Farm & Agriculture

Did a Storm Damage your Tree?

Winter storms cause tremendous stress and severe damage to trees in the urban forest. Snapped or downed trees should be removed, but what about a tree that only suffers minor damage? How can a homeowner tell if a tree is safe enough to keep? Assessing the damage Minor damage - with only the...

Test well water annually

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The human body is more than 70 percent water and it needs to be replenished every day. But how good is the water you’re drinking? If you have a private well, testing the water once a year is a good idea. “Mainly what we want to check for is E. coli bacteria,” says Bob Broz,...

Poinsettia bract beginning to change color. (photo by Debbie Johnson, MU Extension)

Botanical extreme sport: re-blooming poinsettia

Source: David Trinklein, 573-882-9631 COLUMBIA, Mo. – Every year Americans buy millions of poinsettias. But what do you do with all those plants after the holidays? Many people just throw them away, but there’s always those who wonder if they can be re-bloomed for next year. “It is quite a bit of...

Show-Me-Select heifers average $2,374 at bred replacement sale at Fruitland

The sale was small, but 70 registered bidders lifted the average price to $2,374 for 133 Show-Me-Select heifers at Fruitland (Mo.) Livestock Auction, Dec. 5. “The sale started slow, but bidding wars added mid-sale excitement,” said Erin Larimore, University of Missouri Extension livestock...

Crop conference fee cut for farmers, say MU Extension program leaders

Friday, December 04, 2015 COLUMBIA, Mo. – For the first time, farmers will pay reduced fees to attend the annual University of Missouri Crop Management Conference, Dec. 15-16. At first, the conference wasn’t planned for farmers. It updated farm advisers on new MU research and crop reports. Soon,...

Good yields on early harvested soybean

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Good yields from first-harvested soybean surprised Missouri farmers this fall. After rain-delayed planting followed by late drought, growers didn't expect much. “Yields have been surprisingly good from timely planted fields,” says University of Missouri Extension soybean specialist...

MFA Oil Company Acquires Eastern Arkansas Fuel Supplier

COLUMBIA, MO (Oct. 29, 2015) -- MFA Oil Company, the seventh largest propane retailer in the United States, announces it has acquired Elaine Petroleum Distribution, Inc., a refined fuels supplier based in Elaine, Arkansas. The purchase strengthens MFA Oil’s position in eastern Arkansas as the...

Farming Fits Veterans and Veterans Fit Farming

By Wyatt Fraas, wyattf@cfra.org, Center for Rural Affairs The Center for Rural Affairs has worked to support and assist beginning farmers and ranchers for over 25 years. And increasingly, beginning farmer and rancher inquiries come from military veterans. They have the same needs as other new...

Pumpkin seeds are too good to waste

One of the best rewards during pumpkin season are the seeds. They taste great, can be flavored in multiple ways and are great for snacks and salad toppers. When you first remove the seeds from the pumpkin, however, it’s kind of a slimy mess. But it’s easy to clean them up. “Put the seeds, pulp and...

Turkey and Deer hunting guide

Archery Deer and turkey season is Sept. 15-Nov. 13, 2015 and Nov. 25, 2015-Jan. 15, 2016. Limits are two turkeys of either sex. Both may be taken on the same day. Using an archer's hunting permit, two deer, which may be of either sex, but only one antlered deer may be taken before Nov. 14. Fall...