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This Month in Ag Connection | Ag Connection - Other Issues Online
The Missouri Climate Center website, www.climate.missouri.edu, provides valuable historical and near real time weather information. The center provides needed information for effective planning and management of state agriculture, industry, and natural resources.
University of Missouri Extension State Climatologist, Dr. Pat Guinan, regularly posts on the home page a summary of recent weather conditions and its impact on Missouri.
A network of 30 weather stations located throughout the state provide current weather conditions every five minutes. This information can be accessed by clicking on the "Missouri Mesonet" link found on the left side of the Missouri Climate Center home page or it can be accessed directly at http://mesonet.missouri.edu. Real time weather data includes: current air temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, dew point temperature, two-inch soil temperature, four-inch soil temperature, solar radiation and temperature inversion potential.
Historical data is used to predict weather events and develop resources like the Frost/Freeze Probabilities Guide. This information can be found under the Climate Data Link on the left side of the home page, or directly at the www.ipm.missouri.edu/frostfreezeguide/. The maps available include the date when the average temperature reaches 36, 32, 28 and 24 degrees. Upper leaves of plants and tender vegetation may be injured when temperatures drop to 32 degrees; however, the temperature must drop to 28 degrees to be considered a killing freeze.
Missouri farmers can subscribe to Horizon Point at http://agebb.missouri.edu/horizonpoint/, a custom weather analysis system, and receive an email with site specific weather information. Information includes precipitation, temperature and wind data, and advisories based on this data such as a stored grain moisture table, insect and weed scouting aids, fall nitrogen application chart and animal comfort indices, to name a few.
A link to the Midwest Regional Climate Center's Useful to Usable Ag Weather Tools can be found on the Missouri Climate Center's webpage. A few of the tools and resources available here include: corn growing degree days, corn split nitrogen application risk and benefit tool, and an irrigation investment tool.
The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) link can be found on the Missouri Climate Center's webpage. Volunteers from all across the United States report precipitation observations daily. Information is available on the website as soon as it is entered. This data is used by agencies to decide crop loss information. Anyone interested in submitting precipitation observations can join the network.
In addition to the weather information discussed above, there are links to numerous weather resources on the page including: National Weather Service, Midwest Climate Center, River Information Resources, Drought Information and Resources, Weather and Climate for Kids and many others.
University of Missouri Extension has a wide range of weather resources which can be found at the Missouri Climate Center'
Source: Valerie Tate, Agronomy Specialist
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The Purple Paint Statute (RSMO 569.145), which pertains to trespassing, has been in existence for nearly thirty years in Missouri. This statute, which was revised in 2017, is another way for Missouri landowners to protect their property from trespassers. The Purple Paint Statute allows landowners to mark trees or posts with purple paint communicating to individuals that no trespassing is allowed. The traditional "No Trespassing" signs continue to convey clear messages as well.
The statute provides landowners with an easy way to keep out unwanted trespassers. The law does not require property marked with purple paint to be fenced; therefore, it is an economical alternative for landowners who have no need to fence their property. The purple paint marks are more substantial and difficult to destroy or steal than a "No Trespassing" sign.
All land marked with purple paint in the manner described by the statute is considered to be adequate notice to the public. It fulfills the same function as a "No Trespassing" sign, a fence, or telling someone not to come onto your property.
In addition to the posting of real property, as set forth in RSMO 569.140, the owner or lessee of any real property may post the property by placing identifying purple marks on trees or posts around the area to be posted. There are purple paint guidelines which need to be followed to have the property marked correctly.
(1) A vertical line of at least eight inches in length. The bottom edge of each paint mark must be between three feet and five feet off the ground. The marks shall be placed no more than one hundred feet apart and readily visible to any person approaching the property; or
(2) A post capped or otherwise marked on at least its top two inches. The bottom of the cap or mark must be between three feet and five feet six inches high. Posts marked shall be placed not more than thirty-six feet apart and readily visible to any person approaching the property. Prior to applying a cap or mark, which is visible from both sides of a fence shared by different property owners or lessees, all owners or lessees shall agree to post their property.
The statute states posting in the manner described above shall be found to be reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders for the purposes of RSMO 569.140. Any unauthorized entry onto property marked with purple paint is considered a trespass. First-degree trespassing is a Class B Misdemeanor with potential punishment of a maximum $1,000 fine and/or a maximum of six months in jail.
Purple boundary posting paint is formulated specifically for marking property and is available at most hardware stores.
Note: This article is for educational purposes only. For specific legal advice consult an attorney.
Source: Mary Sobba, Ag Business Specialist
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A low cost feed resource available to a cow/calf producer is grazing crop residues. Livestock specialists have received questions about cash renting stock fields, sustainable grazing periods and the nutritional profile of crop residues.
When determining the appropriate stocking rate and grazing time, it is important to consider the amount of residue that will be trampled and wasted in the grazing process. Research indicates cattle grazing a whole field will utilize only 20% of the residue. The nutritional quality of grazed corn residue is quite high early in the grazing period: approximately 70% total digestible nutrients (TDN) and 8% crude protein (CP), then will gradually decrease over time to approximately 40% TDN and 5% CP. This reduction is a result of cattle selecting the highest quality feed first then weathering and leaching of nutrients from the residue over time. Cattle will first consume any grain that remains then shift their preference to leaves and husks, finally moving to cobs and stalks. However, if harvesting conditions become less than ideal producers should give extra attention to the shape of the field and if equipment has buried much of the nutritional residue. Moreover, fields harvested late have delayed grazing days, which will be more susceptible to weathering and leaching of nutrients.
As a rule of thumb, grazing densities under ideal conditions should be figured one cow per acre per month of residue. To determine when supplementation is necessary, producers should observe the manure from the cows. As corn in the manure begins to disappear, it is time to begin protein supplementation. Many of the by-product feeds readily available are a great choice given the high protein low starch content which aid in the digestion of much of the more indigestible material being consumed as the grazing period matures.
When renting stock fields, several factors need consideration to arrive at a "fair" rental value. First and foremost is the availability of water and fencing. Costs can rise significantly when fields are absent of both of these inputs. Some phosphorus and potassium will be removed from the field when stalks are grazed, but part of it is returned in the form of manure. Finally, corn stalk residue is correlated to corn yield, which can account for the variance in price, so asking the owner what the field yielded is a definite. Considering all the above factors cash rental rates for stock fields have been documented between 5 and 15 dollars per acre, however typically the price falls between 5 and 9 dollars per acre.
This Month in Ag Connection | Ag Connection - Other Issues Online
Vegetables
Fruits
Ornamentals
Lawns
Source: Missouri Botanical Garden
This Month in Ag Connection | Ag Connection - Other Issues Online
December 3 & 4, 2021
William Matthew Middle School
1515 S. Cottage Grove
Kirksville, MO
This program is planned for producers of all types of livestock production. The event will include nationally known speakers. The event kicks off on Friday evening at 4 p.m. when the trade show opens. A co-sponsored free beef dinner at 6:00 p.m. The keynote speaker Friday evening will be Dr. Frank Mitloehner, University of California Davis speaking about "Rethinking Methane: Animal Agriculture's Path to Climate Neutrality".
On Saturday the trade show opens at 8:00 a.m. and the educational sessions start at 9:00 a.m.
Many of the speakers are in the process of being confirmed, so keep checking the website at the bottom of this article for the latest details. The planned sessions will include: beef, forage, horses, sheep, meat goats, stock dogs, women in agriculture/horticulture and farm management.
Also, on Saturday there will be a free Governor's style luncheon sponsored by Missouri commodity groups and Missouri Department of Agriculture.
The Missouri Livestock Symposium is free to attend and does not require pre-registration.
For more information contact Zac Erwin, livestock specialist via e-mail at erwinz@missouri.edu or by calling 660-665-9866
Publishing Information
Ag Connection is published monthly for Central Missouri Region producers and is supported by University of Missouri Extension, the Commercial Agriculture program, the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station and the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. Managing Editor: Kent Shannon.
Send comments and suggestions to:
Mary Sobba, Agriculture Business Specialist
101 N. Jefferson St., Rm 304
Mexico, MO 65265
(573) 581-3231
sobbam@missouri.edu
