Farm & Ranch

The 2017 Ozark Empire Fair Hay Show will have changes aimed at attracting more entrants.  The increase in haylage harvest in the region will allow farmers to enter wrapped hay whether the bales were individually wrapped or placed in an in-line wrapper. Another change is to convert the system of evaluation from Relative Feed Value

Missouri famers who participate in USDA programs will be required to provide additional control of ephemeral gully erosion on their highly erodible fields, State Conservationist J.R. Flores said. Ephemeral gullies are the smaller ditches in fields that farmers often smooth with a disc before planting crops. Flores, who heads the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service

This may be the year for two cuttings of tall fescue hay. That’s good news. The bad news: The first cutting will make lousy hay, says Craig Roberts, University of Missouri Extension forage agronomist. Erratic weather caused fescue to set seed early. Under stress, grass made seed instead of leaves. “Those early seed stems must

Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) wildlife biologists on the feral hog strike team have tallied up feral hog numbers for the first three months of 2017. The first quarter yielded a total of 2,332 feral hogs removed by MDC, partner agencies, and private landowners, which is nearly half of the total number of feral hogs

You may not be aware that your local extension centers offer a variety of soil and hay testing equipment and other items that you can check out.  It is best to call before you stop by to make sure the item you want is available.  Using a soil or hay probe provides you with a

Love them or hate them, the beet’s nutritional value is as intense as its striking purple color. Once the Rodney Dangerfield of the garden, beets are finding new respect among nutrition and health advocates. Beets are not just for borscht or pickling any more, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. The granddaddy of

Partners in pasture group along with University of Missouri Extension will be hosting a pasture walk on April 24 at Focal Dairy near Schell City, Mo.  The workshop will begin with the educational portion at 5:30 p. m. and that will involve and educational tour where participants will learn about the day to day activities

If you have never grown potatoes before, then this is the year to try according to Kelly McGowan, horticulture educator with University of Missouri Extension. “Potatoes are easy to grow, they are good producers, and they are delicious,” said McGowan. A successful crop depends on a successful planting. McGowan says planting can begin anytime between

University of Missouri Extension will soon begin a new session of Annie’s Project, a farm management class for women. Farm women and women landowners learn new skills in the six-session evening class, said Mary Sobba, MU Extension agricultural business specialist. Classes in Kirksville, Mexico and Monticello begin March 2. Another class starts in Potosi on

by Rebecca French Smith Not a month ago, a furry little friend in Pennsylvania proclaimed six more weeks of winter. Right. This winter has been a weird one, for sure. Who could blame him for getting it wrong? Of course, he is some 800 miles away from us here in Missouri. Here in Missouri, warm