The Cooper County Circuit Court ruled in favor of five out of six of Senate Bill 391’s regulations Tuesday, limiting local ordinances from being stricter than state law. The ruling comes after local ordinances were attempted to be put in place against Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations in Cooper and Moniteau Counties in 2019. Missouri Farm […]
Category: Farm News
Show-Me-Select registration deadline is February 15th
Enrollment for the Show-Me-Select Heifer Replacement Program ends February 15, 2021. Show-Me-Select helps Missouri producers raise and market high-quality beef replacement females, says University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Kendra Graham. The educational program uses the latest research on health, nutrition, genetics, and reproductive science. “Now is the time to enroll in the program for […]
Evaluate your calving distribution this spring
Record calf birthdates this calving season to track calving distribution. “Evaluating a calving distribution takes very little time but can provide valuable insight into reproductive performance and productivity of the herd,” says University of Missouri Extension veterinarian Craig Payne. Calving distribution is often expressed as the percentage of calves born at 21-day intervals since 21 […]
USDA extends general signup for Conservation Reserve Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending the Conservation Reserve Program General Signup period, which had previously been announced as ending on Feb. 12, 2021. USDA will continue to accept offers as it takes this opportunity for the incoming Administration to evaluate ways to increase enrollment. Under the previous Administration, incentives and rental payment rates […]
Audio: Missouri fence laws topic of in-person program on February 23 and March 8, 2021
The differences between Missouri’s general and optional fence laws will be discussed at a program to be held in person and online via Zoom on February 23rd and March 8th. Sessions will be held at the Harrison County Extension Center of Bethany, Adair County Extension Center of Kirksville, and North Central Missouri College Barton Farm […]
Cover crop conference, “Finding Common Ground in Cover Crops,” goes virtual
“Finding Common Ground in Cover Crops” is the theme of the 2021 Midwest Cover Crops Council Conference. The virtual conference, February 23-25, kicks off with updates from cover crop specialists in the council’s 12 Midwestern states and Ontario, Canada, says Charles Ellis, University of Missouri Extension agricultural engineering specialist and a member of the council’s […]
Alliance for Grassland Renewal to offer virtual school from February 23-25
Forage producers can learn to improve pastures, beef herds, and profits at upcoming schools hosted by the University of Missouri Extension. MU Extension specialists will join other experts from across the country to tell how to renovate Kentucky 31 toxic tall fescue pastures at an in-person school in Mount Vernon. The one-day school is 8:45 […]
Missouri Department of Agriculture announces grants for Missouri specialty crop producers
The Missouri Department of Agriculture is now accepting proposals for anticipated funding through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Interested individuals, community organizations, and research institutions working to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Missouri should submit their application by March 8, 2021. “Specialty Crop Grants are one of the many financial assistance options […]
Free online event centers on stocker cattle
Beginning stocker cattle operators can learn how to improve profits during a free online event on February 16 and 18 at 7 p.m. University of Missouri Extension; the Missouri Small Business Development Center for Agriculture, Food and Forestry; and the NRCS+MU Grasslands Project sponsor the two-night workshop. “A properly managed stocker cattle operation can be […]
Meeting on Missouri Fence Law to be held at Barton Farm Campus
Missouri fence law will be discussed at a program at the Barton Farm Campus of Trenton. The program will be on the evening of February 23rd from 6:30 to 9 o’clock. It can also be watched on Zoom. The University of Missouri Extension reports there are two fence laws covering the state depending on the […]
Audio: Central Missouri vegetable grower is “Organic Farmer of the Year”
A central Missouri vegetable grower is the MOSES Organic Farmer of the Year. Liz Graznak and her partner founded Happy Hollow Farms in Moniteau County, Missouri almost a decade ago. “It’s pretty amazing. I can’t really wrap my mind around it because in the time that I’ve been growing and the farmers that I know who have received […]
Video: 5th generation farmers in Harris, Missouri call their farm “Diversified”
Justin and Stephanie Oaks, along with their three boys, are proud to call their Harris, Missouri farm diversified, to say the least. On their 200 acres in Sullivan County, the Oaks family raises cattle, hogs, row crops, and hay. Justin, a fifth-generation farmer, is also a local seed salesman, adding more diversity to their operation’s […]
Land values in Missouri continue to grow, according to annual survey of farmers, appraisers and ag lenders
All classes of Missouri land values grew steadily in the past year, according to the University of Missouri Extension’s annual survey of farmers, rural appraisers, and agricultural lenders. Ray Massey, MU Extension agricultural economics professor, heads the survey efforts. No governmental or public agencies in Missouri require the reporting of land values, said Massey. Despite […]
Yield and quality improves when legumes are frost seeded at correct time
Forage yield and quality improve when legumes are frost-seeded at the right time, says University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Craig Roberts. Frost seeding, a method of broadcasting seeds over snow- or frost-covered pastures, improves poor pastures at a low cost. Seeds work their way into the soil and germinate as the ground freezes […]
Northwest Missouri meeting for row crop producers to be held via Zoom
An upcoming meeting for row crop producers will be held next Thursday evening, January 28th on Zoom. The meeting will provide updates from State Specialists and is free of charge. The meeting will be held from 6-8 pm. Dr. Kevin Bradley, State Extension Weed Scientist, will start the meeting with an update on weed management […]
Computers on the Farm Conference meets February 8-9 via Zoom
With its virtual format, this year’s Computers on the Farm Conference, Feb. 8-9, will vividly underscore the increasingly vital role of computers in agriculture. “The topics are designed to simulate a hands-on experience for both beginner and advanced farm computer users,” says Kent Shannon, University of Missouri Extension agricultural engineering specialist and MU assistant teaching […]
American Coalition for Ethanol says EPA’s proposed ethanol rule is a tough pill to swallow
A proposed biofuels rule from the EPA is getting criticism from ethanol supporters. The part of the rule ethanol supporters like would address E-15 labeling and infrastructure requirements and not act on 66 petitions for Small Refinery Exemptions. Growth Energy’s Chris Bliley tells Brownfield EPA’s proposed rule is in the middle between good and bad. […]
Audio: Missouri soybean yield champion, Gary Porter of Mercer, “Thrilled to death”
The top yield in the Missouri Soybean Yield Contest is the result of trying new growing techniques. The contest winner, Gary Porter of Mercer County, in Northern Missouri, topped the competition with his dryland yield of 106 bushels an acre. “We were just thrilled to death,” Porter told Brownfield Ag News. “I know the combine […]
Public interest groups sue EPA for re-approving controversial herbicide dicamba
Public-interest groups are suing the Environmental Protection Agency over the agency’s re-approval of products containing dicamba, a herbicide controversial for its tendency to drift into neighboring fields and damage farmers’ crops and homeowners’ gardens. Last fall, the EPA green-lighted dicamba use for five years, the third time the agency registered dicamba products. George Kimbrell, legal director at […]
Mercer farmer achieves top honors in Missouri Soybean Association annual yield competition
Missouri soybean farmers brought impressive yields for the Missouri Soybean Association’s annual competition. Results from Missouri’s soybean yield contest are now finalized with the highest yields topping 100 bushels per acre. Contest winners in the irrigated and non-irrigated categories presented yields of 102.79 and 106.14 bushels per acre, respectively. The contest’s top honors for non-irrigated […]