Farm & Ranch

by Patrick Davis MU Extension Livestock Field Specialist Are you a cattle producer that has small numbers of cattle but want to experience feeding cattle in the feedyard, evaluate your cattle’s feedyard performance, and determine whether your cattle meet certain targets at slaughter that influence their profitability? Then consider enrolling steers in the Missouri Steer

Applications are now available online. A fee of $140 is required to cover processing costs, one certificate, a booklet and one two-sided, 2-foot by 2-foot metal sign (includes MU and Missouri Farm Bureau logos) for each approved farm. Application deadline is May 1. Guidelines used for the selection and recognition of Missouri Century Farms: •

The Missouri Custom Rates survey is routinely used by landowners, farmers, custom operators and government agencies. This survey is conducted every three years to update prices. University of Missouri Extension is asking all persons involved in providing or using custom farming activities to fill out this survey. Your responses will benefit the agricultural community of

No-cost extension to aid farmers and ranchers as statewide drought conditions continue Missouri Department of Transportation has extended the special overwidth hauling permit for hay at no cost through March 1, 2023 in an effort to aid the agricultural community as statewide drought conditions continue. Loads must be of legal height, length and weight. Permits

Continued drought conditions through much of the state have prompted the Missouri Department of Transportation to extend the special overwidth hauling permit for hay at no cost through Dec. 1. Loads must be of legal height, length and weight. Permits can be requested online using the MoDOT Carrier Express online service. To have the fee

Watch out for slow-moving farm equipment This harvest season, the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety is reminding motorists to keep a watchful eye for slow-moving farm vehicles. Being patient, driving carefully and respecting boundaries are all equally important when driving around farm vehicles. “It can be easy to forget that farmers are simply doing their

High feed, fertilizer, and chemical prices are currently main topics of conversation. Many times, the initial reaction to price increases is to cut back or eliminate particular inputs. While this can be an effective response, there are consequences to consider. In many regards, managing increased input costs are very similar for forage production and livestock

The 38th annual Southwest Missouri Spring Forage Conference will be held Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at the Oasis Hotel and Convention Center, 2546 N. Glenstone Ave., in Springfield, Missouri. This year’s keynote speaker will be Corbitt Wall.  Corbitt is a native of eastern New Mexico and Western Texas and currently lives in Canyon, Texas. He

Extension Regional Livestock Field Specialist.  Davis will discuss strategy and management suggestions to prepare for a successful fall calving season.  “Heifers are the most susceptible to calving difficulties so pay special attention to them,” says Davis.  Davis advises for heifers to be located near the calving barn in case intervention during the calving process is

Higher crop prices may have producers looking to expand acres.  Some producers are taking old pasture or hay fields and putting them into crop production.   It seems pretty simple:  spray burn down herbicide, no-till plant herbicide-resistant beans and then spray again.  But this doesn’t deal with some of the other issues that may occur