Farm & Ranch

by Eric Bohl Missouri Farm Bureau’s second annual FARMometer survey showed a number of positive trends in the attitudes of our state’s farmers and ranchers. The 1,200-plus attendees at MFB’s Annual Meeting at Tan-Tar-A in early December were polled on a number of agriculture-related topics, with the questions identical to last year’s inaugural survey. Overall,

In the fourth of six Show-Me-Select fall sales, replacement heifers brought an average price of $2,010 on 76 head. The heifers bred to calve next spring came from herd owners enrolled in the University of Missouri heifer development program. The heifers have improved genetics and management. Top prices of $2,500 went to three consignors. Those

Drones are higher in quality and lower in price than they were just a few years ago when farmers began using them, says University of Missouri Extension natural resources engineer Kent Shannon. Shannon gave an update on drone technology at MU Extension’s annual Crop Management Conference, Dec. 18-19 in Columbia. Shannon has taught farmers and

The current price of hay is a frequent question asked by callers to the area county extension offices. It is an important question to cattle producers wanting to turn a profit because hay costs represent a significant overall expense in raising cattle. “The calls come from sellers as well as people looking to purchase hay.

Five acres of land, a small pond and a desire for schedule flexibility does not sound like the typical path to success for cattle producers. However, land in southwest Missouri can provide a reasonably priced home for a cow compared to other parts of the nation, which is why Missouri ranks number two in beef

Recent issues with dicamba spray drift have highlighted the need for producers to understand third-party liability associated with all herbicide applications, said University of Missouri Extension economist Ray Massey. Massey presented information about liability risks related to herbicide application at MU Extension’s annual Crop Management Conference, Dec. 14-15 in Columbia. “It’s always important that growers

What would happen if U.S. farmers stopped producing animals for food and Americans went vegan? Some have called for a move in that direction to address increasing concerns about U.S. health, eating habits, and climate change. Researchers at USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Virginia Tech recently explored those questions and found surprising results. Mary

Soil tests can save farmers thousands of dollars, says Manjula Nathan, director of the University of Missouri Soil and Plant Testing Laboratory. Fall is the best time to submit samples. Too often, farmers follow routine fertilization schedules and end up applying too much fertilizer to fields, Nathan said. A simple soil test gives the farmer

Cranberries, sweet potatoes and pecans are all favorite Thanksgiving foods that can be grown successfully in Missouri according to Patrick Byers, a horticulture specialist with University of Missouri Extension. Many consider cranberries to be an essential part of Thanksgiving. Cranberries are native to North America and are found in bogs or other areas where the