Many of the world’s finest wines and whiskeys begin in Missouri’s hardwood forests. University of Missouri Extension forester Hank Stelzer shared Missouri’s role in wine and spirit production during the recent White Oak, Whiskey & Wine tour. Due to popular demand and positive reviews, Stelzer plans to make it an annual event. Tourgoers visited the Rudolf Bennitt Conservation Area at…
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Crafting the Perfect Brew
MU Extension horticulturalists researching hops
Most often used as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, hops have become more popular during the past few years, due in large part to the boom in the craft brewing industry. Hops, which are cone-shaped flowers, aren’t a new crop for Missouri, but it’s been years since hops have been a mainstay in the state. “If you go…
Blindness Doesn’t Stop Sixth Generation Farmer
District supervisor for Rehabilitation Services for the Blind serves on MU Extension's AgrAbility team
Jim Brinkmann’s blindness does not keep him from helping others with vision problems reach their potential. Brinkmann helps people with visual impairments succeed in agriculture, says Karen Funkenbusch, Missouri AgrAbility Project state director and University of Missouri Extension specialist. Brinkmann serves with Funkenbusch on the AgrAbility team. He is mid-Missouri district supervisor for Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB), one…
MU Extension Master Gardeners Build Mini-Greenhouses
Low-cost, low-maintenance greenhouses fund activities throughout the year
Ozark Prairie Master Gardeners know that good things come in small packages. That is why mini-greenhouses are growing throughout the Lake of the Ozarks region. The mini-greenhouses are the brainchild of Dan Britton, president of the Ozark Prairie Master Gardeners chapter in Morgan County. University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Joni Harper says members appreciate the convenience of the greenhouses. Master…
Picking Through the Feed
Graduate student searching for pigweed in bird feed
Finding the unique ways that weeds can spread has become a calling card for the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Division of Plant Sciences’ weed science program. For the past year, graduate student Eric Oseland has dug through more than 60 bags of bird feed, looking for which weed seeds show up in the various…
Growing Knowledge Among Hmong Farmers
MU Extension teaches beginning bi-lingual Hmong farmer
More than vegetables grow in Fue Yang’s high tunnels. It is where opportunity grows for area Hmong farmers. Yang runs a teaching farm for University of Missouri Extension, Lincoln University and the Webb City Farmers Market. The collaborative effort is part of a grant from the Missouri Department of Agriculture. MU Extension horticulturist Patrick Byers said the group helps Yang…
Weather Stations Help Farmers Know When to Spray
Research links off-target herbicide movements to temperature inversions
Nine Missouri weather stations recently received updates to help farmers and chemical applicators know when to spray herbicides to avoid off-target movement caused by temperature inversions. The Extension Commercial Agriculture Program of the University of Missouri operates 24 real-time weather stations throughout the state. The Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council recently funded updates for stations in Monroe City, Vandalia, Albany, Columbia,…
Bee Workshops Lead to More Hives, Honey and Crops
More than 300 people began beekeeping after workshops
Beehives in the Lake of the Ozarks are buzzing, thanks in part to University of Missouri Extension and the Missouri Department of Agriculture. MU Extension specialists and beekeepers Travis and Joni Harper have coordinated beekeeping classes for more than 800 Missourians during the past three years. More than 300 people began beekeeping in more than 1,100 hives after attending beginning…
Dairy Farmer Uses MU Extension Research to Grow
Mike Meier wants to use same principles for beef herd
Fourth-generation farmer Mike Meier knows change will help his family’s Century Farm survive. The rotational grazing and breeding system he uses for his dairy herd works well — now he wants to apply those principles to beef cattle. “At 56, I wanted to go in a different direction,” he says. Meier wants to see how much profit per acre he…
Providing Leadership Development Opportunities
MU Animal Sciences Youth Leadership Academy returns for second year
The University of Missouri Animal Sciences Youth Leadership Academy returned in 2017 with a focus on teaching high school students more about the livestock industry. The four-day academy allowed an opportunity for networking with industry leaders. The goal of the program is to provide leadership development opportunities for youth in agriculture. The academy is a partnership between MU Extension, the…