Division News

Farm ponds can put food on the table
Many Missourians may have an untapped resource to combat rising food costs right in their own back yard: Families with ponds at least one-quarter acre in size can take a bite out of grocery bills by raising bass and bluegill to eat, said a University of Missouri fisheries expert. - Jul 24, 2008

MU Greenley Center to feature aphid research at Aug. 7 field day
Soybean aphids can cause substantial yield loss, and the pests may be a particular threat in Missouri this year with late-planted soybeans, said University of Missouri specialists. - Jul 24, 2008

Eat right when money is tight
Most of us are feeling the financial crunch of skyrocketing fuel and food prices. Many families are driving less to conserve gas, but no one wants to jeopardize good nutrition and health to save money on food. "Through planning, budgeting and food selection you can spend less but still eat well," said Lynda Johnson, University of Missouri Extension nutrition and health education specialist. - Jul 22, 2008

Japanese beetle numbers high in Missouri; late-planted corn at greatest risk
After years of being primarily a horticultural pest, Japanese beetles are emerging as a threat to field crops across Missouri, said Wayne Bailey, University of Missouri Extension entomologist. - Jul 18, 2008

Combating common pests of cucumbers, melons and squash
Cucurbitaceae is one of the most cultivated plant families in the world. From this family come watermelon, cantaloupe, casaba, honeydew, muskmelon, cucumber, summer and winter squash, and pumpkins, to name a few. Unfortunately, cucurbits aren't just popular with people: Several common insects are also fond of the plants, said a University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist. - Jul 16, 2008

Wind farms generate power, revenue, say MU Extension specialists
The landscape in northwest Missouri is changing. Scattered across three counties, 75 turbines spin to harvest the wind. - Jul 14, 2008

Boar conference early sign-up deadline is July 18
June 18 is the early-registration deadline for the third Midwest Boar Stud Managers Conference (BSMC), August 7-8, in St. Louis. The registration fee is $175 before July 18 and $225 thereafter. - Jul 14, 2008

Application deadline for Mo. Master Farmer Award extended to Aug. 1
Missouri Ruralist magazine and University of Missouri Extension have extended the application deadline for the new Missouri Master Farmer Award to Aug. 1. - Jul 14, 2008

Subsurface drainage demonstration at Bradford Farms, Aug. 21 and 22
Persistent rains have left many row-crop producers in Missouri struggling to get their planting done. That has sparked increased interest in subsurface drainage, which lets fields dry faster and helps producers complete planting in time, even during wet years. - Jul 11, 2008

Mature trees and plants can cast shade over once-sunny garden
Over time, a sunny garden may become a shady one as surrounding trees and shrubs mature. - Jul 09, 2008

Cleaning up after flood takes special care; MU Extension has free cleanup guide
Families returning to their flooded homes should exercise caution before and during the cleanup process, according to a University of Missouri Extension emergency management expert. - Jul 08, 2008

Crop-injury clinics teach pest, herbicide symptoms
Predicting the dangers crops face each growing season can be like betting on Missouri weather: you never know. This season's brew of bad weather, diseases, floods, weeds and pests underscores the challenges of Mother Nature. - Jul 07, 2008

Farmers with damaged crops must call insurance agent Adjuster must inspect before replanting or other tillage
Farmers with flood-damaged fields should contact their crop insurance agent while waiting for waters to recede and fields to dry, said a University of Missouri Extension agricultural business specialist. - Jul 03, 2008

Plant soybean crop in July, says MU agronomist Flooded land can make small but profitable yield
A soybean crop planted after floodwaters recede still has a chance to make a profitable yield. - Jul 03, 2008

Field day shows quail can thrive amid farmland
Northern bobwhite quail were once abundant in Missouri. Over the last 30 years, however, their numbers have declined more than 70 percent as modern farming techniques erased prime quail habitat. - Jul 02, 2008