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The $2,400 decision: Should you keep more heifers this fall?
For many cattle producers, a single decision this fall could shape the future of their operation: whether to sell valuable heifers for immediate income or retain them to help rebuild the herd. To help producers make informed decisions, MU Extension will host Retain With Intention: Building a Better Missouri Cow Herd Sept. 2-3 at the MU Southwest Research, Extension and Education Center near Mount Vernon.
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Record-breaking numbers at Ozark Empire Fair Hay Contest
The 2026 Ozark Empire Fair Hay Contest had record-breaking numbers this year. There were 68 entries from 32 participants in 11 counties. The contest, which began in 1985, is open to any Missouri producer.
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Tours of award-winning SW Mo. hay operations set for Aug. 28
MONETT, Mo. – Hay growers can learn from some of Missouri’s Ozark Empire Fair Hay Contest top award winners during a free tour of southwestern Missouri farms. University of Missouri Extension agronomist Tim Schnakenberg said three forage producers will give tours of their operations 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28.
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Free Beef Quality Assurance training set for Aug. 12 in Doniphan
DONIPHAN, Mo. – The Missouri Beef Industry Council and University of Missouri Extension are partnering to offer a free Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) training Aug. 12 at the Doniphan Community Center, 105 Washington St., Doniphan. The evening event begins at 5:30 p.m. Anyone involved in raising or handling cattle is encouraged to attend.
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Consider feeding in Missouri Steer Feedout to add value to your calves
The Missouri Steer Feedout gives cow-calf producers a chance to evaluate feedlot and carcass performance, retain ownership and use real-world data to make management decisions that can add value to their herd.
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Hot weather and cattle in ponds and streams increase foot rot risk
With hot weather in full swing and cattle standing in ponds and streams, producers should watch for foot rot, which can limit cattle mobility, reduce performance, increase treatment costs and hurt profitability.
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New resource helps Missouri animal owners guard against New World screwworm
COLUMBIA, Mo. – As livestock exhibition season gets underway, University of Missouri Extension and the Missouri Department of Agriculture have released information to help producers, exhibitors and animal owners recognize and respond to the threat of New World screwworm (NWS).
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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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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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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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New World screwworm: What you need to know
A New World screwworm detection in Texas has triggered a coordinated U.S. response. MU Extension’s Craig Payne, DVM, explains risks to livestock, what to watch for, and why early detection and reporting are critical to limiting spread.
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Cattle fly and tick control more important than ever
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Fly and tick control is important to reduce the spread of diseases that negatively impact cattle operation’s productivity,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Health problems in cattle such as pinkeye, Theileria orientalis (Ikeda) and anaplasmosis are spread through flies and ticks. Davis discusses management strategies to reduce these problems in your cattle operation.
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Happy Beef Month from your MU Extension dairy specialist
Happy Beef Month. Yes, that message is coming from your University of Missouri Extension dairy specialist. Across Missouri, where cattle operations of all kinds form the backbone of rural communities, the lines between beef and dairy are not separate conversations. They are part of the same cattle industry and, increasingly, the same supply chain.
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Preweaning calf management that leads to postweaning success
STOCKTON, Mo. – “For cattle producers who retain their calves after weaning, calf performance is crucial for a successful operation,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist.
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Strong, steady March bull sale in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist, described the 107th Southwest Missouri All Breeds Performance Tested Bull Sale in Springfield as “a strong, steady sale.”
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Bull management for breeding success
What's a bull worth? What is that future calf crop worth? Davis advises cattle producers to implement effective management practices for bulls as they transition out of the breeding pasture and prepare for future breeding seasons to safeguard their investment.
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Registration open for 2026 grazing schools
GALENA, Mo. – Registration is open for 2026 grazing schools offered by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and University of Missouri Extension. These three-day schools help livestock producers learn the art and science of grazing cattle through a combination of classroom instruction and on-farm visits, said University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist Tim Schnakenberg.
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Grazing too soon sets up pastures up for yearlong failure
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Farmers and ranchers often grow tired of feeding hay by late February and early March. Most can’t wait to get back to grazing. But no so fast, says University of Missouri Extension state grazing specialist Harley Naumann. “Late winter grazing pressure on cool-season pastures can compromise spring regrowth,” he says. “It is important to not begin grazing too early – at spring green-up, for example.”
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Consult vets in spring management decisions for optimal cattle health, performance
STOCKTON, Mo. – “As spring approaches, cattle operations face a range of important management decisions,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Engaging your local veterinarian can provide guidance, as they possess the expertise required to support sound management choices that enhance productivity and profitability.
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Texas County Cattlemen host Beef Quality Assurance training event
HOUSTON, Mo. — Area cattle producers and community members participated in a Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) training on Feb. 5 at the First Baptist Church in Houston. This educational event was hosted in partnership with the Texas County Cattlemen’s Association and University of Missouri Extension in Texas County. Progressive Ozark Bank in Houston sponsored the meal for participants.
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Add value, manage market volatility by selling beef directly to consumers
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Despite cattle prices being near all-time highs, marketing beef direct-to-consumer still adds value to beef operations. Two updated University of Missouri Extension guides help producers understand the numbers and methods behind marketing your beef to consumers.
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Stretch your winter feed supply by renting acres for stockpiled fescue
MOUNT VERNON, Mo. – A well-stocked hay inventory is one of the best forms of insurance a livestock producer can have, says Caleb O’Neal, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in plant science. By renting additional acres dedicated to stockpiling forage, producers can improve their chances of maintaining a dependable supply of high-quality feed at a predictable cost throughout the year, O’Neal says.
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Why rotational grazing isn’t working
Rotational grazing promises healthier pastures and higher returns, but labor, water limits and rigid plans often derail it. MU Extension forage specialist Carson Roberts explains why it fails—and how smarter rotations, better water access and flexibility can make it work.
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Three ways to be more profitable making hay
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Haymaking is a game of threes, says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Carson Roberts. To be profitable, producers must manage three key factors: equipment expenses, quality and yield.
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National survey looks at beef producers' bull-buying decisions
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A new national survey aims to better understand how beef producers make bull-buying decisions and how extension programs can better support those producers.