good garden hygiene by sanitizing tools
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Just like surgeons and dentists, gardeners should work with clean tools.
Soil tests take the guesswork out of fertilizing your lawn and garden
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Many garden and home-improvement stores offer a seemingly endless selection of fertilizers. What’s the best choice for your lawn or garden? Only your soil knows for sure.
Tips for a healthy lawn
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Homeowners looking forward to a lush, green lawn this spring and summer should take care not to overdo it, says a University of Missouri Extension turfgrass specialist. That goes for mowing, fertilizing, watering and applying herbicides. Good lawn-care practices can have bad results if not done at the right time, at the right frequency and in the right amount, says Brad Fresenburg.
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Pansy: A flower to welcome spring
COLUMBIA, Mo.–There is no more popular cool-season flower than the delicately fragranced pansy.
Hostas: Emperors of the Shade
COLUMBIA, Mo. —Few plants add more interest to shady areas than hostas.
Practice patience when preparing garden soil
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Spring is almost here, but gardeners shouldn’t be too quick to start working the soil, says a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist. Spring soil is easily damaged and compacted if worked too soon after melting snow or spring rains. Avoid walking on garden spots or, worse yet, driving equipment on it, said David Trinklein.
Container gardening: Thrillers, fillers and spillers
COLUMBIA, Mo.– If you’re yearning to grow flowers or vegetables but are short on space or have limited mobility, University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein suggests giving container gardenin
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Get a jump on spring gardening
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Gardeners willing to put in a bit of effort can jump-start this year’s vegetable or flower garden by starting seeds indoors.
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Winter weather and plant injury
Related radio news story by Debbie Johnson.KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Road salt comes in handy when streets, sidewalks and driveways are slippery with ice. It’s not so handy when it splashes onto plants or soaks into the soil.
MU study shows economic impact of Missouri's dairy industry
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Missouri’s dairy product manufacturing and production industry revenues translated into annual statewide economic output worth $7.7 billion, contributing more than $2 billion to the state’s gross domestic product, and directly and indirectly supporting more than 23,000 jobs, according to a study by the University of Missouri Extension Commercial Agriculture (CA) Program.
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Planting, growing and harvesting onions
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Although onions may make you weep, the world would be a sadder place without the flavor and aroma they bring to our meals.
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Using cold frames and hotbeds for a longer growing season
COLUMBIA, Mo. – February played a dirty trick when winter storms dumped a lot of snow on the ground. Green-thumb enthusiasts hoping for an early start on their gardens had to wait for a thaw.
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New varieties can add spark to flower beds
COLUMBIA, Mo. –Petunias and calibrachoas are colorful garden favorites, but they have a reputation for not tolerating heat very well.
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MU weather stations provide real-time data across the state
MONROE CITY, Mo. –Monroe City boasts the newest of the state’s automated real-time weather stations operated by University of Missouri Extension’s Commercial Agriculture Program, said Pat Guinan, MU Extension assistant professor of climatology.
Planting wonderful sweet peas
MARBLE HILL, Mo. – Most people don’t think about planting flowers until May, but don't wait until then if you want to grow sweet peas, notes a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist.
Snow can present challenges for livestock
NEW LONDON, Mo.– Spring is here, but parts of Missouri still aren’t through with winter weather.A University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist notes that snow makes it harder for animals to find available forage, and cold weather increases their nutrient needs.“They are going to need to be able to consume higher-quality forage to make up for the less available forage they can find,” said Daniel Mallory.