Agricultural producers and landowners with certain expiring Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts can receive additional rental incentives and extend that land’s role in conservation for another 30 years. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has opened the signup period for its Clean Lakes, Estuaries, And Rivers enrollment (CLEAR30) now through July 31, 2023. CLEAR30 is a part of […]
Category: Farm News
USDA is projecting record, large corn and soybean crops in 2023
(Brownfield) – The USDA is projecting record large corn and soybean crops in 2023. Domestic corn production is estimated at 15.265 billion bushels, up 1.535 billion from 2022 on increased planted area, at 92 million acres in the USDA’s Prospective Planting Report, and a yield of 181.5 bushels per acre, compared to 173.3 last year. […]
Drought conditions continue to expand in north Missouri
Drought conditions have expanded in Missouri since last week, according to this week’s U. S. Drought Monitor Map. The map was released on the morning of May 11th and is based on conditions as of the morning of May 9th. For the Green Hills area, there is now moderate drought in the southeastern part of […]
University of Missouri Extension tools help cattle producers with on-farm finishing budgets
Many consumers want to buy locally produced beef, and University of Missouri Extension economists can help producers deliver. Beef producers who want to finish their cattle on their farms now have access to new resources from MU Extension beef specialists to determine their finishing budgets. The On-Farm Finishing Budget publication and spreadsheet tools released during […]
Drought conditions begin to take hold in some Green Hills counties
The U. S. Drought Monitor map for Missouri shows abnormally dry conditions in the Green Hills area. The map was released Thursday morning, May 4th, and is based on conditions as of Tuesday morning, May 2nd. Abnormally dry conditions completely cover Linn County and most of Sullivan and Putnam counties. It is also abnormally dry […]
“Right to Repair” tractors could save farmers $103 million a year
North Carolina farmers are calling on lawmakers to address manufacturer-imposed repair limitations on tractors and minimize disruptions on their farms. A report by the North Carolina Public Interest Research Group reveals that broken equipment costs farmers $3 billion, with an additional $1 billion spent on repairs annually. For NC farmers, that cost is $103 million. Stuart […]
USDA providing $130 million in assistance to farmers facing financial risk
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that nearly $130 million in additional, automatic financial assistance has been obligated for qualifying farm loan program borrowers who are facing financial risk. The announcement is part of the $3.1 billion to help distressed farm loan borrowers that was provided through Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act. Since […]
Livestock economist says cattle producers remain slow to grow the herd
(Brownfield Network) – A livestock economist says he’s still not seeing signs of expansion in the cattle industry. University of Missouri’s Scott Brown says despite the ongoing strength in the cattle markets, USDA data suggests cattle producers haven’t started growing the U.S. herd. “Beef cow slaughter for the first three months, we’re down 90,000 head […]
Crops in Missouri begin emerging from the soil
(Brownfield Network) – A few of Missouri’s crops are starting to break through the soil. In the last week, USDA says 2% of Missouri’s soybean have emerged and 16% of the state’s soybeans are planted. That compares to 5% planted the previous week. Corn planting nearly doubled in the last seven days, now shy of […]
Area FFA chapters take part in Career Development Events at convention in Columbia
Judging results at the Missouri FFA Convention in Columbia on Thursday included a team from Milan C-2 High School that won first place in the state for FFA Knowledge. Individually, Lexus Fordyce was the top-ranked student in the state in FFA knowledge. Others from Milan are Gracie Simpson who tied with others for second place […]
Limit on foreign ownership of farmland clears Missouri Senate
(Missouri Independent) – A bill that would prohibit any further foreign ownership of Missouri land was passed in the Senate on Monday. The Senate amended a bill from the House to add an emergency clause and expand the definition of what is included as a foreign business. The bill also requires a 30-day notice to the Department […]
Organic farmers want more time to plant, qualify for crop insurance
Organic farmers want more time to get their corn crops in the ground and still be able to qualify for crop insurance. Right now, they are held to the same timelines as conventional farmers, which they say puts them at a disadvantage and could cost them their full insurance coverage. Both conventional and organic farmers […]
USDA announces Grassland Conservation Reserve Program signup for 2023
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that agricultural producers and private landowners can begin signing up for the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program which runs through May 26, 2023. Among CRP enrollment opportunities, Grassland CRP is a unique working lands program, allowing producers and landowners to continue grazing and haying practices while conserving grasslands and promoting […]
Missouri 4-H and University of Missouri Extension to host crop event for 4-H and FFA youth
The University of Missouri Extension and Missouri 4-H will host a crop scouting event for 4-H and FFA members and volunteers July 18 at MU Bradford Research Farm near Columbia. Participants will learn about common Missouri crops, insects, diseases, disorders, and weeds as well as about pesticide safety and careers in agronomy, said Maria Calvert, […]
Missouri Corn awards scholarships to “Youth in Agriculture”
The Missouri Corn Growers Association and Missouri Corn Merchandising Council are proud to announce the 2023 Missouri Corn Scholarship recipients. Each student will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship to contribute to their college education. Missouri high school seniors and college students entering their senior year pursuing a degree in agronomy or a related field were eligible. […]
Area FFA students to attend Missouri FFA Convention in Columbia
FFA members from across the meet in Columbia on April 20th and 21st for the 95th Missouri FFA Convention to honor fellow members for outstanding achievements, conduct association business, elect new officers, and participate in leadership workshops. Ignite, Embrace, Empower is the theme for this year’s annual convention, which is expected to attract more than […]
Missouri farm income projected to decline in 2023
Missouri’s net farm income is predicted to fall in 2023 following a record-setting 2022, according to the spring 2023 Missouri Farm Income Outlook report. The report, released by the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center at the University of Missouri, provides comprehensive insights that can equip industry stakeholders and policymakers with information to understand the […]
Biden-Harris administration announces availability of $1 billion to help farmers, ranchers invest in renewable energy systems
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is accepting applications starting on April 1 for $1 billion in grants to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses invest in renewable energy systems and make energy-efficiency improvements. USDA is making the $1 billion in grants available under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), […]
USDA announces additional assistance for distressed farmers facing financial risk
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that beginning in April it will provide approximately $123 million in additional, automatic financial assistance for qualifying farm loan program borrowers who are facing financial risk, as part of the $3.1 billion to help distressed farm loan borrowers that was provided through Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act […]
MU Extension Hay School set for March 31 in Schuyler County
Hay producers can learn strategies to grow, harvest, and store high quality hay at the University of Missouri Extension’s upcoming Hay Production School, 9:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Schuyler County Community Center. MU Extension specialists will teach how to get more quality and quantity hay production during this one-day workshop, says Darla Campbell, […]