The crowd at my bird feeder, (I should say feeders) has grown pretty large lately as a whole bunch of different birds have been taking advantage of the black oil sunflowers and suet I keep out for them. They need fuel this time of year as do most wildlife.
Recently from the vantage point of the deck at Remington Nature Center my coworkers and I spotted a pair of American Kestrels as they dipped, dived and chased each other. We finally decided they were a pair beginning to show interest in mating.
As I sit looking out the front door watching the snow/sleet mixture falling from the sky, I am contemplating what insect to write about. Nothing comes to mind when I spot a small flock of geese off in the distance.
As we approach the end of 2024, it’s a natural time for reflection and planning. This year, with its ups and downs, has been a learning experience for many—financially, emotionally, and professionally.
Fungicides can be an essential part of an integrated pest management plan, but they do not always provide a positive return on investment for soybean producers, according to University of Missouri strip trial research.Missouri farmers apply fungicides to about 65% of soybean acres, says MU Extension state plant pathologist Mandy Bish, yet only 10% of fields are scouted to determine need before fungicides are applied. In 2004, before soybean rust entered the United States, fungicides were applied to only 1% of Missouri soybean fields.MU Extension strip trials on soybean fields across the state have shown that many fungicide applications result in yield increases, but those increases do not always offset the cost of a $40 per acre application.In 66 strip trials, only 21% showed yield increases greater than or equal to 3.3 bushels per acre following an R3 fungicide application, said Bish.
When we think of endangered species, if we think of them at all, we typically think of our nations' greatest success story the bald eagle, or perhaps we think of the Manatee of which the legend of mermaids was born.Maybe for you it is the Florida panther that stirs in you a deep sadness at its possible demise. For me it is a creature until last summer I had not even heard of much less seen, and this lovely creature calls our beautiful state of Missouri home.
On every conference room table, we have the picture below.These last few weeks have been difficult for many investors to endure. With the volatility and concerns over the potential government shut down, some people were wanting to sell everything, go to cash, and “wait out the storm.” It’s times like these that the yellow piece of the graph above, Emotion and Behavior Management, or coaching as some of us like to refer to it as, comes into play.Seeking safety is natural.First off, it is understandable to be concerned and to want to seek “safety”.
Personally, I hate the cold, but my love for the Kansas City Chiefs is greater. Last year, my wife, Claire, and I went to the Chiefs and Dolphins Playoff game, and let me tell you, it was cold! The temperature at kickoff was a bitter -4 degrees with a wind chill of -27 degrees.
Eyed click beetles are some of the craziest looking beetles in the insect world. They are very large at nearly two inches in length.The salt and pepper markings set them apart from other insects, not to mention those large "eyes." The false eyes make them look intimidating, or funny depending upon your point of view.The first time I ever spotted one of these it gave me a start.
