Rural Missouri - April 2013 - (Page 12)

N E W S Clean up after the storms The snow storms that blanketed much of the Show-Me State with heavy, wet flakes in February caused many problems for Missourians, but the effects will linger for our forests. That is why arborists across the state are urging landowners to look up at their trees and assess what pruning needs to be done. Broken limbs or tree tops that cannot be reached from the ground should probably be removed by treecare professionals, such as certified arborists, according to Chuck Conner, an urban forester with the Missouri Department of Conservation. Trees are capable of rapidly growing new branches that fill in foliage gaps, but if half or more of a tree is lost to storms, the tree will likely need to be replaced. Be sure the replacement trees you choose won’t grow into power lines. According to Conner, for trees not damaged, regular professional pruning of valuable yard trees can spare a property owner damage in future storms. A high percentage of storm damage occurs because trees are not properly pruned as they grow through the decades. More information on post-storm tree care is available at www.mdc. mo.gov/node/5224. Snag a paddle The Missouri Department of Conservation is offering paddlefishing clinics through its Discover Nature Family program. The free clinics will take place April 13 in Warsaw. Participants will learn about paddlefish biology and snagging techniques and then go out for hands-on experience. To register, call 660-530-5500 by April 5. Paddlefish season opens March 15 and runs through April 30. Visit www.mdc. mo.gov/fishing for more information about paddlefish and Missouri fishing regulations and seasons. Brighter pastures ahead Facing drought-reduced feed and low profits, Missouri dairy producers maintained their milk cow num- B R I E F S bers in 2012, according to a United States Department of Agriculture cattle inventory. However, the state’s beef cow numbers dropped 5 percent. Across the country, beef numbers dropped 3 percent, which is evidence Missouri was one of the epicenters of the drought. The future of both industries for the public doesn’t look promising as both meat and milk will be in short supply in years to come. Lack of feed caused many operations to close last year as milk and beef prices dropped. As beef feed yards scrambled for feeder calves, dairy bull calves gained value. According to Joe Horner, a University of Missouri dairy economist, the future looks bright for dairy in Missouri. “As tough as it was in 2012, the dairy business is not falling apart. We have some tough survivors out there.” For more on cattle farming, visit www.extension.missouri.edu or contact your local University of Missouri Extension office. Buckle up and arrive alive Every year, one in four Missouri traffic crashes involves a young driver. Between 2010 and 2012, 243 teens ages 15-19 were killed in traffic crashes. Of those killed, 78 percent were unbuckled. To help put an end to teen traffic deaths, Missouri law enforcement officials are urging teens to buckle up while traveling the state’s roads. Under Missouri’s Graduated Driver License Law, seat belt use is required for young drivers. Noncompliance is a primary offense. Unfortunately, 34 percent of Missouri teens don’t buckle up. Missouri also will continue to educate teens on the importance of buckling up through programs, such as Battle of the Belt and Team Spirit. WWW.RURALMISSOURI.COOP Officials urge teens to help save the lives of their friends by reminding them to buckle up every time they get in a car. For more on how you can teach your teens better safety practices, visit www.saveMOlives.com. Save some green If you are looking to replace that old washing machine, oven or refrigerator, April is your month to save some dough. As part of the Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday, consumers who purchase a qualifying Energy Starcertified appliance from April 19 to 25 are exempt from state sales tax on appliances up to $1,500. Included in the exemption are clothes washers and dryers, water heaters, dishwashers, conventional ovens, ranges and stoves. Certain participating counties and cities are offering additional savings. Contact your local municipality for more information. Discounts for businesses also are available. For a complete list of qualifying appliances, more information on the holiday and an interactive sales map, send an e-mail to salesuse@dor.mo.gov or visit the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’s website at http://on.mo. gov/ZwMsKm. Tax season assistance Tax season is once again upon us. For Missourians looking for help filing their taxes, the Missouri Department of Revenue is available for assistance. DOR also urges Missourians to file early every year and take advantage of electronic filing for a smoother process and to ensure a faster refund. A new option this year is a refund debit card that can be used just like other debit cards. For more details about the new refund debit cards, go to www.dor.mo.gov/faq/ personal/debitcard.php. Visit www.dor.mo.gov for more information or call 573-751-3505 or e-mail income@dor.mo.gov with questions about filing tax returns. Tax assistance centers are located in Cape Girardeau, Jefferson City, Joplin, Kansas City, St. Joseph, St. Louis and Springfield to help those seeking tax help. Contact information and office addresses are available at www.dor. mo.gov/contact/assistance.php. http://www.saveMOlives.com http://mdc.mo.gov/node/5224 http://mdc.mo.gov/node/5224 http://www.extension.missouri.edu http://on.mo.gov/ZwMsKm http://on.mo.gov/ZwMsKm http://www.dor.mo.gov/faq/personal/debitcard.php http://www.dor.mo.gov/faq/personal/debitcard.php http://mdc.mo.gov/fishing http://www.dor.mo.gov http://mdc.mo.gov/fishing http://www.GoRVing.com http://dor.mo.gov/contact/assistance.php http://dor.mo.gov/contact/assistance.php http://WWW.RURALMISSOURI.COOP

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - April 2013

Rural Missouri - April 2013
Table of Contents
Comments
Columns
Companion planting
News Briefs
Operation cooperation
Outdoors
It’s all about redemption
Best of rural Missouri
Hearth and Home
Marmaduke’s Cape expedition
Around Missouri
Marketplace
The soldier’s paper
Neighbors
Just4Kids

Rural Missouri - April 2013