Farm & Agriculture

Dairy revisions discussed for next farm bill

Congress starts farm bill talks; dairy revisions being discussed

U.S. dairy industry faced difficult economics in 2016 with dropping milk prices. However, many producers felt the government safety net in the 2014 farm bill did little to help. As work starts on the 2018 farm bill, the House Agriculture Committee heard shortcomings of the present act and...

Vesicular disease causes lesions in pigs.

Pig disease on upswing in U.S.

Pork producers need to know what to do if a vesicular disease strikes their operation. The Seneca Valley virus (SVV) disease is on the upswing in the United States, says Corinne Bromfield, University of Missouri Extension veterinarian. The Swine Health Information Center reported that diagnostics...

2016 Cover crop trial comparing winter wheat, cereal rye, and no cover. Four replications.

Farmers needed for Missouri strip trial program

Ten years ago, not many farmers were talking about cover crops. That is not the case now, says Greg Luce, University of Missouri Extension corn specialist and research director for the Missouri Soybean Association and the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council. He invites farmers to take part in MU...

Study shows cover crops help soils after flooding

A four-year study by University of Missouri Extension seeks to find how cover crops can best benefit soils after flooding and prevented planting. MU Extension agronomist Wayne Flanary shared initial results at a recent crop advisers meeting in St. Joseph. The study looks at the impact of cover...

Tightening profit margins mean farmers must control costs

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. Land, seed and fertilizer are the largest production costs for row crop operations. “If you can lower these costs by...

January-February is a good time for wheat growers to review management decisions. Photo by Tyler Mudd.

Now is good time to respond to wheat stages

January and February are good months to make wheat management decisions, according to a University of Missouri Extension agronomist in southeastern Missouri. Wheat maturity does not follow a calendar. Instead, wheat development depends on weather and planting date, says Anthony Ohmes. Wheat’s...

New irrigation app from MU Extension helps increase yields

Farmers using irrigation will benefit from a new University of Missouri Extension web application. MU Extension agronomist Gene Stevens says producers can register for the free Crop Water Use (CWU) web app at www.cropwater.org. In several watersheds in Missouri, the application will help growers...

Last Show-Me-Select fall sale tops average prices at $2,054

PALMYRA, Mo. – The last sale of the year for Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifers averaged $2,054 on 240 head. That topped six fall sales of spring-calving heifers. Bidders packed the barn at F&T Livestock Market, Palmyra, starting the first lot at $2,000, a price that became common. Early, a pen...

USDA Announces Streamlined Guaranteed Loans and Additional Lender Category for Small-Scale Operators

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of a streamlined version of USDA guaranteed loans, which are tailored for smaller scale farms and urban producers. The program, called EZ Guarantee Loans, uses a simplified application process to...

Crop Management Conference, Dec. 15-16, in Columbia reviews problems, looks ahead

The annual Crop Management Conference offers time to learn from the past and plan for the coming year. The 2016 event, held Dec. 15-16, offers many lessons, says Kevin Bradley, University of Missouri plant scientist and program planner. The event will be held at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in...