Farm & Ranch

“Hay production is important to the Southwest Missouri forage and livestock industry,” says Regional MU Extension Livestock Field Specialist Patrick Davis.  Whether selling or feeding hay to your livestock, harvesting and baling hay properly at the right time is important for a high quality product.  A high quality product will lead to better hay demand

During a special month-long campaign called “No Tillage November”, the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is encouraging Missouri farmers to “keep the stubble” on their harvested crop fields and improve soil health. The NRCS project is mirrored after the national cancer awareness No Shave November campaign that encourages people not to shave during the entire

Farmers ending an erratic crop year have help ahead. To get it, they should enroll for the MU Crop Management Conference in Columbia. Organizer Kevin Bradley, University of Missouri plant scientist, says the annual event fills quickly. He opened enrollment early for the Dec. 17-18 event. There’s plenty to talk about. Bradley and coworkers lined

Optimum cow pregnancy rate and calf crop percentage is important for profit potential of a beef cattle operation.  Conducting a bull breeding soundness exam (BSE) to make sure your bull is structurally and reproductively sound prior to the breeding season is important to ensure these results according to Patrick Davis, livestock specialist with University of

There are no official graders of hay in Missouri according to Eldon Cole, field specialist in livestock with University of Missouri Extension. “One of the most useful ways of grading hay is to have it analyzed by a reputable laboratory for the basics such as moisture, protein, acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber,” said

Most cattle producers have left the sale barn before feeling that their cattle did not bring their true value. One of the best ways to combat that feeling is to prove your cattle are above average according to Eldon Cole, field specialist in livestock with University of Missouri Extension. “If you think you have above-average

High-moisture grass baled above 24% moisture can cause spontaneous combustion. Overheated bales can burn down a hay barn. Craig Roberts, University of Missouri forage specialist, said frequent rains this year help grass growth, but it’s been bad for making hay. He’s part of the team on a weekly MU Extension teleconference between state and regional

Market Beef Weigh in was held March 9th. We had 14 heifers and 25 steers total checked in either through photos or physical weigh in.  Small market animal weigh in has been postponed and no date has been set to reschedule it.

by Eric Bohl Ninety-one percent of farmers in a recent survey say financial issues are affecting farmers’ mental health. Fear of losing the farm is almost as bad, with 87 percent citing this as a concern. These are the findings of a survey of rural adults, farmers and farmworkers for a recent Morning Consult poll.

by Eric Bohl Small farms are booming in Missouri, and nearly all farms in the state are family-owned. Missourians are proud of our family farming tradition, and new data prove the tradition remains strong. Every five years the U.S. Department of Agriculture conducts a nationwide census. USDA released findings from the 2017 census in early