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Tips to repair relationships after mistakes on the farm
When a service provider sprays the wrong field or leaves a gate open and the cows get out, tempers can flare. Don’t let mistakes interfere with longtime relationships in your community, says University of Missouri Extension agricultural business specialist Katie Neuner.
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Beef prices remain high
BOLIVAR, Mo. – Recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the average retail price of ground beef rose to a record $6.12 per pound in June 2025. This is up from $5.98 in May and $5.47 a year earlier in June 2024. Prices for certain beef cuts might ease with the end of peak grilling season, but ground beef prices remain historically high.
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Hot markets, tax changes call for new planning
Rising cattle prices still show no signs of letting up. That's good news for cattle producers, but that also can mean higher tax bills. With the signing into law of the 2025 budget reconciliation bill (also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”), there are a few tax changes to note that may affect planning, says MU Extension ag business specialist Jacob Hefley.
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Too much moisture can hinder root development
COLUMBIA, Mo. – It might sound bizarre, but all the rain many parts of Missouri got this year has primed plants, trees and shrubs for the possibility of drought damage. Roots are the lifeline of a plant, taking up water and nutrients from the soil and moving them into the leaves, where they can interact with sunlight to produce energy for the plant. A robust root system is the foundation of a healthy, vigorous plant.
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Red crown rot appears in two more Missouri counties
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension specialists confirmed red crown rot (RCR) in soybean fields in Maries and Phelps counties in early August, says University of Missouri Extension state plant pathologist Mandy Bish. RCR can cause yield losses of up to 80% in affected areas. The state’s first case of red crown rot was confirmed last summer in Marion County in northeastern Missouri.
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Mizzou meets Missouri at the State Fair
Whether it’s through interactive exhibitions, educational programming or support for young leaders, Mizzou plays a proud role in helping the fair fulfill its mission to champion Missouri agriculture and inspire future generations.
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Ozark Empire Fair Hay Show draws 49 entries
Missouri hay producers showcased their work at the hay contest during the Ozark Empire Fair, July 24-Aug. 3 in Springfield. The contest, which drew 49 entries from 30 participants, gives producers an opportunity to have their hay evaluated and placed in competition.
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Graves-Chapple field day, Aug. 26, looks at tech, crops and pests
FAIRFAX, Mo. – The annual field day at the University of Missouri Graves-Chapple Extension and Education Center near Corning on Aug. 26 will look at the many ways producers use drones to improve farm efficiency and yields. MU Extension agricultural engineer and center director Jim Crawford says attendees will also hear about crop diseases and pests in Missouri crops this growing season.
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Calving clinic set for Aug. 22 in West Plains
University of Missouri Extension livestock and dairy specialists will teach a calving clinic Aug. 22 at the MU Extension Center in Howell County, 1376 Bill Virdon Blvd., West Plains.
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2025 Missouri Hunger Atlas now available
Food insecurity is on the rise in Missouri, according to the newly released 2025 Missouri Hunger Atlas. Published every other year, the atlas provides local leaders, nonprofits and agencies with data they can use to guide resources and shape solutions.
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MU Extension gardens cultivate connections
Community gardens help grow connections and tackle food insecurity. That’s why MU Extension is committed to supporting communities across Missouri as they plant seeds of connection — one garden at a time.
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Early pregnancy checking and culling open heifers improves efficiency, bottom line
STOCKTON, Mo. – “There are many benefits to early pregnancy checking replacement heifer,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. The Show-Me-Select (SMS) Replacement Heifer Program, which is considered the “black and gold standard” for replacement heifer development, requires pregnancy checking heifers within 90 days of the beginning of the breeding season.
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Free Feedstuff Finder tool helps buyers, sellers
Feedstuff Finder, a free online tool from MU Extension, provides sellers an easy way to list hay, baleage, silage or coproducts. Sellers are listed by name, location, phone number and email contact. Quantities, product types, product details and costs can also be included.
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Twilight tour covers pest, disease control for small farmers
University of Missouri and Lincoln University Extension will offer a workshop on holistic strategies to manage pests and disease on vegetables and fruit crops 6-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25, at EarthDance Organic Teaching Farm, 233 S. Dade Ave., Ferguson.
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MU offers HACCP training Sept. 9-11
MU Extension will offer a food safety training course on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) Sept. 9-11 on the Mizzou campus in Columbia. The training is free to Missouri residents.
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A path to protect pollinators
MU Extension has partnered with the Highway 13 Butterfly Trail Coalition, which is working to make Missouri a fueling station for pollinators as they migrate between Canada and Mexico.
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MU vet recommends CVI for safe showing of animals
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Biosecurity should be top of mind when showing animals at county and state fairs, and having the paper to prove their health is important, said University of Missouri Extension veterinarian Cory Bromfield.
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Review biosecurity basics to keep your herd safe
Summer is a good time to review how to prevent disease from coming onto your farm, says University of Missouri Extension dairy specialist Chloe Collins.
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July 25 is Turnip Day in Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. – There is an old Missouri saying, “On the 25th of July, sow your turnips, wet or dry.” This local proverb vaulted into the national spotlight during the presidency of Missouri native Harry S. Truman, said University of Missouri Extension state specialist David Trinklein.
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MU Extension and partners host 'Healthy Trees - Healthy Wildlife' tour
PORTLAND, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension and partners invite the public to a forest and wildlife field day Saturday, Sept. 13, in Callaway County. The workshop will be held on Bill and Margie Haag’s property near Portland, Mo., from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
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10 reasons you should quit making hay
LINNEUS, Mo. – Missouri ranks eighth in the nation in hay production, producing 4.83 million tons per year, according to the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Hay is a major feed for beef production and other livestock industries in Missouri.
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Crop, forage producer event set for Aug. 14 in Palmyra
PALMYRA, Mo. – Row crop and livestock producers can hear the latest disease, insect and forage updates at the fourth annual University of Missouri Extension Crop and Forage Chat on Aug. 14 at Hall’s Hall in Palmyra. Doors open at 5 p.m. with dinner at 5:30 p.m. Presentations run 6-8:30 p.m. The event is free, but registration is required.
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Cattle and forage management for grazing success
“Now is the time to prepare forage and cattle for the fall and winter grazing season,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. Proper management of cattle and forage right now leads to fall and winter grazing success as well as setting up your operation for spring. Davis provides forage and cattle management suggestions for successful grazing through the fall, winter and into the future.
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MU Extension Livestock Bus Tour is Sept. 23-26
STOCKTON, Mo. – The University of Missouri Extension Livestock Bus Tour will visit livestock operations in northwestern Missouri, northeastern Kansas and southwestern Nebraska beginning Sept. 23, says Patrick Davis, MU Extension livestock field specialist.
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Free MU tool can help plan for flooding, other risks
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Understanding your land’s geological features, terrain and climate is crucial for anticipating and responding to natural disasters, says University of Missouri Extension assistant professor Ryan Milhollin. “A little planning and knowledge about your land can significantly enhance disaster resilience,” Milhollin says.