Farm & Agriculture

After the 1993 flood, MU Extension and other agencies sponsored a demonstration of a Post plow on land where Mike and Brian Strider farm. The plow turned up soil to mix with sand deposits left by floodwaters. Photo courtesy of Willie Aholt.

Where the river meets the rows

Source: William Wiebold, 573-673-4128 (cell); 573-882-0621 HARDIN, Mo. – Soybean wait to be harvested where University of Missouri Extension held a demonstration in 1993 to show farmers how to renovate flooded fields with deep plowing. Father and son Mike and Brian Strider farm the land. Brian is...

Nutritional needs different for dairy, beef

Source: Eric Bailey, 573-884-7873 MOUNT VERNON, Mo. – Missouri dairy farmers are in a good position to switch to beef with some changes, says University of Missouri Extension beef nutritionist Eric Bailey. Dairy farmers already have assets such as land and equipment. More importantly, they know how...

This photo of Willie Aholt shows how deep the Post plow went and the depth of the sand deposits left by floodwaters. Photo courtesy of Willie Aholt.

Excavating company helped restore flooded farmland with 15-ton plow

Source: Greg Luce, 573-473-7079 AUGUSTA, Mo. – Many farm acres in Missouri ravaged by floods in 1993 and 1994 are productive today thanks to a 15-ton moldboard plow pulled by four bulldozers. A St. Charles County excavating company, Aholt & Sons, traveled throughout Missouri and Kansas to deep-...

MU study: Accelerated milk replacer benefits dairy calves

Source: Scott Poock, 573-882-6359; Stacey Hamilton, 417-466-2148 COLUMBIA, Mo. – Dairy calves that are fed higher-protein milk replacement produced more milk and had earlier weaning dates, improved health and better fertility rates, according to a new paper by University of Missouri Extension...

Frost-damaged soybean need special attention

Source: Bill Wiebold, 573-882-0621 COLUMBIA, Mo. – Late maturing soybean face damage from early killing frost and need special attention for harvest and storage, says University of Missouri Extension soybean specialist Bill Wiebold. Harvest frost-damaged soybean based on seed moisture content...

MU specialist shares economics of switching from dairy to beef

Source: Joe Horner, 573-882-9339 COLUMBIA, Mo. – Consolidation in the dairy industry has University of Missouri Extension helping dairy producers switch to beef. MU Extension recently sponsored a session for producers at MU’s Southwest Research Center in Mount Vernon. The dairy industry began...

Pumpkins are a fab-boo-licious food

“This fall, millions of Americans will make an annual pilgrimage to a retail outlet to purchase a vegetable they, unfortunately, are unlikely to eat,” said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. In the United States, this colorful member of the gourd family sells mainly...

Produce safety training offered for fruit, vegetable growers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fruit and vegetable growers can meet training requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule at workshops in November through January at several locations in Missouri. Workshops are set for Nov. 13 in Barnett; Dec. 4 in Waverly and Jan. 9, 2020, in...

Heifer selection workshop set for Oct. 29 at MU Southwest Center

Not all heifers are created equal when it comes to making replacements for a beef cow herd. Some heifers make better cows than others. Identifying the best in a herd boosts profit potential. Two University of Missouri Extension specialists will teach how that happens on farms. They’ll hold a free...

Used tires provide weight to secure plastic around the silage pile. Photo courtesy of Rana Zeller.

Silage piles save money over baleage on late-planted corn

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The cost to harvest corn planted as a cover crop for silage this year varies greatly, according to a new study from University of Missouri Extension. USDA Risk Management Agency allows producers to harvest cover crops, including corn, from prevented-plant acres beginning Sept. 1...