For over 100 years, University of Missouri Extension has been producing official guide sheets on various topics related to farming, gardening, youth and family, nutrition and community development.

The guide sheets are unbiased, research-based, peer-reviewed publications that are based on research done at the University of Missouri. Most guides are two to four pages long and are available on our website or at a local county extension office.

MU Extension distributes millions of various guide sheets, and the information helps people resolve problems and make better decisions. During the past week, these have been the five most popular guide sheets at the Greene County MU Extension office.

Number one: “How to Freeze Home Prepared Foods,” GH1505. It’s easy to keep your freezer stocked with home-prepared “convenience” foods ranging from sack lunches to elaborate dishes for unexpected company. By planning a steady flow of main dishes, baked goods and desserts in and out of your freezer, you make good use of your time and freezer.

Number two: “Farmland Values for Missouri Counties,” G403. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA/NASS) collects information on the market value of agricultural land and buildings through two different procedures: the Census of Agriculture conducted every four to five years and an annual survey. From this publication, we know the 2017 market value per acre for farmland in Greene County was $4,745.

Number three: “Safe and Successful Home Canning,” GH1452. Your home-canned products will be only as good as the fresh foods you start with. For high-quality, safe, home-canned foods, select the freshest foods possible. Discard diseased and moldy foods. Don’t can foods that you wouldn’t serve at your table fresh.

Number four: “Cool-Season Grasses: Lawn Maintenance Calendar,” G6705. Established lawns may be maintained at different levels of perfection according to individual situations and desires, but good lawns seldom “just happen.” This summary outlines the major steps required to maintain a high-quality lawn year round.

Number five: “Controlling Deer Damage in Missouri.” When deer cause significant damage, they may be considered a nuisance. The best way to control deer damage is through an integrated pest management (IPM) approach, which is the process of applying a variety of practical prevention and management techniques to keep damage — and the cost of damage control – as low as possible.

All MU Extension guide sheets are available at area MU Extension offices and online at http://extension.missouri.edu.