The Missouri Department of Agriculture has selected 30 high school sophomores to participate in the 2024 Missouri Agribusiness Academy. Selected students will spend a week in June in Springfield exploring careers in agriculture, building leadership skills, and learning more about farming, ranching, and food production. “Our team loves hosting the Missouri Agribusiness Academy each summer,” […]
Category: Farm News
Adapt tilling and cover crop methods for better soil management
(University of Mo. Extension – Charles Ellis) – Soils are much drier now than they were at the start of last year’s planting season, says University of Missouri Extension climatologist Zachary Leasor. Despite gains in December and January, soil moisture is below average for most of the state, Leasor notes. Soil moisture plays a crucial […]
Advocates claim California’s green initiative could harm Midwest farms
(Missouri News Service – Farah Siddiqi) – Family farm advocates in Missouri are concerned a regulation on the other side of the country could have unintended effects on rural Missourians. The California Air Resources Board is gearing up to change the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standards, which could allow California to buy tax credits to […]
How standing milo became a game-changer for cattle grazing
(University Mo. Extension – Rusty Lee) – Missouri cattle producer John Chamberlin didn’t want to sell his cows when drought lingered, and hay supplies and forages dwindled last year. With more than 600 head of Angus cows, Chamberlin turned to the internet for ideas. A video by the University of Missouri Extension on the benefits […]
Missouri introduces new exhibition rules for cattle and swine
New exhibition rules issued by the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) late last year for showing cattle and swine at county fairs and exhibitions will take effect this year. Specialists from the University of Missouri Extension say the changes will promote the health of the animals. “Because we teach Show Me Quality Assurance (SMQA), it […]
Nominate a local livestock producer recognizing their accomplishments
Local livestock producers who demonstrate outstanding achievements in the livestock industry are asked to apply for an award recognizing their accomplishments. The Missouri Livestock Symposium is currently accepting applications for the Missouri Livestock Achievement Award. Eligible applicants can be producers of livestock, agribusiness personnel, agency personnel, or agriculture educators in the state of Missouri. Other […]
Audio: U.S. cattle inventory hits lowest level since 1951
(Brownfield Network –Mark Dorenkamp) – Historically low cattle inventories will be a major storyline for agriculture throughout 2024. Zach Brummer with the Iowa Farm Bureau says the herd size in the U.S. is the lowest it has been since 1951. “An interesting thing about that is the U.S. population in 1951 was roughly 155 million. The […]
New agriculture census highlights farm losses, industry changes
(Missouri News Service – Mike Moen) – Farming trend researchers are poring over new federal data that only come around every five years. The latest information helps some organizations check the pulse of conservation efforts. This month, the USDA released the new Census of Agriculture. The initial reaction focused on the loss of farms around […]
Loss of communities feared as big agriculture replaces family farms
(Missouri News Service – Mike Moen) The nation has seen its total number of farmers and farmland decrease over the past five years and advocates for smaller producers in South Dakota said new data indicates more challenges for farming communities. This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its Census of Agriculture. Since the 2017 report, […]
How anaerobic digesters can assist farms in reducing livestock emissions
Wisconsin is part of a movement to reduce livestock emissions by converting manure into energy sources, with calls for a careful approach. Anaerobic digesters create biogas by removing methane from livestock waste. This gas can then be used for electricity, heat, or vehicle fuel. Supporters say the process limits methane from reaching the atmosphere. The […]
MU Extension introduces DNA testing for heifer program
The University of Missouri Extension’s Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Program now offers a DNA option for participants, known as Show-Me-Plus. Jamie Courter, MU Extension state beef genetics specialist, explained that the program aims to educate producers and buyers of Show-Me-Select heifers on the benefits of having DNA information. “For Show-Me-Plus, if the heifer is registered, she […]
High demand prompts Iowa farm group to increase Spanish-speaking services
A rural advocacy group has invested in reaching out to Spanish-speaking farmers in Iowa – a population that has grown dramatically. There has been an uptick in Spanish speaking farm-related events around the state, and Practical Farmers of Iowa has hired a full time person to be a liaison between Spanish speakers and Iowa’s ag-dominant rural communities. PFI’s Senior […]
Free Brookfield workshop offers path to sustainable agriculture
Brookfield will host a workshop on February 20 that aims to assist farmers in transitioning from conventional agricultural practices to regenerative practices, which are believed to be more profitable and to enhance soil health and water quality. The workshop, scheduled for February 20, is free of charge and will take place at the LaVon Burris […]
Learn to grow drought-tolerant forage at free workshops this February
Free workshops will be offered on establishing warm-season native grasses to produce drought-tolerant, high-quality forage. One workshop will take place at the Milan Community Center on February 27, and another at the Litton Ag Center in Chillicothe on February 28. Doors for the events will open at 9:30 a.m., with the meetings scheduled from 10 […]
Missouri Department of Agriculture announces updated animal exhibition requirements
The Missouri Department of Agriculture has announced changes to animal health requirements for beef and swine exhibitors at fairs and exhibitions in Missouri. Beef and swine exhibitors must provide a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), completed by an accredited veterinarian within 30 days of the show. The CVI should list the shows where the animal […]
Horizon II seeks 39,000 acres in northern Missouri, southern Iowa for prairie-to-energy initiative
In a groundbreaking initiative near Princeton, Missouri, the first 1,000 acres of the Horizon II pilot project are being transformed into native prairie. This innovative project opens new avenues for landowners to generate income while enhancing environmental sustainability. An additional 39,000 acres of highly erodible land across northern Missouri and southern Iowa are set to […]
Learn effective farmers market strategies in this five-part series
Producers selling local foods at farmers markets can learn more about marketing strategies, state regulations, value-added products, business planning, and boosting sales through fruit and vegetable incentive programs in a five-part online series presented Feb. 12-16 by the University of Missouri Extension. Participants will hear from farmers, extension faculty, representatives of the Missouri Department of […]
Hamilton resident honored with Missouri Dairy Leadership Award
A Hamilton resident was honored by the Missouri Dairy Hall of Honors on January 26. Sean Cornelius received a Dairy Leadership Award for his contributions to the dairy industry. As a third-generation dairyman, Cornelius currently milks 120 crossbred cattle on his 1,200-acre farm. He expressed his dedication to producing high-quality, home-grown forages for his dairy […]
Beef quality certification event set for Feb 13 in Trenton
The Missouri Beef Industry Council will host an in-person Beef Quality Assurance certification event at the North Central Missouri College Barton Farm Campus in Trenton. The event is scheduled for February 13 at 1 p.m. University of Missouri Extension Livestock Specialist Shawn Deering will assist with the event, which is open to everyone. Questions regarding […]
Farmers, ranchers can now make USDA farm loan payments online
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that most farm loan borrowers will be able to make payments to their direct loans online through the Pay My Loan feature on farmers.gov in early February. Pay My Loan is part of a broader effort by the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) to streamline its processes, especially […]