Author: Linda Geist

A tractor plowing a field at sunset, casting a warm golden glow. The sun is low on the horizon, illuminating the dusty trail behind the tractor. Trees line the horizon, and a dirt path runs parallel to the field.

10 Ways to Manage High Input Costs in 2025

University of Missouri Extension agronomist Wayne Flanary says 2025 likely will be a year when corn producers need to batten down the hatches to offset low sale prices and high input costs. MU Extension ag business economist Ben Brown and others predict that corn prices will fall below the $4.30 […]

10 Tips to Bulletproof Your Beef Operation

Beef producers can use a window of profitability to make their farm business more bulletproof. University of Missouri Extension agricultural economist Joe Horner said successful beef producers can make small changes in three areas to make their farm less vulnerable to risks: plants, animals and business. Being good in just […]

Round hay bales, freshly formed from mowing hay, line a grassy field under a dramatic sunset sky. Sunrays pierce through scattered clouds, casting a warm glow. In the foreground, pink clover flowers stand amidst the green grass.

Mowing Hay Low May Cost Money, Time

There are many reasons to avoid cutting low when mowing hay, but money is the main one, said University of Missouri Extension agronomist Tim Schnakenberg. Schnakenberg recommends a height of 4 inches for cool-season grasses like tall fescue, bromegrass, orchardgrass and Timothy and 8 inches for native warm-season grasses. Typically, […]

A person wearing a blue shirt and jeans is standing in a lush green field, holding a weed in their hand. The background is filled with dense foliage.

Weeds Adapt to Fight Back Against Herbicides

Weeds today aren’t like “what Mom used to make,” says University of Missouri Extension weed scientist Kevin Bradley. Today’s weeds know how to fight back against long-used herbicides and adapt in ways that spell trouble in production agriculture, says Bradley. Officially, Missouri already has 11 different herbicide-resistant weed species. Waterhemp […]

Silhouette of a person wearing a hat standing in front of a vibrant sunset with scattered clouds in the sky. The landscape is open and expansive, suggesting a natural setting.

Farmers Should Prioritize Health, Seek Help if Needed

Farmers know that well-maintained equipment is key to success. Yet they often do not listen to the “check engine” warning signs of stress, says Sean Brotherson, family science specialist for North Dakota State University. Brotherson was the keynote speaker at the recent University of Missouri Crop Management Conference. “Ag has […]

Sunrise over a lush green field with rows of plants. The foreground shows close-up details of leaves, while the background features trees silhouetted against the orange and yellow hues of the sky.

Test for SCN, soybean’s silent killer

Data from MU researchers shows soybean cyst nematode (SCN) field populations are becoming more virulent on commercial soybean cultivars, says University of Missouri Extension plant pathologist Kaitlyn Bissonnette. Testing fields for SCN is typically conducted once harvest is completed; however, spring is not too late to send soil samples for […]

A field of vibrant crimson clover blooms under a cloudy sky, with each flower standing tall and creating a vivid red and green tapestry against the backdrop of a subtly illuminated horizon.

Farmers Needed for Missouri Strip Trial Program

Ten years ago, not many farmers were talking about cover crops. That is not the case now, says Greg Luce, University of Missouri Extension corn specialist and research director for the Missouri Soybean Association and the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council. He invites farmers to take part in MU’s Missouri Strip […]

A dense patch of tall green pigweed plants under a clear blue sky, with a background of trees. The pigweed has broad leaves and spikes at the top.

Herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth confirmed in Missouri

University of Missouri Extension weed scientists report the first confirmed case of multiple-herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth in Missouri. It likely is the wave of the future. MU Division of Plant Sciences research specialist Mandy Bish says this has weed scientists concerned because of Palmer amaranth’s competitive and aggressive nature. “As the […]

A small green plant sprouting from soil under falling rain. Droplets cling to its leaves, while the background is a blurred, vibrant green, emphasizing growth and nature.

Trickle-Down Effect

Rain goes beyond farm community In 45 years of farming, Boone County farmer Robert Brown has never seen anything like the flood of troubles Missouri faces this season. “This year is the worst year of my life as far as soybean planting goes,” he says as he shakes his head. […]

Author: Linda Geist

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