Farm & Ranch

Thanksgiving favorites can be a challenge to grow in Missouri

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

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USDA ag census to arrive in mail soon

University of Missouri Extension economists urge farmers to complete the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2017 Census of Agriculture. The census should arrive in farmers’ mailboxes in December. It can be returned by mail or securely submitted online. MU Extension economist Ryan Milhollin says federal, state and local governments as well as agribusinesses, researchers, trade associations

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MDC advises proper fencing can help keep out feral hogs

by Lauren Hildreth, MDC Wildlife Programs Supervisor The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is working with public and private conservation partners through the Missouri Feral Hog Partnership to eliminate feral hogs from Missouri. Agencies in the partnership are helping landowners remove hogs from their properties through trapping, and some landowners are attempting to prevent their

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Cedar County Farm Bureau Feeds the World and Our Community

by Kalena Bruce Farmers feed the world. Three times a day, our society depends on 1.5 % of our population (farmers) to provide nutritious food for their sustenance. Yet, 1-in-5 children in Cedar County go hungry at least once a week because they don’t have access to food. We have a problem. We have a

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Pork Industry interns wanted

Internship programs are a great opportunity for college students to make contacts and gain experience while still in school. One such opportunity is with the Missouri Pork Association and their internship program. The program allows students to obtain training in a real world setting to develop personal, organizational and public relations skills and experiences. A

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Register for ‘Raising Cattle on Small Acreages’ program

University of Missouri Extension, the Greene County Extension Council, and Mid-Missouri Bank will offer a “Raising Cattle on Small Acreages” workshop starting at 5:30 p.m., Oct. 16 at the Botanical Center, 2400 S. Scenic Ave., Springfield. A meal will be available for all registered participants thanks to the generous support of Mid-Missouri Bank. The topic

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Register early for fall bull soundness clinic

October is a good time to prepare your bulls for the upcoming breeding season. That also makes this the best time of year to schedule a bull breeding soundness exam (BSE) as an insurance policy for the fall 2018 calf crop. “Just because you tested your bull or bulls earlier in the spring it is

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Growing taste for butter drives farm-gate milk prices upward

As consumers relearn to butter their toast, they help dairy prices at the farm gate. Despite growth in the U.S. dairy cow herd, milk prices have stayed above year-ago levels this year, say University of Missouri Extension economists. Looking for causes, they see growing demand for butter, say Scott Brown and Daniel Madison. “Butter prices

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Hog farmers defy supply and demand; price outlook stays above expectation

This year, hog farmers dodged lower prices when they expanded sow herds and grew the second-largest pork supply since 2008. Prices stayed above expectation, say University of Missouri Extension economists. Growing exports and consumers’ love for bacon helped demand for growing supply. However, the economists caution, “At this rate, supply can outstrip demand.” Good times

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