The United States Department of Agriculture has released its latest crop progress report for Missouri. Rain in some areas slowed the harvest. Statewide, the temperature averaged 61.8 degrees, 3.7 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 1.26 inches statewide, 0.62 inches above normal. There were 4.1 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending October 15.
October is a busy month for both our nation’s farms and our nation’s schools. Farmers are harvesting everything from apples to pumpkins, while schools are celebrating Farm to School Month by raising awareness of the connection with fresh, healthy food and local food producers. Farm to School connects communities to our nation’s farmers, ranchers and […]
The EPA has reached an agreement with Monsanto, BASF, and DuPont on measures to further minimize the potential for drift to damage neighboring crops from the use of dicamba formulations used to control weeds in genetically modified cotton and soybeans. New requirements for the use of dicamba “over the top” (application to growing plants) will […]
Farmers are being sought to participate in the 2017-2018 University of Missouri Extension Strip Trial Program, which helps farmers and crop advisers compare on-farm management decisions and practices. The program uses on-farm, field-scale research to give growers farm-specific data to guide decisions that can protect or improve the bottom line, said MU Extension nutrient management […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it will process many pending eligible offers for land enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), and it will temporarily suspend accepting most new offers until later in the 2018 fiscal year. “All current, eligible CRP continuous enrollment offers made through Sept. 30, 2017 – except for those […]
Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn issued a Notice of Release from the Stop Sale, Use or Removal Order of all products containing Dicamba labeled for agricultural use on Sept. 29, 2017. The Special Local Need registrations for XTENDIMAX™ with VaporGrip™ Technology, ENGENIA™ Herbicide, and DUPONT™ FEXAPAN™ PLUS VAPORGRIP™ TECHNOLOGY HERBICIDE will remain in effect until Dec. 1, 2017. Older Dicamba […]
The Missouri Corn Merchandising Council and the Missouri Corn Growers Association have announced a new slate of officers, the appointment of recently elected board members and national committee assignments. The election of the 2017-18 MCMC officer team took place during an August board meeting held in Branson. The following MCMC leaders assumed their new roles […]
Fruit and vegetable growers can meet training requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) at workshops at several locations throughout Missouri. FSMA includes rules for produce growers intended to reduce the risk of contamination from E. coli, listeria, salmonella and other disease-causing microbes. The rules set standards related to water quality, use of manure […]
The Northwest Women in Ag Night will be held at the North Central Missouri College Barton Farm Campus of Trenton next month. The event will be held the evening of October 19th from 3 to 8 o’clock. Guest speakers will include Adam Brandsgaard with the Missouri Department of Conservation, Jenna Monnig and Tim Baker with […]
Guests attending the Thompson Research Center Field Day near Spickard Thursday received a free dinner, took a farm tour, and heard several presentations. The farm tour included discussion of timber practices by Wurdack Research Center Superintendent Dusty Walter as well as a drone presentation by Hundley-Whaley Research Center Superintendent Bruce Burdick. University of Missouri Animal […]
The deadline for early registration for Pearls of Production: Women in Agriculture is nearing. The early-registration discount ends after Oct. 13, said Marcia Shannon, University of Missouri Extension swine specialist and organizer of the fifth annual event, Nov. 3-4. Shannon said the workshop offers women in livestock agriculture an opportunity to learn from other women […]
Cash rent rates dropped overall in many Missouri counties, according to a Sept. 8 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Rates for cropland and pastureland dropped overall from the previous year, said University of Missouri Extension agriculture business specialist Joe Koenen. Koenen leads sessions on Missouri farm leases to educate landowners and tenants on […]
A new state law will allow agricultural implements to be moved on roads during periods of darkness. Highway Patrol Troop B Commanding Officer Captain James Wilt reports the passage of Senate Bill 8 allows implements to be moved for short distances if they are equipped with proper lighting. He says proper lighting is defined as […]
The Sand County Foundation and Missouri Farmers Care named two area farms as finalists for the inaugural Missouri Leopold Conservation Award. Richard and Renee Fordyce, as well as Matt and Kate Lambert, are up for the award, which honors farmer, rancher, and forester achievement in voluntary stewardship and management of natural resources. Richard and Renee […]
The Grundy County Farm Bureau will hold its annual meeting later this month. The meeting will be held in the Lager Meeting Room at the North Central Missouri College Barton Farm Campus south of Trenton the evening of September 21 at 6 o’clock. Missouri Farm Bureau Chief Administrative Officer Dan Cassidy will be the guest speaker. […]
Openings remain for a free Sept. 18 workshop to help beginning farmers, ranchers and veterans learn about resources offered by state and federal agencies. “Understanding the Alphabet Soup of USDA” workshop for beginning farmers and ranchers will be held 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18, at Follis Hall, Fredericktown, said Richard Proffer, MU Extension business […]
Making profits from beef herds will be taught Sept. 21 at the University of Missouri Thompson Farm field day near Spickard, Mo. Genetics, breeding, feeding, and selling improve profits, say MU Extension specialists. “For a change, the program will be in the evening,” says Rod Geisert, superintendent, Columbia. Sign-in opens at 3:30 p.m. and is […]
Six Missouri farms have joined the Soil Health Partnership, a move that could hasten the adoption of agricultural practices linked to optimizing crop production and sustainability alike in the Show-Me State. Often called the next frontier in agriculture, research shows the benefits of nurturing soil health include improved crop yield, enhanced water quality, increased […]
University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist Wayne Flanary says about 160 acres of soybean in northwestern Missouri show symptoms of Sclerotinia stem rot. The MU Plant Diagnostic Clinic confirmed the disease, which can cause large losses in fields with high yield potential. Also known as white mold, Sclerotinia stem rot is rare in Missouri. This […]
As consumers relearn to butter their toast, they help dairy prices at the farm gate. Despite growth in the U.S. dairy cow herd, milk prices have stayed above year-ago levels this year, says University of Missouri Extension economists. Looking for causes, they see growing demand for butter, say Scott Brown and Daniel Madison. “Butter prices […]
