MU Extension Bug n' Garden

08/31/2026

Why Rotate Crops in the Vegetable Garden?

Crop rotation helps reduce disease problems, manage insect pressure, and support better nutrient balance. Moving plant families to different areas each year can improve long-term garden health.


2xAg2030

08/21/2026

We hope you can join us for B3: Building Better Bees!
https://extension.missouri.edu/events/b3-building-better-bees-for-the-future

B3: Building Better Bees for the Future

A Honey Bee Health & Breeding Symposium and Harbo Assay Lab

September 26, 2026
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Location:
Habitat for Humanity (Young School)
505 N. Dodgion Street
Independence, MO

Register @ https://pears.io/events/mu/8704/

Hosted by University of Missouri Extension, Heartland Beekeeping Partnership (HBeeP), Johnson County Missouri Beekeepers Association (JCMBA), and Paul Sopher.

Join us for a full day of hands-on learning, research-based presentations, and practical breeding strategies designed to strengthen honey bee health and improve colony resilience.

This year’s symposium features Cory Stevens, nationally recognized for his work in honey bee breeding and Varroa-sensitive hygiene (VSH), alongside Tamra Reall, Ph.D., and Cathy Misko, EAS Master Beekeeper.

Participants will learn how to identify and select for honey bees that naturally suppress mite reproduction (SMR), helping reduce Varroa pressure and improve colony survival.

Featured Highlights:
• Hands-on Harbo brood assay lab with Cory Stevens
• Research-based honey bee health presentations
• Practical strategies for backyard queen selection and breeding
• Learn how to evaluate your own colonies for SMR/VSH traits
• Opportunity to assess your own brood frames during the lab

Important: Participants are encouraged to bring 1–2 "nice capped brood frames with just a FEW workers starting to emerge" to assess/Harbo score your own bees.

Registration Includes:
• Brood assay lab kit (forceps, frame holder, adjustable headlamp with red light, scoring card)
• Refreshments and lunch
• One-year complimentary JCMBA membership
• Monthly Apiary Buzz digital newsletter
• Chance to win a Missouri Mite Hunter VSH Queen Certificate and phenomenal door prizes

Registration Information: Pre-registration is required. Space is limited to 50 participants.

Early Bird Registration (before September 5, 2026): $90 per person

After September 5, 2026: $100 per person

Two ways to register:
1. Register online through MU Extension via https://pears.io/events/mu/8704/
2. Register by email with mail-in payment or pay-at-the-door (with prior approval). Visit https://jcmba.org/ for additional documents, agenda and bios.

For registration questions, contact:
Cathy Misko | [email protected] | (660) 656-3485

Paul Sopher | (816) 598-6241

Preparing for the Lab: Bring Your Own Bees

Participants wishing to evaluate their own colonies should:
• Feed colonies 1:1 syrup approximately one month in advance to stimulate brood production (especially during nectar dearth)
• Select 1–2 brood frames with "nice capped brood with just a few workers starting to emerge" to assess/score your own bees.
• Shake off nurse bees before transport
• Bring brood frames in a nuc box
• Conduct a colony mite test beforehand for comparison

For additional honey bee health resources, review the 2026 Honey Bee Health Varroa Guide from the Honey Bee Health Coalition.

Whether you are a beginner beekeeper or an experienced queen breeder, B3 offers practical tools, scientific insight, and hands-on experience to help build healthier bees for the future

08/11/2026

Small seedlings can quickly become large plants. Planning for mature size helps reduce crowding, improves airflow, and makes maintenance and harvesting easier.

08/10/2026

Every garden season teaches something. Writing down what worked, what did not, and what you want to try next makes it easier to improve from year to year.

08/06/2026

It is easy to get excited about new seeds, but garden space fills up quickly. Planning first helps you choose the right varieties, avoid overcrowding, and make better use of your beds and containers.

07/16/2026

🌼 Today in the Missouri Garden

Now is a great time to begin planning your fall vegetable garden.

Broccoli, cabbage, kale, collards, and cauliflower all need to get started soon for fall harvests.

Planning ahead now means delicious harvests when cooler weather arrives.

Upcoming Extension Garden Steward classes:

• July 18
• July 25

Register:
https://extension.missouri.edu/events?combine=&counties=All&programs=27&meeting_type=All&cvent_status=All

07/14/2026

🌱 This Week in the Missouri Garden

Garlic harvest season is wrapping up across much of Missouri.

If most of the lower leaves have turned brown while several upper leaves remain green, it's likely time to harvest.

Cure bulbs in a warm, dry, well-ventilated space for several weeks before storing.

Want more practical gardening advice?

Upcoming Extension Garden Steward classes:

📍 July 18 – Colonial Farms
📍 July 25 – Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center

Register:
https://extension.missouri.edu/events?combine=&counties=All&programs=27&meeting_type=All&cvent_status=All

07/11/2026

🌱 Weekend Garden Challenge

Spend 15 minutes pulling w**ds before they flower and produce seeds.

Every w**d you remove before it sets seed is hundreds—or even thousands—fewer w**ds you'll deal with next year.

Still thinking about gardening classes?

There's still time to join us tomorrow (July 11) at Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center!

Register:
https://extension.missouri.edu/events?combine=&counties=All&programs=27&meeting_type=All&cvent_status=All

07/10/2026

🥒 This Week in the Missouri Garden

Check squash and pumpkins for signs of squash vine borer.

Wilting vines despite moist soil may be an early clue that larvae are feeding inside the stem.

Early detection can make a big difference.

Want to learn how to identify common garden pests before they become major problems?

Join one of our upcoming Extension Garden Steward classes!

July 11 • July 18 • July 25

Register:
https://extension.missouri.edu/events?combine=&counties=All&programs=27&meeting_type=All&cvent_status=All