Farm & Ranch

Important to get hay analyzed by reputable laboratory

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

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Prove your cattle are better than average

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

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Baling wet hay becomes hot news

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

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Market Beef weigh-in held

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.

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Tough farm economy is challenging for mental health

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.

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Agriculture moves from being an art to a science

The rate of technological advancement that we witness in our day-to-day lives is amazing. Cell phones do more today than personal computers could do 10 years ago. Self-driving cars, packages delivered by drones are not ideas for the future, but a reality today. “Agriculture, though a traditional way to make a living, is on the

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Missouri NRCS sets April 15 application deadline to apply for easements

March 11, 2019 — The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has set an April 15 deadline to apply for wetland and agricultural land easements in Missouri. NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to help private landowners, tribes, land trusts and other groups protect valuable lands through easements. The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) focuses

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Selling beef direct to consumers can help keep families on farm

When it comes to selling beef on the farm, there are a lot of different ways to achieve success and profit. Three of those approaches were presented as part of a “Making Beef Profitable for the Farm” panel discussion at 96th Annual Greene County Ag Production Conference held at the Springfield Livestock Marketing Center, held

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