Missouri

'Land piranhas': Missouri's grazing goats offer a green solution to land and lawn care

Published

3 hours ago

August 11, 2024

'Land piranhas': Missouri's grazing goats offer a green solution to land and lawn care

On a rainy Saturday in Platte City, Elizabeth and Ben Parker remove some electric fencing to create a bigger pasture for their goats to graze.

The Parkers run the North Kansas City affiliate of Goats on the Go, a nationwide organization that promotes renewable agriculture through a method called targeted grazing.

Targeted grazing fences animals such as goats in a specific area to munch on the plants growing there. The goats clear out invasive species and vegetation, ensuring land health and accessibility while contributing to healthy goat nutrition.

Ben Parker, co-owner of the North Kansas City affiliate of Goats on the Go, tends to a goat while working on a Platte City property.

“We walk the fence, the perimeter of the fence every day. We make sure that the goats have mineral and salt every day unless it’s raining,” Elizebeth Parker said. “We make sure everybody’s within the boundaries that they need. We may or may not open up a new fence so they can have more to eat.”

Goats on the Go lists five Missouri affiliates, serving the St. Joseph, Kansas City, Nevada and St. Louis areas. The goats clear about an acre every week, and affiliates including the Parkers price by the acre regardless of how long the job takes.

A few independent goat lawn care businesses also exist — Oscar Mike Goats in southwest Missouri, DeShon Target Grazing in mid-Missouri and N.E. Critters Grazers in Springfield and Nixa.

Targeted grazing as a lawn care alternative

Farmers who graze with livestock usually have a focus on the animal’s overall weight and health. Targeted grazing is a land management tool that can accomplish several goals, from removing poison ivy on school playgrounds to preserving pastures for cattle to graze on.

Margaret Chamas owns Storm Dancer Farm in Smithville. She serves as affiliate network support for Goats on the Go and the Livestock Viability Manager with Practical Farmers of Iowa.

“Not that we ignore the benefits to, or the impacts on, soil or vegetation or anything, but the main driver (of livestock grazing) is, ‘Let’s have healthy, productive animals,’” Chamas said. “When we’re doing targeted grazing, we’re looking at, ‘What do we need to do to manage this landscape?’ and the animals are just the tool that we’re managing with.”

The Parkers also have a flock of sheep, which they raise and sell for meat. This brings in revenue but also creates the need to replenish their flock.

Entering the targeted grazing business with goats has allowed them to earn a profit from their livestock without purchasing a new herd.

“That seemed to make a lot more sense to me when you put the same amount of work in, but you don’t have to raise up a whole new flock,” Ben Parker said.

A goat grazes vegetation on a Platte City property. Targeted grazing with goats is different and more profitable than grazing with sheep or livestock, because it’s primarily a land management tool with secondary benefits to the goat’s nutritional health. | Alex Cox/Missouri Business Alert

Curbing growth of invasive plants

In 2007, Glenda DeShon and her family noticed invasive plants taking over parts of their mid-Missouri farm. Discovering that goats enjoy eating some of these plants, like bush honeysuckle and autumn olive, the DeShons purchased a herd and became Goats on the Go affiliates serving the Columbia and Jefferson City area.

Since completing a project in Jefferson City’s McClung Park last year, the DeShons parted ways with Goats on the Go, creating their own business, DeShon Target Grazing.

DeShon said that fall is the ideal season for clients to bring in targeted grazers for the removal of invasive species. Around that time, invasive plants start to send nutrients from its leaves to the roots, offering an opportunity for the goats to combat the plant’s spread.

“They rear up, they’ll pull branches down, and then they will defoliate and break off the branches,” she added. “So each time we send the goats through, you know they’re doing more damage to that invasive plant.”

In Platte City, the Parkers have faced some financial difficulties with the business this year due to increased seasonal rainfall impacting farms across the state. Wet ground conditions can cause foot rot in goats, slowing the goats down considerably while grazing.

Though the Parkers chose to work with goats for their targeted grazing business, they hope to bring sheep into the mix in the future. Sheep have shorter legs than goats and are less likely to climb on low-to-the-ground equipment, like solar panels. Elizebeth Parker said this would allow the business to expand by offering targeted grazing for solar farms.

Until then, the goats remain skilled at accessing areas humans can’t and maximizing land productivity down the line by removing unwanted foliage.

“They are acrobats, ninjas, I tend to call them land piranhas,” Ben Parker said. “Because they do a very good job, and they do it quickly for the area that they’re in.”

This story was originally published by Missouri Business Alert, a fellow member of the KC Media Collective.

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Missouri

Witness Claims They Just Saw a Rare Black-Tailed Deer in Missouri

Published

10 hours ago

August 11, 2024

Press Room

Witness Claims They Just Saw a Rare Black-Tailed Deer in Missouri

If this can be confirmed, it will be interesting discussion as to how this happened. An eyewitness claims they just saw a rare black-tailed deer in Missouri.

I saw this report just shared on the Missouri sub-Reddit a few hours ago. It’s an apparent black-tailed deer near Mansfield, Missouri.

Where can I report a black tail deer sighting
byu/Tarantulas13 inmissouri

That person is correct that Missouri has a site where you can confirm mountain lion sightings and also black bear reports, but nothing for black-tailed deer.

I need to clarify that black-tailed deer are not rare as a species, but they are unheard of in Missouri. As Wikipedia points out you’ll normally only find black-tailed deer “along the Pacific coast from northern and western California and north to southeastern Alaska. East of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada Ranges in Oregon and California”.

They are a sub-species of mule deer and there are plenty of those in Missouri, but how a true black-tailed deer ended up wandering around in Missouri is anyone’s guess.

Here’s an interesting twist. Mansfield, Missouri is the famous home of Laura Ingalls Wilder of Little House on the Prairie fame. Laura also wrote a famous book called “The Deer in the Wood”.

Jesse James Missouri Farm, Grave and Home He Was Assassinated In

Gallery Credit: History Hunters via YouTube

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Missouri

Injury Updates, Fall Camp News from Eli Drinkwitz

Published

17 hours ago

August 10, 2024

Press Room

Injury Updates, Fall Camp News from Eli Drinkwitz

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Week 2 of fall camp is wrapping up for the Missouri Tigers with their 2024 season opener less than three weeks away. The Tigers had a scrimmage Saturday morning that featured some young standouts.

Head coach Eli Drinkwitz spoke to the media following the scrimmage to recap the scrimmage, provide injury news and more updates. Here’s some key takeaways from his press conference:

Scrimmage Standouts

This week of practices for Missouri was bookended by scrimmages on both Monday and Saturday. Hearing from players earlier in the week, wide receivers Joshua Manning and Daniel Blood along with cornerback Cam Keys stood out in Monday’s scrimmage.

“Some good, some bad, some hard to tell until you really watch the tape because you’re just going from situation to situation, there’s no real breaks,” Drinkwitz said of Saturday’s scrimmage.

Manning, one of the most popular names of fall camp, stood out again Saturday. According to Drinkwitz, Manning had an “unbelievable day” with six catches for about 100 yards and two touchdowns. His first score came from an impressive pass from backup quarterback Drew Pyne in the red zone.

READ: Breakout Candidate Joshua Manning Continuing to Earn Opportunities in Fall Camp

Manning’s touchdown broke the glass for the offense in the red zone after the first-team defense stopped the first-team offense on the first two red zone attempts.

The sides flipped with the ball being moved back to put the offense up against the endzone. The second-team offense gave up a safety. After that, the offense switched in favor of the offense.

The defense did not come away with any takeaways on the day despite a fumble on the ground and having a chance at two interceptions that they dropped.

Finally, three-star athlete Austyn Dendy has found his spot at running back and had around 80 yards and a touchdown in the scrimmage.

Injuries for 3 Offensive Players

Tight ends Brett Norfleet, Jordon Harris and running back Kewan Lacy are all dealing with injuries. Lacy, a four-star freshman running back, is dealing with a soft tissue injury that kept him out of Saturday’s practice. Drinkwitz did not provide specifics on Harris or Norfleet’s injuries but expect the two to be back to practice by the end of next week.

At tight end, freshmen Jude James and Whit Hafer have both stepped up. Both Norfleet and Harris missed practice Wednesday through Friday.

Young Players Earning Elevated Roles

For the second straight week, Drinkwitz mentioned freshman defensive back Trajen Greco as a standout. The four-star prospect was one of the final additions of Missouri’s 2024 Class and has been impressing with his athleticsm so far. Drinkwitz says he expects Greco to be someone who could instantly contribute for the Tigers either on special teams or defense.

Drinkwitz has the same hopes for freshman linebacker Jeremiah Beasley, a four-star transfer from Michigan. Both Greco and Beasley are in crowded rooms but seemingly are earning themselves opportunities.

Finally, defensive back Nicholas Deloach has continued to emerge in the corner back room. According to Drinkwitz, the sophomore has been getting a significant amount of first-team reps alongside Toriano Pride Jr.

READ: Missouri Cornerback Nic Deloach Past Freshman Nerves, Ready to Expand Role

“Super explosive athlete, very consistent,” Drinkwitz said of Deloach. “He’s got great man-to-man skills. Very smart, instinctual player.”

You can watch Drinkwitz’ full press conference here:

Marcus Bryant is Beginning to Find his Role on the Mizzou Offensive Line

Missouri Tight End Brett Norfleet Has Always Stood Above the Rest

Meet The Freshmen: Whit Hafer, Kewan Lacy, Jude James

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Missouri

Missouri State University selects finalists in AD search – Newstalk KZRG

Published

1 day ago

August 10, 2024

Press Room

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Three initial finalists have been named in the search for Missouri State University’s director of athletics position. The three are scheduled for interviews over the next two weeks.

The finalists are successful and experienced athletics administrators from three different states and were among 54 who applied to replace Kyle Moats who left Missouri State in June after serving the past 15 years as its director of athletics.

The finalists and their interview dates are:

University of Illinois
Chief operating officer and executive senior associate athletics director

Campus community forum: 3:30 p.m., Aug. 12, Glass Hall room 354

Appalachian State University
Deputy athletics director

Campus community forum: 2:15 p.m., Aug. 16, Great Southern Bank Arena Prime Overtime Club

Arizona State University
Associate athletics director

Campus community forum: 3:30 p.m., Aug. 19, Great Southern Bank Arena Prime Overtime Club

“This was a great pool of candidates, and it was difficult for the committee to narrow down the search,” said Brent Dunn, vice president for university advancement and chair of the search committee. “The rapid growth of our university and our pending move to Conference USA has really made this an attractive position.”

Upon arriving in Springfield, the finalists will be involved in a series of interviews with the search committee, coaches, athletics staff, student-athletes, other administrators, and President Dr. Richard “Biff” Williams.

The visits will also include a campus community forum. Attendees of the forum sessions will have an opportunity to electronically share feedback on each candidate with university officials.

Dunn noted the initial group of finalists could be expanded if necessary. The university hopes to narrow the field in the coming weeks in effort to name its new director of athletics early in the fall semester.

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