The Green Hills Regional Planning Commission (GHRPC) and Missouri SourceLink are collaborating to host a Value-Added Agriculture 101 presentation. This event aims to provide valuable information about what value-added agriculture is, the resources available to assist farmers in expanding their offerings, and firsthand experiences from those who have ventured into these opportunities. The presentation will […]
Category: Farm News
North Missouri sees worsening drought conditions
Drought conditions have worsened in North Missouri and the rest of the state over the last week. This is according to this week’s U.S. Drought Monitor map, released Thursday morning and based on conditions as of the morning of September 5. In Green Hills, severe drought has expanded in Putnam County and now covers about […]
Rise in farm equipment accidents prompts Missouri to issue road safety guidelines
As Missouri enters its harvest season, concerns are rising over road safety involving farm equipment. According to data from 2022, there were 177 traffic crashes in Missouri involving farm machinery and implements. Tragically, these incidents resulted in seven deaths and 63 injuries. Given the start of another busy agricultural period, both motorists and farmers are […]
Audio: Congress faces tight deadline on unfinished Farm Bill
(Missourinet) – Congress reconvenes next week and faces a tight deadline with the still-unfinished Farm Bill. U.S. Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., 4th District, said finding time to debate the farm bill on the House floor will not be easy. “A lot of things expire in September, and when we get back, we will […]
American Beef Labeling Act gains momentum among farmers
Iowa farmers have sent hundreds of comments to their U.S. senators, urging them to support legislation to change the way beef is labeled in the country. The American Beef Labeling Act would be a return to country-of-origin labeling rules. Four meatpacking corporations control 80% of the U.S. cattle market, which allows just a handful of companies to import billions of pounds […]
Judge bars Missouri from moving ahead on Randolph County waste lagoon permit
(Missouri Independent) – The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is barred from moving forward with a permit for an animal waste lagoon north of Columbia, following a judge’s ruling on Thursday. Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green issued a writ of prohibition in a case that Randolph County residents filed against the state. The department […]
Drought conditions show improvement in north Missouri
Drought conditions have improved somewhat in North Missouri over the last week, according to this week’s U.S. Drought Monitor map. The map was released on the morning of August 31 and is based on conditions as of the morning of August 29. In the Green Hills region, northeast Sullivan County is experiencing a slightly less […]
Leasing Farm Ground: What landowners and renters need to consider
Issues such as when my tenant pay me part of the rent, how and when can my current lease be terminated, who pays for fertilizer or lime, and considerations for fair rent for my farm are some of the questions that will be discussed at the Missouri Farm Leases Program to be held on Wednesday, […]
Rural Advocacy Groups: Corporate farming infringing on Missouri family farms
Despite the goal to unite Missourians around a common cause, rural advocacy groups have been pushing the EPA for more stringent regulations under the Clean Water Act, specifically targeting corporate farming. Tim Gibbons, Communications Director for the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, said the Clean Water Act has not been adequately updated since the industrialization of […]
Hundley-Whaley Extension and Education Center to host “Farm, Field, and Family Day”
The University of Missouri Hundley-Whaley Extension and Education Center will host a Farm, Field, and Family Day from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7, in Albany. The event is free and open to the public. A Farmers and Makers Market will be open during registration, which starts at 4 p.m. The program […]
USDA offers relief to livestock producers to haul water, hay
Livestock producers are sweating, and it’s more than just the heat of summer, says Katie Neuner, University of Missouri Extension field specialist in agricultural business. Hay shortages caused by drought have forced producers to buy and transport hay from long distances, adding to feed input costs. Additionally, many producers have had to haul water to […]
Audio: Missouri farmers forced to make tough choices amid heat and drought
(Missourinet) – The extreme heat and humidity are taking a toll on Missouri’s farmers and ranchers, leading to increased livestock sell-offs and slaughter. Daniel Mallory, a livestock specialist for MU Extension, said that if humans are struggling with the heat, cattle are too. “The temperature at which animals become stressed is actually a […]
USDA makes additional grants available for meat and poultry processors
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Acting Under Secretary Roger Glendenning announced that USDA is making more funding available for meat and poultry processors to expand operations, transform the food supply chain, and create new and better markets for producers. This funding advances President Biden’s commitment to grow the economy from the bottom up and […]
Organic certification cost share program available for Missouri producers
The Missouri Department of Agriculture announced that funding is available to assist Missouri farmers and food processors in obtaining organic certification for their businesses. Through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Certification Cost Share Program, producers may be reimbursed for up to $750 of their certification costs during the program year. This year, Missouri […]
Missouri State Treasurer launches Farm Relief Loan Program for farmers
Responding to the severe drought conditions affecting farmers and ranchers across Missouri, State Treasurer Vivek Malek is introducing the Farm Relief Loan (FRL) program. The Farm Relief Loan program will provide vital assistance to producers impacted by this year’s drought. “It has been one thing after another for Missouri’s farmers and ranchers. The flooding in […]
Drought conditions show significant improvement in Missouri
Drought conditions throughout Missouri have shown significant improvement over the past week, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor map. Released on the morning of August 17th, the map reflects conditions observed as of August 15th. In the Green Hills region, northwest Harrison County stands out as it currently faces neither abnormally dry nor drought […]
Farm bill timeline in flux as a messy September for Congress nears
(Missouri Independent) – The roundtables, listening sessions, and appearances at farm shows have largely wrapped up and lawmakers tasked with reauthorizing the nation’s agriculture and nutrition programs are comparing notes and beginning to draft the massive, multi-year farm bill. The 2018 version expires Sept. 30, just as many urgent priorities compete for floor time in […]
Governor Parson reminds Missourians that the state remains in serious drought despite recent widespread rains
During a listening session for the 2023 Farm Bill with Missouri Producers at the Missouri State Fair, Governor Mike Parson reminded Missourians that the state remains in a serious drought. While recent widespread rains have brought some much-needed relief, most of Missouri is still suffering under serious drought conditions. According to the Missouri Drought Assessment […]
Missouri farmers rally for Country Origin Labeling, Anti-Trust Enforcement and prevention of foreign corporate ownership of Missouri farmland
Missouri family farmers and conservationists have submitted thousands of petitions in support of Country Origin Labeling, Anti-Trust enforcement, and the prevention of foreign corporate ownership of Missouri farmland. The Missouri Rural Crisis Center reported that over 9,900 signatures on petitions were submitted at the U.S. farm bill listening session today, which was held at the […]
Northwest Missouri State University and its School of Agricultural Sciences hosting “Innovation Day” on August 24
Farmers throughout the region are invited to join Northwest Missouri State University and its School of Agricultural Sciences in collaboration with BioSTL for an “Innovation Day” program featuring innovators in the ag industry. The program is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, at Northwest’s Agricultural Learning Center, located at 22893 U.S. Highway 71 […]