Farm & Agriculture

Cost-share funding available for produce grower GAP certification

Source: Londa Nwadike, 816-482-5860 KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Cost-share funding is available to help produce growers pay for USDA Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification. “These funds are available for Missouri farmers who are applying for USDA GAP certification for the first time or for farms...

Tim Baker, Extension Professional and Horticulture Specialist

Occasionally a vegetable gardener will ask me if closely related plants will cross and affect the flavor of the vegetables they are growing in their garden. Usually this is not a problem, unless you are saving seed. Normally even if two plants will cross, the flavor of the vegetable in question...

Initially, the Lee family grew garlic in raised beds and then moved to planting it in fields by hand. The labor-intensive effort pushed them to buy a commercial planter from Poland. Photo courtesy of Rusty Lee.

It makes scents to grow garlic in Missouri

Source: Rusty Lee, 573-564-3733 TRUXTON, Mo. – Rusty Lee’s quest for a few garlic cloves to plant turned into an unlikely business venture. Suppliers put the University of Missouri Extension agronomist on a waiting list. That’s when Lee decided he needed to sell seed stock to other growers as well...

Slow pasture grass growth irks farmers, cool weather only part of the problem

Source: Craig Roberts, 573-882-0481 COLUMBIA, Mo. – Grass growers ask, “Why doesn’t my grass grow this spring?” “It’s the cool weather and a whole lot more,” says Craig Roberts, University of Missouri Extension forage specialist. Delayed crop planting and slow grass growth were common topics in the...

The bucks stop here: When deer dearly love your plants

Source: Jennifer Schutter, 660-665-9866 KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Deer might be lovely animals, but not when grazing on freshly sprung tulips or hostas. And tree lovers fear antler rubs on trees and shrubs. “Unfortunately, there are few simple solutions to prevent deer damage without eliminating deer...

Don't delay planting to apply nitrogen

Most years, University of Missouri Extension nutrient management specialist Peter Scharf thinks that split application of nitrogen for corn is a fine practice. This year is an exception. Rain and flooding kept many farmers from applying nitrogen at their usual time. Scharf says time is running out...

Add legumes to fescue pastures for better profits

Source: Patrick Davis, 417-276-3313 STOCKTON, Mo. - Cattle producers see more profit when they add legumes to fescue pastures and manage grazing systems properly, says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist. Fescue remains the hardy mainstay of southwestern Missouri...

Consider native warm-season grasses to complement tall fescue

Source: Tim Schnakenberg, 417-357-6812 COLUMBIA, Mo. – Native warm-season grasses can yield more forage than traditional tall fescue, says Tim Schnakenberg, University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist. Fans of native-warm season grasses like to use big bluestem, switch grass, Indian grass...

Storm Damage to Trees

In 2007, we had a major ice storm in our area, and I wrote a couple of columns on how to deal with storm damage to trees. While we have seen a lot of ice this winter, the damage to trees has not been that bad for the most part. But soon, spring will be here, and the potential for damaging winds may...

Cows at Foremost Dairy relax more since waterbeds were installed last year. The waterbeds offer better cow comfort, which leads to more milk production. Photo by Stacey Hamilton.

Cow water beds make for sweet dreams and more milk

Source: Scott Poock, 573-882-6359; Stacey Hamilton, 417-466-2148 COLUMBIA, Mo. – Water beds for cows improve comfort and milk production at the University of Missouri’s Foremost Dairy Research Center near Columbia. MU Extension veterinarian Scott Poock and dairy specialist Stacey Hamilton are part...