What do you do in your current role with the University of Missouri? I am an assistant extension professor in agricultural business and policy. My area of expertise is in business planning and management, finance, risk management, human resources and production economics. How long have you worked in this position? I began working for MU Extension in September 2002. What…
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Q&A with Reagan Bluel
Reagan is a field specialist in dairy and the education director for Missouri Dairy.
What do you do in your current role with the University of Missouri? As an MU Extension field specialist in dairy and education director for Missouri Dairy, I serve dairy producers statewide through on-farm assessments and learning events. My programming ranges from small group, like Women in Dairy or full farm benchmarking, to large events such as the statewide dairy expo…
Q&A with Patrick Davis
Patrick is a field specialist in livestock based in Cedar County.
What do you do in your current role with the University of Missouri? I am an MU Extension Livestock Field Specialist. I provide education to livestock producers to help make their farming operations successful. This education is in the form of educational presentations to groups of farmers or individual education to livestock producers. I primarily work with beef cattle producers,…
Top 5 livestock forage actions to take during drought
Action items for producers to take now to mitigate longterm effects
Most of Missouri is experiencing drought conditions, which have extended almost a full year, putting enormous pressure on cattle producers. University of Missouri Extension specialists have five top action items for producers to do now: 1. Cull herd. Candidates include open females, cattle with health issues and poor dispositions and females bred outside of preferred calving windows. Wean calves early…
Missouri Agriculture, Food and Forestry Innovation Center Cultivates growth in Local Agribusinesses
The center, using a recent $1.3 million USDA grant, supports Missouri’s value-added agricultural producers with a variety of hands-on assistance and resources
Nearly one-third of Missouri’s economy is tied to agriculture. Now, as part of a partnership that evolved from a statewide effort to help agricultural producers scale their businesses, the Missouri Agriculture, Food and Forestry Innovation Center (MAFFIC) has launched. The center draws on agricultural business development expertise at the University of Missouri and the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development…
A Natural Fit
Linn County Extension moves into facility at Cornett Farm
MU Extension Field Specialist Valerie Tate sat at her desk near Linneus as her co-worker popped in. “Oh, hey, do you mind if I put these insect traps up around the farm as part of the statewide MU IPM pest monitoring network?” Tate asked. When she asked this question, Tate was already on “the farm.” Tate works out of the…
Q&A with Mary Sobba
Sobba is a field specialist in agricultural business.
What do you do in your current role with the University of Missouri? I am a field specialist in agricultural business based in Audrain County. There are many things to do every day, but the most important things are building and maintaining relationships with clients and co-workers. It is very important to help clients by answering questions and providing information that…
Cover crops could reduce PPL acres in wet springs
New study shows planting cover crops could reduce the number of prevent plant acres
A newly released study shows that planting cover crops and reduced tillage could substantially lower the number of prevent plant (PPL) acres and subsequent federal crop insurance payments. Cover crops lower the number of PPL acres in wet springs, reducing the loss odds by 24%, according to the six-state study released in March, says Rob Myers, director of the University…
Q&A with Sarah Kenyon
Sarah is a field specialist in agronomy serving the southwest region.
What do you do in your current role with the University of Missouri? I am a field specialist in agronomy serving six counties in the southwest region. Based in West Plains, Missouri, I conduct educational programs for producers in forage production and management. I also participate with local farmer cooperators with on-farm demonstrations concerning grazing management, weed control and fertility…
Annie’s Project empowered Marion County farmer Amy Lehenbauer
Lehenbauer became active in the family farm after participating in the program.
Annie’s Project, a program offered by University of Missouri Extension for two decades, gave Amy Lehenbauer the confidence she needed to become active in the family farm. Lehenbauer is one of more than 19,000 women across the nation who completed the program during the past 20 years, says MU Extension agriculture business specialist Karisha Devlin. The program celebrates two decades…