2015 annual report schuyler county university of missouri...
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2015 Annual Report Schuyler County University of Missouri Extension
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
EXTENSION SCHUYLER
COUNTY
Darla Campbell, Agri-Business
Specialist/County Program
Director
Jill Lane, Family Nutrition
Program Associate
Sara Thompson, Secretary
FACULTY FROM OTHER
COUNTIES SERVING SCHUYLER
Shelley Bush-Rowe, Northeast
Regional Director
Shari Pretz, Northeast Regional
Administrative Assistant
Zachary Erwin, Livestock
Specialist
Michelle Klem, 4-H Youth
Development Specialist
Jennifer Schutter, Horticulture
Specialist
Chris Shoemaker, Procurement
Technical Assistance Center
(PTAC) Specialist
Valerie Tate, Agronomy
Specialist
Sherry Nelson, Human
Development Specialist
Mary Smyser, Coordinator
Family Nutrition Program
Thomas Fuhrman, Housing and
Environmental Specialist
Kent Shannon, Natural Resource
Engineering Specialist
Charles Holland, Business
Development Specialist
Jeremiah Terrell, Human
Development and Family Studies
Specialist
Margo Meyers, Nutrition and
Health Specialist
Chris Kempke, Community
Development Specialist
Schuyler County
University of Missouri
Extension Council
Kebbie Sullivan-Chair
Mark Bushnell-Vice Chair
Vicky Yearns-Treasurer
Karan Farrell-Secretary
Becky Jones
Jim Werner
Bonnie Aldridge
Kevin Wheeler
Rodney Dufur
Lisa Gooden
James Sappington
W.O. Poe
Inez Stewart
Darrell Kearse
Schuyler County
University of Missouri
Extension Council
Kebbie Sullivan-Chair
Mark Bushnell-Vice Chair
Vicky Yearns-Treasurer
Karan Farrell-Secretary
Becky Jones
Jim Werner
Bonnie Aldridge
Kevin Wheeler
Rodney Dufur
Lisa Gooden
James Sappington
W.O. Poe
Inez Stewart
Darrell Kearse
University of Missouri Extension provides equal opportunity to all participants in extension programs and activities, and for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without discrimination on the basis of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or status as a protected
veteran.
University of Missouri Extension provides
equal opportunity to all participants and
applicants for employment on the basis of
their demonstrated ability and competence
without discrimination on the basis of their
race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation,
national origin, age, disability or status as a
protected veteran.
Schuyler County
Extension Council
Kebbie Sullivan-Chair Jim Werner
Shannon Bowen-Vice Chair Kevin Wheeler
Vicky Yearns-Treasurer Rodney Dufur
Margaret Reynolds-Secretary W.O. Poe
Diana Nelson Lisa Gooden
Cindy Whitlock Theresa Boggs
R.D. Homer DeNeta Homer
Schuyler Office
University of Missouri Extension provides equal opportunity to all participants in extension programs and activities, and for all employees and applicants for
employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without
discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability, or
protected veteran status.
The 2015 Schuyler County State Fair Farm Family
Pictured are Kevin and Karin Wheeler and their son,
Matthew Wheeler.
Office Staff
Schuyler Office
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Schuyler County
University of Missouri
Extension Council
Kebbie Sullivan-Chair
Mark Bushnell-Vice Chair
Vicky Yearns-Treasurer
Karan Farrell-Secretary
Becky Jones
Jim Werner
Bonnie Aldridge
Kevin Wheeler
Rodney Dufur
Lisa Gooden
James Sappington
W.O. Poe
Inez Stewart
Darrell Kearse
University of Missouri Extension provides equal opportunity to all participants in extension programs and activities, and for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without discrimination on the basis of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or status as a protected
veteran.
December 2015
Dear County Commissioners and Friends of MU Extension:
Each year, University of Missouri Extension carries out the University of Missouri’s land-grant mission — bringing the
university’s knowledge and research to all Missourians. For more than a century, we have been the “front door” to higher education
in Missouri — helping to improve lives and create vibrant, resilient communities.
MU Extension is known as a valued and trusted resource for Missourians, touching the lives of nearly 2.3 million citizens. Our
presence in all 114 Missouri counties, coupled with our network of councils, enables us to listen to the needs of communities, and
respond with programming that addresses those needs. From our well-known programs in agriculture,
nutrition and health, 4-H, and small business development, to lesser known continuing education programs for professionals such
as fire and law enforcement training, nursing and medical continuing education and labor education, MU Extension makes a
difference with programs that are in demand. The following are examples of program impact.
MU Extension’s Business Development Program helps Missouri entrepreneurs succeed in private enterprise and
promotes statewide economic growth. In the past fiscal year, this program helped businesses increase sales by more than
$157 million, secure loans and equity of nearly $100 million, create 1,832 jobs, and retain an additional 1,436 jobs. The
program also helped to launch 213 new businesses in our state.
Alianza, a joint initiative of MU Extension and the Institute for Human Development at the University of Missouri –
Kansas City, provides intercultural training to the growing segment of Latino farmers, and pairs them with the
knowledge and services they need to help Missouri meet its agricultural needs.
4-H Youth Futures: College Within Reach, is designed to help high school youths who are not encouraged to attend
college realize the benefits of a college degree. Studies show that an individual’s lifetime earning potential increases by
an average of $2.3 million with a bachelor’s degree. This program makes a difference for many young people.
Strengthening communities through art, innovation and creativity is the focus of MU Extension’s Community Arts
Program. The program’s 2015 St. Louis Storytelling Festival, which brought curriculum to life for 12,000 local school
children, shows how extension adds value to communities through engagement with MU.
These examples are a small representation of the many ways MU Extension works to enrich lives, businesses and communities to
strengthen Missouri. I encourage you to read the attached annual report to view the impact made in your county. On behalf of MU
Extension, thank you for your support and partnership with us to better serve your community.
Sincerely,
Thomas A. Henderson
Interim Vice Provost and Director
Schuyler County Extension Council Financial Report for the Year Ending
December 31, 2015
REVENUES:
County Appropriations 26,500.00
Gifts/Grants/Contracts 0.00
Resales/Education Services Fees/Other 155.81
Total Income 26,655.81
EXPENSES:
Salaries & Wages 18,551.88
Staff Benefits 1,437.72
Travel 1,700.00
Supplies/Services 1,794.12
Communications 1,603.95
Insurance 296.00
Equipment & Repairs 1,044.00
Postage/Postage Rental 90.00
Other 138.14
Total Expense 26,655.81
REVENUES LESS EXPENSES: 0.00
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Youth Fishing Tournament Held at
Lancaster City Lake
Darla Campbell
Thirty-four children plus parents,
grandparents and friends attended this fun
event held the Saturday of Labor Day
weekend. This event is sponsored by the
Schuyler County University of Missouri
Extension Council at the city lake in
Lancaster.
Prizes were donated by community
businesses and all youth won a prize. Four
age divisions were awarded for most fish
caught (1st and 2nd in each age category) and
a prize for biggest and smallest fish overall
were given.
Lady Landowner workshop
Schuyler/Putnam
Darla Campbell, Joe Koenen,
Jennifer Schutter, Jill Lane
Lady landowners learned about Natural
Resource Conservation Service, Farm
Service Agency, and, Soil and Water
Conservation District programs.
Information was also given on Fruit or
Veggie-Half Your Plate, Growing and
Cooking with Herbs, and Rental Rates, Land
Values, and Lease Issues.
Participants said they would eat more fruits
and vegetables, grow and cook with more
herbs, utilize some of the government
programs, and seek a revised lease
agreement with adjusted rental rates after
attending a class hosted by the Schuyler and
Putnam County Soil and Water
Conservation Districts and University of
Missouri Extension on October 16th in
Unionville.
As a result of attending this class, lady
landowners are better prepared to deal with
farm issues such as determining a fair rental
rate, land fertility concerns, taking control of
their nutrition and health, and utilization of
conservation programs. They will be more
involved and proactive with farm decisions
which makes them better business operators.
(Participants – Putnam 4, Schuyler 3,
Scotland 1, Mercer 1, Knox 1)
Youth Fishing Tournament Lady Landowner Workshop
Youth Fishing Tournament
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Community Gardening
Darla Campbell
This past growing season, twelve families
grew produce in the community gardens in
Lancaster and Queen City. The raised bed
gardens are a partnership between
University of Missouri Extension, City of
Lancaster, and Schuyler County Ministerial
Alliance. All necessary supplies are
provided for the participants except labor for
planting, weeding, and harvesting.
Individuals and families learn to grow and
prepare fresh produce while taking part in
outdoor, intergenerational activities.
This year, Jill Lane utilized the unused beds
to grow produce with the Pixies and Fairies
daycare. The children came to the garden
once a week, to explore the outdoors; to
plant, to water, to weed, to harvest and to
taste foods for the first time. One youngster
was so impressed that she asked for seeds on
her Christmas list.
Management Intensive Grazing School
Darla Campbell, Valerie Tate, Zac Erwin
A two-day management intensive grazing
school was held in Lancaster at the Nutrition
site on June 5th and 6th.
Topics for the school were:
Introduction to Management Intensive
Grazing
Livestock Nutrition
Power Fencing
Economic Aspects of Grazing Management
Evaluation of Farm Resources
Forage Growth and Fertility
Grazing Calculation
Fescue and Fescue Quality
Layout and Design of Grazing Systems
Watering Facilities
Two farm tours
Producers interested in implementing a
management intensive grazing system
learned how to tie all the classroom
information to practical use with on-farm
exercises and demonstrations. These skills
exhibited how to incorporate water, fencing,
and forage improvement to build a
successful system on each producers’ farm.
Producers began developing a plan for their
farm using technical assistance from the Soil
and Water Conservation District (SWCD),
Natural Resource Conservation Service
(NRCS), and MU Extension. By attending
an MU Extension management intensive
Lady Landowner Workshop-
Identifying Herbs
Management Intensive Grazing
School-Gary Stump Farm Tour
Pixies and Fairies Daycare
Gardening Program
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grazing school, they are equipped with the
tools to develop a grazing system for their
own farm. They now know the resources
that are available to them and are eligible for
SWCD cost share to implement it. Cost
share provides an incentive so grazing land
is less likely to be converted to crop land,
thus conserving soil.
Management intensive grazing systems also
provide more pounds of meat production on
the same amount of acres so the producer
has more product to sell and consumers have
more meat available to them.
Farm and Small Business Estate Planning
Darla Campbell, Joe Koenen,
Karisha Devlin
Thirty-three people attended this nine hour
course from four locations around the state.
The Farm and Small Business Estate
Planning program prepares individuals to
discuss estate and business succession
concerns with their families as well as
making them more comfortable in sharing
this matter with attorneys.
~ 100% identified goals and objectives
(55% had before class)
~ 78% have communicated estate planning
issues with heirs (11% had before class)
~ 89% investigated how their property was
titled (45% had before class)
When supporting MU Extension’s Farm and
Small Business Estate Planning program,
you prepare families to better understand
how to transfer the farm or business, protect
the estate’s assets, and communicate more
effectively with professional advisors and
heirs.
This helps foster family communication to
avoid costly litigation and aids in the
continuation of the farm business.
If families save 6 hours of legal time the
value of this class is $29,000
(33 participants x $150/hour x 6 hours).
Class knowledge ratings before and after
the program
(1 being lowest, 5 highest):
2.2 estate planning goals and objectives 3.8
3.9 how property is titled 4.1
2.8 the importance of communication 4.1
2.1 estate planning tools available 4.0
2.6 difference between gift and estate tax 4.0
2.1 stepped-up basis and its importance 3.7
2.1 pros and cons of probate 4.0
Judge Karl DeMarce presenting at
the Farm and Small Business Estate
Planning Workshop at Queen City
Farm and Small Business Estate
Planning Workshop-
Five attend at Queen City
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Career Development Experience for
Northeast Missouri Youth through FFA
Darla Campbell
A total of 265 youth attended from 13
Missouri counties, along with 17 Vocational
Agriculture teachers.
The Career Development Experiences
(CDEs) held at the Schuyler R-1 School in
March were: Farm Management, Livestock,
Poultry, Meats, Dairy Cattle, Dairy Foods,
and Forestry.
Students who have taken classes for two or
more years in any specialized area of
vocational agriculture are now required to
test in that area of specialization before
graduating. Five of the seven CDEs offered
are what are known as MO ASK IRC which
is the required certification. Students learn if
they have mastered the required skills in
their focus area. If they attain this level of
knowledge, they will receive industry
recognition.
By attending the Career Development
Experience at Schuyler R-1, youth are better
prepared to compete on the district, state,
and national level. They are better prepared
to choose a field of study if they further their
education. Students are more prepared to
enter the workforce because they have
experienced industry expectations and
applied what they have learned in multiple
settings outside the classroom.
(Youth participants – Clark 29, Schuyler 25,
Scotland 21, Shelby 23, Putnam 28, Monroe
15, Mercer 17, Adair 29, Boone 7, Knox 4,
Lincoln 6, Pike 4, Sullivan 57)
Private Pesticide Applicator Training
Valerie Tate
Private pesticide applicator training was
conducted in Schuyler County in February
2015. Eight participants learned how to
safely handle and apply pesticides and how
to minimize negative environmental impacts
of pesticide application to protect drinking
water and wildlife habitat. Producers learned
the skills needed to apply pesticides in a way
that is safe for them and the environment
while remaining competitive by having the
option of using EPA restricted crop
protection technologies.
Career Development Experience
Droste Dairy Farm
Dairy Cattle Judging
Career Development Experience
Livestock Judging
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NE Missouri Agricultural Lenders’
Seminar
Darla Campbell, Karisha Devlin,
Joe Koenen
Two seminars were held in December, one
in Kirksville and one in Hannibal, for
agricultural lenders. Sixty-three lenders
attended from twenty Missouri counties plus
Iowa and Illinois.
Topics covered in these seminars were:
Retirement Issues and Options
Regional Economics
Latest in Land Values and Rental
Rates
Crop and Livestock Outlook
Missouri Department of Economic
Development Assistance Programs
Update on Taxes and Other Legal
Issues
Livestock Risk Insurance
Lenders received the 2016 Missouri Farm
Financial Outlook book which included
budgets for all major crop and livestock
enterprises in the state.
The lenders in attendance managed 3,742
loans totaling $423,240,000. By attending
University of Missouri’s Agricultural
Lenders’ seminars, lenders are able to help
their clients make better decisions based on
the decision tools, budgets, and other
resources provided. This benefits their
portfolio of producers and landowners by
giving them a better understanding of
enterprise budgets and cash flows affecting
families’ and businesses’ financial health.
Mizzou Alternative Breaks
Darla Campbell
Ten University of Missouri students served
the county through a program called Mizzou
Alternative Breaks. These students worked
on three projects over the weekend of
October 23rd, 24th, and 25th. These projects
included; working the community garden,
working at the Clothes and More shop, and
working the haunted house. “These young
adults were fun, energetic, and organized.
They requested to serve the county in any
capacity we needed them to.” This program
is an opportunity to bring students into all
areas of the state where they can learn about
the local community and the community
benefits by experiencing new perspectives,
new energy, and capable extra hands.
Ag Lenders’ Seminar in Kirksville
hosts 30 lenders.
Ag Lenders’ Seminar in Hannibal
hosts 33 lenders.
Mizzou Alternative Breaks
students volunteer in the county
8
Farm Safety Day
Darla Campbell, Kent Shannon, Zac Erwin
A Farm and Home Safety Day was
organized by MU Extension and held on
April 1st at the Schuyler R-1 School. Three
hundred sixty kids, K-6th, came through the
interactive displays set up in the gym. Darla
Campbell taught on Grain Safety, Sun
Safety, and Poison Look-A-Like. Kent
Shannon taught on Power Take Off and
ATV Safety. Zac Erwin taught on Livestock
Safety. Other teaching partners such as the
Missouri Department of Conservation and
Tri-County Electric hosted demonstrations
as well. The event was very successful with
the cooperation of the presenters, their
interactive booths, and the school support
and participation. Several of the
demonstrations came from the Agricultural
Engineering department on campus which
really made the experiences more hands-on
and memorable for the students and
teachers.
Jill Lane
University of Missouri Extension’s Family
Nutrition Program (FNP) reached 697
participants directly and 648 indirectly with
nutrition education in Schuyler County
during 2015, a significant percentage of
which were low income. FNP provides
information on nutrition, food safety, and
physical activity for lifelong health and
fitness by working with qualifying schools,
community groups and agencies.
Youth from Pre-school to 8th grade learned
through kid-friendly, hands-on lessons and
activities. Activities include opportunities
for taste-testing healthy foods and practicing
skills that lead to good health. Education for
adults also includes nutrition, food safety,
and physical activity, as well as food
resource management.
Nutrition Program Associates (NPA’s) go
into schools and other grant eligible
locations and interact with community
members to encourage them to make
healthier choices and build healthy habits.
They see the impact the program makes in
people’s lives.
For youth who participated in FNP,
statewide results summarized revealed the
following positive impacts:
• 51% have participated in FNP for three or
more years.
Farm Safety Day-
Grain Safety
Farm Safety Day-
ATV Safety
9
• 99% (2,790) teachers reported one or
more changes in students after FNP.
The Family Nutrition Program (FNP)
brought $9,379,977 in Federal funds to the
state of Missouri. These funds were used to
provide nutrition education to 1,110,063
food stamp recipients and food stamp
eligible citizens of Missouri. 1,345 of these
participants reside in Schuyler County. It
also funds one full-time job with quality
benefits plus expenses for making the
programming available to qualified schools
and agencies in the county.
Participants in FNP become more aware of
nutrition, make healthier meal and snack
choices, eat breakfast more often, are more
willing to try new foods, increase their
physical activity and in general make
healthier food choices. Those who practice
healthy eating and activity behaviors are
more likely to enjoy a high quality of life as
an adult and into old age. A healthy labor
force is critical to attracting and keeping
jobs in Missouri. In addition, this important
programming effort serves to reduce
healthcare costs over the participant’s
lifetime, saving taxpayers money in reduced
public healthcare benefits and insurance
premiums.
Jill’s Success Stories
Most students tried at least one new
veggie, and were interested to learn
they can grow these vegetables
themselves this early in the growing
season for Northeast Missouri.
This is a Facebook post, from day
care provider Shelly Fifer about the
Eating from the Garden Program I
am providing this summer. “They
are having a blast! We had our salad
(spinach and kale) for lunch. Haylee
asked if we could make sweet potato
fries when they get big enough.
There is no way I could get them to
try some of this stuff if we were not
growing ourselves. Amazing how
much the kids are learning from our
little garden.”
Home Horticulture & the Environment
Jennifer Schutter
Impacts of home horticulture
programming:
Citizens of Schuyler County
requested horticulture information
on various topics and diagnostic
assistance throughout the year. This
included soil testing, tree disease
diagnostics, identification of an
insect, disease, weed or plant and
control methods.
“Garden T k” H t cu tu
Newsletter: Twenty-eight people from
Schuyler County receive the Garden
Talk newsletter each month informing
them of timely gardening tips and
other important gardening
information. The newsletter also
informs them of upcoming
horticulture events and activities.
Mushroom Cultivation Workshop
10
Missouri Grown and Community Food
Systems
Jennifer Schutter
Missouri Grown and Community
Food Systems support MU
Extension’s Missouri Grown
program. Growers are provided with
unbiased and research-based
information to make better decisions
which will help them be successful
with commercial production and
marketing of their crops. The climate,
soils and population base of Missouri
are conducive to growing of certain
high value horticulture crops such as
tomatoes, berries, melons, and grapes.
MU Extension provides this
information through workshops,
newsletters, field days, farm tours,
grower conferences, and other
methods.
Impacts of Missouri Grown and Community
Food Systems Programming in Schuyler
County:
One Schuyler county resident
attended the mushroom cultivation
workshop where he learned how to
grow shiitake, wine cap and oyster
mushrooms.
Six Schuyler county residents
attended the beginning beekeeping
workshop held in February in
Kirksville. They learned the basics of
beekeeping including how to build a
bee hive, caring for a hive, and how
to keep a hive alive.
One grower sold thousands of
pounds of butternut squash to a
broker.
Another grower received assistance
with greenhouse plants. She sold
them on the farm and at farmers’
markets in the area.
Producers are better able to diagnose
insect and disease problems and
know the proper methods of control
because of farm visits made and
resources provided to them by
specialists.
Producers have a higher
understanding of irrigation,
fertilization, soil testing and
amending the soil which leads to
more productive crops because of the
efforts made by extension specialists
through farm visits and MU
publications and newsletters.
There is an increased awareness of
the availability of local foods.
Supporting local farmers and buying
local products, brings in more money
to the local economy.
y new year to all of t he res idents of Schuyle r County.
_________________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ _______
2015 4-H in Schuyler County
Michelle Klem
A group of 61 youths are building life skills,
engaging in science and contributing to their
community.
4-H Youth are equipped with the
knowledge, skills, attitudes and health for
the 21st century workforce. Missouri 4-H
members spend more leisure time than their
peers engaged in projects of interest
anchored in science. It is no wonder that 4-H
members are three times more likely to go
into science related careers than similar
peers.
Schuyler County 4-H clubs offer long-term
educational experiences where members
Martin’s Mums
11
learn life skills such as decision making,
public speaking and working with
others. Members learn under the guidance of
adult volunteers, who teach projects ranging
from aerospace and arts to veterinary
science and sport fishing. Clubs also involve
children and teens in community service,
camping and educational trips.
Schuyler County 4-H school enrichment
programs are short-term educational
experiences that supplement learning in the
classroom. Most are led by teachers or 4-H
volunteers. The most popular 4-H school
program in Schuyler County is the
Incubation and Embryology program. Three
classrooms participated in 2015.
Volunteers create, support and are part of
the 4-H community. Missouri 4-H
volunteers responding to a survey report say
they contribute on average 100 hours per
year. Valuing their time at $21.30 per hour,
based on average Missouri incomes, the
contribution of Schuyler County 4-H
volunteers was worth more than $19,000 in
2015! More importantly, these adults serve
as mentors for our youth helping them
transition into healthy adulthood.
Swine Show at the fair.
Rabbit Show at the Fair
4-H members in Schuyler
County were enrolled in 127
science related projects this past
year.
Pee-Wee Show at fair
12
Farm Bill Education
Darla Campbell and Joe Koenen
Two sessions were held in Schuyler in
January and February with the Farm Service
Agency.
Participants learned about their options
under the new farm bill – Agriculture Risk
Coverage –Individual Coverage (ARC IC),
Agriculture Risk Coverage – County (ARC
CO), and Price Loss Coverage (PLC). They
learned the timeline for yield updates, base
reallocation, enrollment, and sign-up. The
decision tools were demonstrated and access
to those tools was shared. Attendees gained
knowledge on what they needed in order to
input their information into the decision
tools. They also were given information on
what people and organizations could help
them through the process.
The majority of respondents said they will
take action on what they learned.
Landowners will update yield data and
decide on base acre reallocation. Producers
will acquire the necessary form from Farm
Service Agency to input their yields into the
decision tool. Producers and landowners will
utilize the decision tool before enrolling, and
then in ARC IC, ARC CO, or PLC.
This decision will affect producers and
landowners through 2018. By understanding
how the different options work, producers
can establish the level of risk protection that
best fits their operation. This provides
producers price or revenue protection from
influences beyond their control. This aids
producers to stay in business – the business
of feeding Missourians, feeding the United
States, and feeding the world.
(Participants – Schuyler 60, Adair 2, Putnam
1, Harrison 1)
Recreation, Education and Community
Harmony (REACH)
Darla Campbell
In 2015, the REACH board, advisors, and
community supporters raised the funds to
build the Schuyler County Community
Center. This success cumulated from two
years of strategic planning, monthly
meetings, and multiple fundraisers. These
fundraisers included acquiring tax credits
from the Missouri Department of Economic
Development, two bake sales, and one soup
supper. University of Missouri Extension’s
role has been to write the tax credit
proposal, facilitate the monthly meetings,
advise the board, build a database of
potential donors, chair the media and public
relations committee, and find grant funds for
additional expenses.
Exploring Energy Efficiency and
Alternatives (E3A)
Tom Fuhrman, Debby Whiston,
Darla Campbell
Six Schuyler County participants were
engaged in this classroom and home site
demonstration where weatherization kit
items were installed.
This two-hour workshop focused on energy
management for the home targeting 1)
Energy Savings, 2) Providing Comfort and
3) Assuring Safety and Health.
Site clearing in preparation for
the Schuyler County Community
Center.
13
Homeowners were educated on how they
could save 30-40% on their energy bills by
implementing these weatherization
measures. Participants learned no cost, low
cost and more costly energy solutions. The
five assessments of a home energy audit
were explored. Homeowners learned the
many factors that impact energy
consumption. Participants now know how to
address air leaks and insulation concerns.
A community less dependent upon fossil
fuels is a cleaner community. Homeowners
are able to realize savings on their energy
bills. Lower flow faucets and showers save
energy AND water resources. Energy
efficient homes lead to more physically
comfortable homes.
Beef Cattle Rations
Zac Erwin
Sixteen Schuyler beef producers worked
individually with the Livestock Specialist to
develop rations. The use of by-product feeds
and forage analysis was a major emphasis in
many of these cases. By including the by-
product feeds, producers are able to lower
their ration costs. MU Extension’s by-
product research and education assists beef
producers in effectively storing and utilizing
co-products as cattle feed. This results in
improved producer sustainability and greater
use of local co-products. Rural communities
benefit from improved profitability of both
the livestock and ethanol industries
contributing to Missouri’s agricultural
economic strength.
Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer
Program
Zac Erwin
The Show-Me-Select program focuses on
increased adoption rate by farmers in
Missouri of management practices that offer
potential to improve long-term reproductive
efficiency of their herds and resulting
profitability. The program focuses on
increasing marketing opportunities, and
adding value to Missouri-raised heifers. This
creates reliable sources of quality
replacement heifers in terms of genetics and
management.
The inaugural Show-Me-Select heifer sale
was held on November 21st in Kirksville and
featured 195 heifers that averaged
$2,386.00. Six Schuyler county producers
purchased heifers at the sale.
Show-Me-Select Heifer Sale
Exploring Energy Efficiency and
Alternatives (E3A)
Beef Show at the fair
14
Farm Leases in Missouri, Rental Rates
and Land Values
Darla Campbell
Forty-seven Schuyler County landowners
and tenants contacted MU Extension to get
objective information on current rental rates,
land values, and farm lease assistance.
Landowners and tenants adjusted rental
rates; lawfully terminated leases; and
transitioned from oral to written lease
agreements.
When you support MU Extension’s work
with farm leases, you get the latest in rental
rates and fair agreements for all parties. By
more people transitioning to well- written
lease agreements, less conflict and litigation
occurs. This improves the productivity of
the agreement and builds more trusting and
longer term landowner-tenant relationships.
2015 Missouri Livestock Symposium
Zac Erwin
The 16th Missouri Livestock Symposium
was held December 4th and 5th in Kirksville.
Those attending came from all over the
Midwest and from Missouri counties
statewide with 50 producers from Schuyler
County.
Educational speakers on horses, beef cattle,
forages, stock dogs, sheep, meat goats and
food safety were well attended. The program
was covered by local, regional and statewide
media and more than one speaker
commented that, “this is the most diverse
program in the nation.” Many trade show
exhibitors commented that this was one of
the best trade shows they attended—if not
the best!
The Missouri Livestock Symposium
planning committee is made up of 20
individuals who work on the event year
round. Committee members are from Adair,
Macon, Sullivan, Knox, Schuyler, Scotland
and Clark counties.
Sheep Show at the fair
Garden N’ Grow
Livestock Symposium Committee
Members
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Horse Show at Downing Arena 4-H Forum to get community input
to improve the program.
Petting Zoo held at the school for
National 4-H Week, October 4-10
2015 Jr. Livestock Show Royalty (L
to R): Hayden Dixon, Prince; Riley
Veatch, King; Shaelyn Scoon,
Queen; and Ashlyn Laws, Princess.
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