Jeff Churhan Master Conservationist

Chillicothe resident receives Master Conservationist Award

A Chillicothe resident received a Master Conservationist Award at the Missouri Conservation Commission’s meeting in Jefferson City Friday, September 4th. Jeff Churan was the 62nd recipient of the award from the commission and Missouri Department of Conservation. The Master Conservationist Award honors living or deceased citizen conservationists, former MDC commissioners, and employees of conservation-related agencies, […]

Hay and Grazing with cattle in pasture

USDA announces changes to emergency haying and grazing provisions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency has announced changes for emergency haying and grazing of acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program. This includes changes outlined in the 2018 Farm Bill that streamlines the authorization process for farmers and ranchers. “FSA authorizes emergency haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program acres under certain […]

Man and Son watching Tractor

America’s Farmers Grow Communities program partnering with farmers to fund organizations that help farmers

Bayer Fund’s America’s Farmers Grow Communities program is partnering with farmers to find and fund organizations and institutions that help farmers and their communities. Eligible farmers can enroll for the chance to direct a $2,500 donation to a local eligible nonprofit of their choice until November 1st. Farmers are eligible to enroll in Grow Communities […]

Deer in a field

Fall deer and turkey hunting info now available in new Missouri Department of Conservation booklet

Missouri deer and turkey hunters can get the most current information on upcoming fall hunting from the Missouri Department of Conservation’s 2020 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting & Regulations Information booklet, available where permits are sold online at the Missouri Department of Conservation website. The booklet has detailed information on fall deer and turkey hunting […]

Grazing School Map

Grazing schools postponed due to COVID-19

The University of Missouri and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service will postpone their annual series of management-intensive grazing schools in 2020 due to safety concerns about COVID-19. Organizers will look at the situation in late May to consider options, said MU Extension forage specialist Craig Roberts. NRCS and MU Extension specialists hold more than […]

USDA announces more than 3.4 million acres selected for general signup in Conservation Reserve Program

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the acceptance of more than 3.4 million acres in the general Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup recently completed, the first general signup enrollments since 2016. County offices will begin notifying producers with accepted offers no later than April 3. Through CRP, farmers and ranchers receive an annual rental payment for […]

CRP Website Revised (Conservation Reserve Program website)

USDA to open signup March 16 for Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands

Farmers and ranchers may apply to enroll grasslands in the Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands signup beginning March 16. The signup runs through May 15. “Through this CRP Grasslands signup, farmers and ranchers can protect grasslands, rangelands, and pastures, while maintaining the land as working grazing lands,” said Kim Viers, Acting State Executive Director. “The program […]

Grass Fires

Firefighters respond to grass fire on Route Y

The Spickard and Grundy County Rural fire protection districts responded to a grass fire on Route Y north of 80th Street on Thursday. Grundy County Rural Fire Chief Kenny Roberts reports about 40 acres burned as well as part of a shed. Four brush trucks, two pumpers, and a tanker were on scene between the […]

Grass Fires

Firefighters respond to grass fire on Route A

The Grundy County Rural Fire Protection District responded to a grass fire that burned about 40 acres on Route A at 363 Northwest 50th Street on Wednesday. Fire Chief Kenny Roberts reports Scott Willis started burning some grass, and the fire got away from him and spread to land owned by Teresa Oyler. Roberts says […]

Grass Fires

Firefighters respond to multiple grass fires on Saturday

Chillicothe firefighters responded to a pair of unrelated grass fires on Saturday. Chillicothe Captain Derrick Allen said the Hale Fire Department requested mutual aid to assist in extinguishing a grass fire in the southeast part of the county. Approximately 30 acres of a field were burned. The Chillicothe Fire Department also responded to an address […]

Flooded Farm Grain Bins

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 […]