Farm & Agriculture

University of Missouri Extension specialist Ted Probert, left, says compost-bedded pack barns provide many benefits for dairy cows. Dwight Fry, right, says one of the benefits has been reduced somatic cell counts, an indicator of higher milk quality. Photo by Linda Geist

SW Mo. dairy and creamery sees positive changes with pack barns

MOUNTAIN GROVE, Mo. – Brothers Dwight and David Fry remember the day that they decided to build bedded pack barns for their dairy cows. They visited neighbor David Gray’s barns on a winter day when sleet was pounding down. “His cows were lying there in the barn chewing their cud and making milk,”...

Garden peas tolerate light frosts and can germinate in relatively cool soil.

In praise of peas

Source: David Trinklein, 573-882-9631 COLUMBIA, Mo. – Few things match the culinary delight of fresh peas from the family garden, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Peas are tastiest immediately after being picked, before too much of the sugar converts to starch....

Planning, patience lead to better forage and cattle

Source: Patrick Davis, 417-276-3313 STOCKTON, Mo. – Patience pays off for cattle producers who wait for fescue to grow some before turning cattle out for spring grazing, says University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Patrick Davis. “After a long winter of feeding hay, producers are...

2018 NW Missouri Management Intensive Grazing School

What is a Management Intensive Grazing System? Management intensive grazing (also known as rotational grazing management) is a system where grazing is managed for both the benefit of the livestock and forage. Livestock graze in each pasture long enough to harvest the forage, but are removed before...

Spotted lanternfly, photo by Penn State Extension

MU entomologist tells farmers of pests to watch for

“The genie’s out of the bottle” on the spotted lanternfly, University of Missouri Extension entomologist Kevin Rice told farmers Feb. 8 at the second annual NEMO Soils and Crop Conference in Palmyra. Rice gave farmers an update on insects to watch in the upcoming growing season. He urged them to...

Iowa farm family chosen as Organic Farmers of Year

SPRING VALLEY, WI –The Rosmanns of Rosmann Family Farms near Harlan, Iowa, will be honored Feb. 22 as the 2018 Organic Farmers of the Year at the annual MOSES Organic Farming Conference in La Crosse, Wis. This prestigious award recognizes Midwest farmers for outstanding land management, innovative...

Missouri fescue school, March 6, helps farmers replace toxic K-31

MOUNT VERNON, Mo. – Beef herd owners serious about improving fescue pastures—and their beef herds—can learn how in a March 6 meeting at the University of Missouri Southwest Research Center, Mount Vernon. Kentucky 31 toxic tall fescue causes endless losses in cows and calves, says Craig Roberts,...

Easy use of DNA data enhances cow herds growing quality beef

Source: Jared Decker, 573-882-2504 Beef-cow herd owners will learn new ways to raise better calves at three University of Missouri meetings in March. The sessions lead producers from proven breeding to new uses of DNA. MU Extension animal scientists David Patterson and Jared Decker will lead the...

Firefighters, farmers train for grain bin rescue.

GRAIN BIN SAFETY

What would happen in your community if someone became engulfed in grain while working in a grain bin? Dan Neenan, director of the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), hopes emergency personnel would have the necessary training and equipment to rescue the person or persons in...

Hay needed is 3 percent of body weight per day.

To stretch short hay supply, 'feed less, need less'

As winter feeding season continues with a forecast of Arctic weather in February, cow herd owners face dwindling hay supplies. Eric Bailey, University of Missouri beef nutritionist, gives the short answer: “Feed less, need less.” In practice, that takes management decisions and exacting math. The “...