Workshops will be held to help farmers manage commodity price risk and obtain higher commodity prices for corn and soybeans. One workshop will be held in the Community Room of the BTC Bank in Bethany Monday, and another will be in the Conference Room of FCS Financial in Chillicothe March 26th. Both workshops will run […]
Category: Farm News
Natural Resources Conservation Service announces March 30th application deadline for financial assistance
The Missouri USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced March 30th as the cut-off date to apply for Fiscal Year 2020 funds through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program -Environmental Quality Incentive Program (RCPP-EQIP). EQIP allows farmers, ranchers, forestland managers, and landowners an opportunity to conserve natural resources by […]
Cattle and hog futures continue downward trend into the weekend
At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, except for the nearby contract, live cattle futures continued to tumble on another round of follow-through selling, with additional pressure from the volatility in the broader markets, lack of support from this week’s cash business, and weakness in wholesale values. Feeder cattle futures were sharply lower on the same factors […]
Corn and wheat mixed on Friday, prices lower for the week
Soybeans were modestly lower on fund and technical selling, with relatively modest week to week losses thanks to a couple of days of gains. Commodities in general and the broader market continued to respond to concerns about coronavirus and its’ impact on demand and the global economy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost more than […]
USDA relaxes some hemp requirements
The USDA says it’s relaxing some hemp requirements under its interim final rule. Under its new guidance, USDA will delay enforcement of labs to be registered by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Also, hemp producers will not be required to use a DEA-registered “reverse distributor” or law enforcement to dispose of plants that are not compliant. USDA […]
Ronnie Russell of Richmond to lead Missouri Soybean Association
Ray County soybean farmer Ronnie Russell was elected as the new president of the Missouri Soybean Association during the annual meeting in Jefferson City. Following his installation at the Commodity Classic conference, Russell leads Missouri’s statewide advocacy organization for soybean growers. Ronnie Russell “I look forward to bringing farmers together to strengthen the Missouri soybean […]
Local, state, and federal agencies partner to host public meetings to help farmers get flood ready for 2020
Over 1.4 million acres of Missouri farmland went unplanted in 2019 due to flooding and excessive rain, according to the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Nearly a year later, farmers across the state are still struggling to rebuild their operations. Many roads and bridges still are in need of reconstruction, and crop insurance may be […]
USDA Sets March 20 application cutoff for Conservation Stewardship Program contract renewals
USDA officials announced a March 20, 2020 application cutoff for Missouri agricultural producers interested in renewing their General 2014-1, 2015-1, 2016-1 and 2016-RCPP Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) contracts. To be eligible for the renewal opportunity, the existing contract must expire in 2020. General contracts are only allowed one renewal contract. The CSP program helps agricultural […]
Applications open for Northeast Missouri Livestock Person of the Year
Applications are being accepted for the 2020 Northeast Missouri Livestock Person of the Year Award for an individual who has made a significant contribution to the livestock industry in Northeast Missouri and/or beyond. The applications are open to Northeast Missouri counties, including Linn, Putnam, Sullivan, Adair, Macon, and Schuyler. Eligible applicants can be livestock producers, […]
Laclede woman elected to Missouri Soybean Association’s board of directors
The Missouri Soybean Association welcomes a new farmer-leader following this year’s district director elections. Kate Lambert, a farmer from Laclede, was elected to the Association’s board of directors during the District 2 meeting on February 14 in Norborne. She joins her fellow board members in guiding the organization’s policy, advocacy and membership efforts. In addition […]
Audio: Chief Vet National Pork Producers says ” Good progress on African Swine Fever plans, more to be done”
The chief veterinarian for the National Pork Producers Council, Dr. Liz Wagstrom, says the U.S. has made good progress in preparing for a potential outbreak of African swine fever. “We are a lot better off than we were two years ago,” Wagstrom says. “I believe because of our high biosecurity herds that, even if we […]
Audio: Bayer/Monsanto to appeal $265 million Dicamba verdict won by Missouri peach grower
A federal jury has awarded a southeast Missouri peach grower 15 million dollars in compensatory damages and 250 Million in punitive damages in its dicamba drift case against Monsanto and BASF. The trial concluded Saturday which meant the gag-order was lifted. Monsanto Attorney Chris Hohn said after the trial, “I think it goes without saying […]
USDA announces details of risk management programs for hemp producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced the availability of two programs that protect hemp producers’ crops from natural disasters. A pilot hemp insurance program through Multi-Peril Crop Insurance provides coverage against loss of yield because of insurable causes of loss for hemp grown for fiber, grain or Cannabidiol (CBD) oil and the Noninsured Crop […]
Hog futures on Friday mostly up on demand expectations
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures were up modestly ahead of widespread direct business. February was $.20 higher at $121.32 and April was up $.05 at $119.80. Feeder cattle were down on the firm move in corn. March was $.70 lower at $135.20 and April was down $.07 at $137.50. By Friday afternoon, light to […]
Mercer County Extension to host Private Pesticide Applicator Training
Mercer County Extension will host Private Pesticide Applicator Training on Monday, February 10, 2020, at 6:00 pm at the Mercer County Fair Building. Training will be led by Andy Luke, Extension Specialist in Agronomy. All growers are welcome to attend this meeting regardless of needing recertification. Those growers whose license has expired or will expire […]
Program on Missouri fence laws set at locations throughout the state
University of Missouri Extension specialists will explain Missouri’s complicated fence laws 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 12, at locations throughout the state. “Missouri continues to have a complicated fence law,” says Joe Koenen, MU Extension agricultural business specialist. “Two separate laws cover the state, and they vary county to county. Both laws are subject to interpretation.” […]
Conservation Reserve Program general signup deadline is February 28, 2020
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reminds agricultural producers interested in the Conservation Reserve Program 2020 general signup to enroll by February 28, 2020. This signup is available to farmers and private landowners who are either enrolling for the first time or re-enrolling for another 10- to 15-year term. “This is the first opportunity for general […]
Mexico was the big weekly buyer of U.S. pork
Mexico continues to be a driver of export demand for U.S. pork. The USDA says more than 30,000 tons of U.S. pork were sold during the week ending January 16th, more than a third of that to Mexico, and while purchases by China continue to fall short of expectations, physical shipments were strong at nearly […]
Audio: Free Pesticide Applicator Training sessions to be offered in area counties
Multiple training sessions will be held in the area for farmers needing to obtain or renew certification for a private pesticide applicator’s license. Free sessions will be held at the Grundy County Extension Center in the Alexander Student Center Basement Conference Room of Trenton on Thursday, January 23, 2020, from 9 o’clock until noon, Carroll […]
Southwest Missouri producer sees success in first-year warm-season crop
The sea of native warm-season grass on Gene Cowherd’s Barry County farm is a reminder of a time when buffalo grazed tall prairie grasses. Cowherd’s first-year grasses stand more than 6 feet high with thick, green undergrowth. The grasses are part of a diverse grazing system that also includes alfalfa, Bermuda grass, orchardgrass, red clover, […]