Agricultural business management : article
FORSYTH, Mo. – Selling beef directly from the farm to consumers gained significant popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Missouri agriculture faces mixed 2025 prospects as crop and livestock trends shift, impacting farm income and strategic planning.
MU Extension researchers are working to help Missouri corn growers who provide corn to distilleries for brewed corn whiskey. As of 2024, the state was home to 71 active craft distilleries. The corn whiskey business, as part Missouri’s broader distilling industry, has a substantial economic…
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension, Missouri Dairy Association and Multimin USA will hold the 2018 Missouri Dairy Profit Seminar at five locations throughout the state Feb. 19-23, said MU Extension veterinarian Scott Poock.
Missouri's 2020 net farm income hit $3.4B, matching 2014's record, fueled by strong government payments and a late-year commodity price rebound.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri farm income appears on pace for another record year, according to John Kruse, associate research and extension professor in agricultural and applied economics at the University of Missouri.
Missouri rental rates rose in 2024, with increases in cropland, pasture, and hunting leases. Survey data offers insights for landowners and tenants.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – All classes of Missouri land values grew steadily in the past year, according to the University of Missouri Extension’s annual survey of farmers, rural appraisers and agricultural lenders.
Ray Massey, MU Extension agricultural economics professor, heads the survey efforts.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Nearly empty meat aisles are a burden producers, processors and consumers don’t want to face again. To prevent that, the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) awarded $16.7 million to keep 150 meat and poultry processors throughout Missouri going strong.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Many of the world’s finest wines and whiskeys begin in Missouri’s hardwood forests.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension specialist Teng Lim advises poultry and livestock producers to be aware of a Nov. 15 deadline that could affect their operations.
ROCKY COMFORT, Mo. – More than vegetables grow in Fue Yang’s high tunnels. It is where opportunity grows for area Hmong farmers.
Yang runs a teaching farm for University of Missouri Extension, Lincoln University and the Webb City Farmers Market. The collaborative effort is part of a grant from the…
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Challenging weather has forced Missouri farmers to make difficult decisions on whether to replant crops because of sparse stands or delayed planting.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension recently released its 2017 Farm Labor Guide.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Buyers and sellers who need an estimate of the value of a piece of farmland may not always find it feasible to get an appraisal, particularly one that reflects the land’s historical value needed to calculate taxes and settle estates.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.
Learn to create short-term operating plans for farms to ensure continuity during unexpected events. Workshops cover essential components and planning strategies.
Help for Missouri firms to create and maintain FSMA-compliant feed safety plans and proper documentation.
HILLSBORO, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension offers a one-night session in Hillsboro on June 13 to help landowners learn how to market timber.Too many landowners sell their timber for only a fraction of its worth, says MU Extension horticulture specialist Debi Kelly.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Renters and property owners are negotiating new farmland leases in response to lower farm commodity prices, says University of Missouri Extension agriculture business specialist Joe Koenen.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A new University of Missouri Extension publication and related online tool can guide farmers through the difficult task of keeping the farm running when the owner or key decision-maker cannot.
Learn how to hire and retain farm workers with step-by-step videos covering recruitment, onboarding, and management.
Explore lavender cultivation in Missouri with insights on suitable cultivars and growing conditions.
COLUMBIA, Mo. –University of Missouri Extension has published a summary of custom rates for farm services in Missouri based on a statewide online survey and solicitations by extension specialists.
Farmers get guidance and cost-share help to convert cropland to pasture using rotational grazing and conservation practices.
A forage specialist launches a podcast sharing tips on pasture management, livestock production, and improving forage systems.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A new policy brief by the University of Missouri Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center (RaFF) weighs in on changes to the Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs).
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded a $179,614 grant to the University of Missouri to support efforts to help veterans, Latinos, women and socially disadvantaged persons to farm or go into agribusiness.
Free tool helps farmers compare PLC and ARC-CO program payments for corn, soybean, and wheat in 2025.
Show-Me-Select heifer program saw strong 2023 sales, high-quality heifers, and growing demand despite drought challenges.
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Breanne Brammer’s summer vacation was different from that of most college students. Brammer, a senior in the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, was an agricultural development intern in Mozambique.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and MU Extension are teaching farmers, meat and poultry processors, agriculture students, food service professionals and others how to defend against intentional food contamination.
Use an online tool to see if pasture insurance fits your farm based on daily rainfall and coverage options.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Many consumers want to buy locally produced beef, and University of Missouri Extension economists can help producers deliver.
Beef producers who want to finish their cattle on their farms now have access to new resources from MU Extension beef specialists to determine their…
Updated 2026 forage-budget tools help Missouri producers estimate costs, yields and break-even prices for alfalfa, corn silage and native warm-season grasses.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Amid mounting pressures — floods, bankruptcies, consolidation and a credit squeeze — rural Missourians struggle to access mental health services.
Free downloadable guides help small business owners build strategy, create content, choose platforms and drive results through social media.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Producers who don’t plan, watch and act for nitrogen deficiencies in their corn will lose green in their crop and at the bank, says a University of Missouri Extension plant scientist.
COLUMBIA, Mo.–Congress adjourned until after the November elections without action on a new farm bill. That presents farmers with a great deal of uncertainty moving forward.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Farm households increasingly rely on off-farm income. A report from University of Missouri Extension notes that, on average, 82% of farm household income comes from outside the farm.
Palmyra's Show-Me-Select heifer sale set a record average of $2,118 per head, with repeat buyers and first-time sellers participating.
STOCKTON, Mo. – “Recordkeeping is important to make management decisions for optimum cattle operation productivity and profitability,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Davis urges cattle producers to consider purchasing the 2025 pocket-size “Redbook”…
CHILLICOTHE, Mo. - University of Missouri Extension will present a free play to help farmers talk about succession planning, 7-9 p.m. Friday, June 10, at the Gary Dickinson Performing Arts Center at Chillicothe High School.
Help shape Missouri’s future sheep & goat industry by sharing on-farm data that guides policy, supports producers, and informs economic strategy.
Agricultural workers reduce lung disease risk by wearing dust masks or respirators and following best practices for fit, care and use.
High-quality heifers averaged $2,427 at the Fruitland sale, with top genetics, AI-bred calves, and buyers competing for strong bids.
Over 65 cattle producers from Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois attended the Feedlot School in Kirksville, marking a significant increase in participation.
Record prices set at the SW Missouri Show-Me-Select heifer sale with high averages and strong buyer demand.
After serving two tours in Iraq, Marine veteran Jeremy Beaver returned to his rural Missouri roots and found peace in making maple syrup with his family.
COLUMBIA, Mo. –University of Missouri Extension rural safety and health specialist Karen Funkenbusch said now is a good time to review safety precautions for grain bins with farm workers and family members.
Learn heat-safety tips for staying cool, spotting warning signs, hydrating wisely and checking on vulnerable neighbors during extreme heat.
Show-Me-Select heifers averaged $1,555 in Farmington’s first spring sale, offering calving-ease and quality genetics to buyers.
Show-Me-Select heifers averaged $1,787 at Fruitland's second spring sale, with top-quality Tier II heifers fetching up to $2,400.
Show-Me-Select heifers averaged $1,872 at Kirksville Livestock, highlighting strong demand and top-quality breeding.
Top-quality replacement heifers sold at Joplin Regional Stockyards, averaging $1,867 per head, with some fetching up to $2,200.
COLUMBIA, Mo.– With a few simple steps, farmers with heated livestock buildings might be able to cut their energy expenditures substantially at little or no cost.
The biggest loss of energy is through the ventilation system, says University of Missouri Extension energy specialist Don Day.
Mary Sobba earned the 2018 Annie’s Project Women in Ag Educator Award for her leadership, statewide reach, and inspiring rural audiences.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri has it all: wine, whiskey and white oak.University of Missouri Extension will toast Missouri’s unique contributions to the wine and whiskey industry during the first White Oak, Whiskey & Wine tour Saturday, Oct. 28.
Spotted lanternfly may arrive in Missouri this summer, threatening grapes and vineyards—early detection and control are vital to protect industry.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – While Missouri’s farmland market remains relatively stable, new survey data points to rising interest—and prices—for timberland and recreational properties.
STOCKTON, Mo. – As the year ends, University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Patrick Davis urges cattle producers to evaluate their record-keeping system to determine if it was successful.
Springfield's bull sale achieved strong prices, with 26 bulls averaging $5,458 each, highlighting a robust cattle market.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Landowners who purchased Missouri property in 2021 paid more for land than buyers who purchased land in 2020, according to the latest Missouri Farmland Values Opinion Survey report from University of Missouri Extension.
Producers across Missouri are invited to share operation size, costs, marketing and more via a survey to guide the future of the state’s small ruminant industry.
STOCKTON, Mo. – “People are enjoying high cattle prices, and the 57th Southwest Missouri Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program sale on May 16 at Joplin Regional Stockyards near Carthage was no different,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist.
Southwest Missouri dairy and creamery see lower somatic cell counts, higher milk yield, and better cow comfort using compost-bedded pack barns.
MARSHFIELD, Mo. — Homeowners and disaster-recovery volunteers who use chain saws should use extreme caution to prevent injuries.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Livestock owners increasing their herds must grow demand for meat. Current herd size expands meat supplies and domestic meat consumption to record levels.With more supply, expect lower prices, University of Missouri economist Scott Brown told the Womack Agricultural Outlook…
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Agriculture-related incidents injure 33 children every day, and every three days a child dies from one, says University of Missouri Extension safety and health specialist Karen Funkenbusch.“Protecting our future generation needs to be a top priority!” she says.
Characteristics needed to build a temporary grain storage pile
A grain storage pile can be constructed as either a short-term or long-term storage facility, depending upon whether a grain aeration system is included.
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo.–Does the farmland you rent need tiling, limestone, conservation structures or other long-term improvements? When landlords are reluctant to pay for an improvement, some tenants will pay for it themselves.
Hay bale weight varies with moisture and density. Learn how to estimate actual weight for better feeding and management decisions.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Enthusiasm for drone use in agriculture is growing quickly, says Caleb O’Neal, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in plant science.
Farmers face tight labor markets and can attract workers with flexible schedules, perks, and nonmonetary benefits that match employee needs.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Higher production costs and lower commodity prices mean farmers must control costs more carefully than ever, says University of Missouri Extension agricultural economist Ray Massey.
Online tools help farmers estimate potential payments from the 2025 American Relief Act for major crops and plan cash flow.
FORSYTH, Mo. – Despite the benefits of conservation practices on farmland, differing goals and expectations can create tension between landowners and tenants when talking about incorporating them into a land lease.
Livestock producers now have more flexibility under recent updates to USDA’s Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) program, which helps safeguard against unexpected price declines in feeder cattle, fed cattle and swine markets. MU Extension has updated its publication on LRP to reflect the most recent…
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension economists urge farmers to complete the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2017 Census of Agriculture. The census should arrive in farmers’ mailboxes in December. It can be returned by mail or securely submitted online.
Use basic math and a forage-budget worksheet to calculate baleage production costs—seed, fuel, labor, equipment—and compare making feed versus buying.
In this video news story, University of Missouri researchers use GPS technology to understand the complexities of a cow's appetite. This knowledge may help livestock producers graze cattle more efficiently.
SHELBINA, Mo. – It was like any other day in the 40-plus years that Kent Blades had been farming. A lifelong Monroe County farmer, Blades was driving from one part of the farm to another when a semi-truck passed him and struck his John Deere open-station 5520 tractor as he was making a left…
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Atrazine, one of farmers’ least expensive and most effective chemicals for weed control, is under the magnifying glass.
MACON, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension offers a one-day regional program on growing and selling local foods Feb. 28 in Macon.
ST. PETERS, Mo. – Openings remain for free Feb. 13 and March 7 workshops to help beginning farmers and ranchers, including military veterans, learn about resources offered by state and federal agencies.
University of Missouri Extension sponsors the workshops.
ELDON, Mo. – Openings remain for a free Jan. 24 workshop to help beginning farmers and ranchers, including military veterans, learn about resources offered by state and federal agencies.University of Missouri Extension sponsors the workshop.
HANNIBAL, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension will hold a Specialty Crop Block Grant workshop 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12, in Hannibal.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The yellow leaves on corn plants means one thing. Nitrogen fertilizer applied last fall or early this spring is gone. It washed deep into the soil, beyond reach of the young roots.