Gov. Mike Parson will be among the speakers at the Farm, Family & ME! Summit for Women Sept. 13-14 at the Missouri Farm Bureau headquarters in Jefferson City. University of Missouri Extension agricultural business specialist Karisha Devlin says the two-day event offers women in agriculture an opportunity to hear from top-notch speakers and entrepreneurs. In […]
University of Missouri Extension natural resource engineer Kent Shannon offers tips for collecting farm yield data prior to harvest. Back up yield data from the previous season. Copy each season’s data to a unique folder. Maintain several backup copies of the display/raw data in different locations to prevent losses from theft, damage or modification. Delete […]
(USDA) – Agricultural producers in Missouri who suffered losses and damages due to recent drought on two separate occasions may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency emergency loans. The loans are made available under the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue. For the recent drought, the Secretary has designated Andrew, […]
New sire selection rules for Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifers improve reliable calving-ease genetics. “Bulls used in the heifer program will carry DNA-tested EPDs (expected progeny differences),” said Jared Decker, University of Missouri Extension geneticist. The rules going into effect Feb. 1, 2019, were set by the SMS governing board of farmers. “DNA tests add reliability to EPDs […]
Farmers are looking to drought-stressed corn for silage and balage to stretch limited hay supplies. Chopped corn silage offers beef producers better options than balage, says University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Gene Schmitz. Silage allows better control of the amount of high-energy feed for wintering cattle, Schmitz says. Balage offers less flexibility and control […]
The prolonged drought in Northwest Missouri has forced many farmers to consider baling their soybeans as a forage crop this year. While soybeans are an excellent feed source for cattle, producers need to take into consideration the herbicides that were sprayed on the soybeans throughout the growing season. Some herbicides such as Roundup and Sencor […]
Governor Parson says southwest Missouri’s Polk County, where he has a farm, is among the counties affected by drought and has ordered all Missouri agencies to examine how the state can assist communities affected by drought and identify ones that could be impacted. Farmers in the driest Missouri counties are chopping corn that’s […]
Health advocates want McDonald’s to phase out the use of beef and pork grown with medically important antibiotics, and that’s something that could impact Missouri’s beef industry. The Show Me State ranks sixth in the country for the number of cattle, and if the fast food chain agrees to the request, Shelby Luce, national campaign […]
A number of farmers spoke at a town hall gathering hosted by Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill Wednesday in Springfield. Most of them, including James Tucker, said they are losing money and are concerned about losing their farms due to the Trade War with China. The price of soybeans has dropped 20% since tariffs […]
Like other livestock farmers trying to make a living in the grasp of a severe drought, Adam Boman was on the road to Kansas City in early August to market some of his cattle. But Boman, owner of Good Life Grass Farms, was only transporting the few cows he direct markets each month. The others […]
The continuing drought is affecting the corn crop prompting some farmers to use it to feed to livestock. The University of Missouri Extension advises farmers to have corn stalks, including ears of corn, tested for nitrates. Tim Baker is an MU Specialist headquartered in Gallatin and offers insights on nitrate levels. The Grundy […]
The Missouri Department of Agriculture reports another dozen complaints of pesticide misuse were logged in the past week. All complaints are blamed on the herbicide Dicamba for damage to their crops which now brings the total number of complaints statewide as of Monday to 251. This includes 186 alleging damage from Dicamba with the next […]
Severe drought conditions through much of the state have prompted the Missouri Department of Transportation to offer a special overwidth hauling permit to help farmers and ranchers move hay as needed. Loads must be of legal height, length and weight. Permits can be requested via phone and will, in most cases, be issued within minutes […]
The University of Missouri Extension will hold programs in the area later this month about the effects of drought on pastures. One program will address controlling pasture weeds, the nutritional value of weeds, and strategies for getting the most from grasslands during a drought. This program will be held at the Green City City Hall […]
The latest U. S. Drought Monitor map shows all or parts of 31 counties are in D-3 or extreme drought conditions which is an increase of five counties from last week’s map. Most of the extreme drought area is north of the Missouri River and includes all or parts of the counties in the Green […]
This week’s report on crop conditions indicates the soil moisture supplies in Grundy County are getting worse as the extreme drought continues. A report from the Farm Service Agency office shows topsoil moisture as 40 percent very short, 50 percent short, and just 10 percent adequate. Subsoil moisture is only a little better: 30 percent […]
A Cooper County soybean farmer has been selected by a group of his peers to lead the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council. Robert Alpers of Prairie Home, Mo. was named the organization’s chairman following a vote by the board of directors during their summer meeting in Jefferson City. Robert Alpers “I am honored to take on […]
The Missouri Soil and Water Districts Commission has approved the following five actions in response to Governor Parson’s Executive Order 18-05 Drought Alert: Require soil and water conservation districts to move landowners completing the drought practices listed below to the top of waiting lists. Defer the Grazing School Requirement for 12 months after contract approval […]
The U. S. Drought Monitor map released Thursday indicates as many as 26 counties have been classified in D-3 or extreme drought. That’s an expansion in parts of four more counties from last week’s drought map. Countywide extreme drought conditions exist for Grundy, Sullivan, Daviess, Caldwell, Livingston, and Linn from the Green Hills Region. Also […]
Seeding winter annual small grain offers fall grazing for beef cow herds short on grass and hay. “Lots of calls are coming in,” said Craig Roberts, University of Missouri Extension forage specialist. He offers encouraging words and cautions. Interest grew as some local USDA Farm Service Agency offices offer added drought disaster assistance. Drilling wheat, […]
