Show Me Select Heifer Replacement Sale

Show-Me-Select registration deadline is February 15th

Enrollment for the Show-Me-Select Heifer Replacement Program ends February 15, 2021. Show-Me-Select helps Missouri producers raise and market high-quality beef replacement females, says University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Kendra Graham. The educational program uses the latest research on health, nutrition, genetics, and reproductive science.  “Now is the time to enroll in the program for […]

Cow and calf in a field (cattle)

Evaluate your calving distribution this spring

Record calf birthdates this calving season to track calving distribution. “Evaluating a calving distribution takes very little time but can provide valuable insight into reproductive performance and productivity of the herd,” says University of Missouri Extension veterinarian Craig Payne. Calving distribution is often expressed as the percentage of calves born at 21-day intervals since 21 […]

CRP Website Revised (Conservation Reserve Program website)

USDA extends general signup for Conservation Reserve Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending the Conservation Reserve Program General Signup period, which had previously been announced as ending on Feb. 12, 2021.  USDA will continue to accept offers as it takes this opportunity for the incoming Administration to evaluate ways to increase enrollment. Under the previous Administration, incentives and rental payment rates […]

Cover Crop news graphic

Cover crop conference, “Finding Common Ground in Cover Crops,” goes virtual

“Finding Common Ground in Cover Crops” is the theme of the 2021 Midwest Cover Crops Council Conference. The virtual conference, February 23-25, kicks off with updates from cover crop specialists in the council’s 12 Midwestern states and Ontario, Canada, says Charles Ellis, University of Missouri Extension agricultural engineering specialist and a member of the council’s […]

Missouri Department of Agriculture Agribusiness Academy

Missouri Department of Agriculture announces grants for Missouri specialty crop producers

The Missouri Department of Agriculture is now accepting proposals for anticipated funding through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Interested individuals, community organizations, and research institutions working to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Missouri should submit their application by March 8, 2021. “Specialty Crop Grants are one of the many financial assistance options […]

Stocker Cattle or Stocker Cow

Free online event centers on stocker cattle

Beginning stocker cattle operators can learn how to improve profits during a free online event on February 16 and 18 at 7 p.m. University of Missouri Extension; the Missouri Small Business Development Center for Agriculture, Food and Forestry; and the NRCS+MU Grasslands Project sponsor the two-night workshop. “A properly managed stocker cattle operation can be […]

Farm and farmland news graphic

Land values in Missouri continue to grow, according to annual survey of farmers, appraisers and ag lenders

All classes of Missouri land values grew steadily in the past year, according to the University of Missouri Extension’s annual survey of farmers, rural appraisers, and agricultural lenders. Ray Massey, MU Extension agricultural economics professor, heads the survey efforts. No governmental or public agencies in Missouri require the reporting of land values, said Massey. Despite […]

Network cables (RJ45 ) connected to a switch

Computers on the Farm Conference meets February 8-9 via Zoom

With its virtual format, this year’s Computers on the Farm Conference, Feb. 8-9, will vividly underscore the increasingly vital role of computers in agriculture. “The topics are designed to simulate a hands-on experience for both beginner and advanced farm computer users,” says Kent Shannon, University of Missouri Extension agricultural engineering specialist and MU assistant teaching […]

Ethanol or E-15 logo

American Coalition for Ethanol says EPA’s proposed ethanol rule is a tough pill to swallow

A proposed biofuels rule from the EPA is getting criticism from ethanol supporters. The part of the rule ethanol supporters like would address E-15 labeling and infrastructure requirements and not act on 66 petitions for Small Refinery Exemptions. Growth Energy’s Chris Bliley tells Brownfield EPA’s proposed rule is in the middle between good and bad.  […]

Dicamba

Public interest groups sue EPA for re-approving controversial herbicide dicamba

Public-interest groups are suing the Environmental Protection Agency over the agency’s re-approval of products containing dicamba, a herbicide controversial for its tendency to drift into neighboring fields and damage farmers’ crops and homeowners’ gardens. Last fall, the EPA green-lighted dicamba use for five years, the third time the agency registered dicamba products. George Kimbrell, legal director at […]

Missouri Soybean Association Website

Mercer farmer achieves top honors in Missouri Soybean Association annual yield competition

Missouri soybean farmers brought impressive yields for the Missouri Soybean Association’s annual competition. Results from Missouri’s soybean yield contest are now finalized with the highest yields topping 100 bushels per acre. Contest winners in the irrigated and non-irrigated categories presented yields of 102.79 and 106.14 bushels per acre, respectively. The contest’s top honors for non-irrigated […]