Three Farms in Greene County to be Honored by Extension with Century Farm Status July 29 at Ozark Empire Fair

Contact: David Burton, civic communication specialist
Tel: (417) 881-8909
E-mail: burtond@missouri.edu

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Missouri Century Farm Program annually recognizes Missouri farms that are still productive and have been in the same family for 100 years or more.

This year, Greene County Extension will host a special ceremony from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday, July 29 in the east hall of the E-Plex at the Ozark Empire Fair, 3001 North Grant Ave., Springfield, to honor the three Greene County farms being honored this year.

Starting at 5:30 p.m., members of the Greene County Extension Council will begin their regular monthly meeting at the same location. Council members will then pause at 6 p.m. to conduct the awards ceremony for the Century Farm honorees and then visit the 4-H Exhibit Building.

Members of the public are also invited to view the Century Farm display in the E-Plex. This display is coordinated by Jackie Warfel, a member of the Greene County Historic Sites Board, and it highlights the history of the other Century Farms in Greene County.

Greene County Extension specialists as well as representatives of Farm Bureau, which is the corporate sponsor for this program, will be at the ceremony to present fence signs to the honored families and pose for official photos.

The honored Century Farms in Greene County this year include:

• John and Doris Breakbill of Republic, established 1913

• Warren D. Hardy Jr. of Rogersville, established 1912

• Robert and Mary Mays of Ash Grove, established 1890

In Missouri this year, MU Extension will recognize 201 farms from 84 Missouri counties with Century Farm status.

To qualify for the Missouri Century Farm designation, farms must have been family owned for 100 years or more and have at least 40 acres of the original land still making a financial contribution to the farm income. The line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through children, grandchildren, siblings, and nephews or nieces, through marriage or adoption.

To learn more about the Missouri Century Farm program call the Greene County Extension Center at (417) 881-8909 or go online to http://extension.missouri.edu/centuryfarm.

Ozark Empire Fair Hay Show Entries Due July 10

Contact: Eldon Cole, livestock specialist
Tel: (417) 466-3102
E-mail: colee@missouri.edu

MT. VERNON, Mo. -- A few farmers have been successful in putting up hay the last few days, but overall, the hay season in southwest Missouri is running late this year. It will be interesting to see what impact unusual weather this spring, including snow in May, had on area hay production according Eldon Cole, a livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension.

“The best way to analyze the weather factor is to test the hay. While you’re testing it you might as well enter it in the Ozark Empire Fair Hay Show,” said Cole.

The OEF show is designed to educate hay growers on the merits of testing forages. In addition, marketing of hay can be made easier when test results are known.

“Those entering the show have found it aids in the marketing process,” said Cole.

Requirements for entering the OEF hay show are as follows: Hay must be harvested in Missouri during 2013; both small, rectangular and large hay packages are accepted; no more than one entry per field per cutting will be accepted; entry deadline is July 10.

Entry forms are available at University of Missouri Extension Centers. Forms can also be obtained online at www.ozarkempirefair.com and under the “agriculture” link on the Greene County Extension website at http://extension.missouri.edu/greene.

Extension specialists will arrange to collect the samples no later than July 15. An entry fee of $20 per sample is charged.

Samples are tested at Custom Laboratory Inc., Golden City. Test results will show crude protein, moisture level, energy expressed as total digestible nutrients (TDN) or net energy. A qualitative test will be run for nitrate. The test will be 60 percent of the final score.

The final evaluation of the hay will be done on July 25 at the Ozark Empire Fair. A judge will rate the entries on condition, purity, aroma and color, which makes up 40 percent of the final score.

“Consider having your hay sampled and tested. It can save supplement feed dollars and give you a better idea of what supplemental feed to purchase,” said Cole.

For more information, contact any of these MU Extension agronomy specialists in southwest Missouri: Tim Schnakenberg in Stone County, (417) 357-6812; Jill Scheidt in Barton County, (417) 682-3579; John Hobbs in McDonald County, (417) 223-4775 or Brie Menjoulet in Hickory County, (417) 745-6767.