Barry Eschenbrenner and Sarah Lovell, co-superintendents of the Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center

Virtual field days allow CAFNR Agricultural Research Centers to continue outreach

From August to October, the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Agricultural Research Centers showcase research projects and share demonstrations during its field day season.  The COVID-19 pandemic forced the Research Centers to reevaluate how they would proceed with their in-person field day events. After discussions with advisory boards and […]

Main University of Extension website

University of Missouri Extension offers farm lease program on November 10th

Landowners and renters can learn about farm leases from the University of Missouri Extension specialists 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10. Participants can attend in person or through Zoom, says Joe Koenen, MU Extension agriculture business specialist, and longtime presenter on farm leases. “Open communication is the key,” Koenen says. “Communication helps landlords and tenants find […]

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Enrollment begins for Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs for 2021

Agricultural producers can now make elections and enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs for the 2021 crop year. The signup period opened Tuesday, Oct. 13. These key U.S. Department of Agriculture safety-net programs help producers weather fluctuations in either revenue or price for certain crops, and more than $5 billion […]

USDA Issues $1.68 billion in payments to producers enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is issuing $1.68 billion in payments to agricultural producers and landowners for the 21.9 million acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which provides annual rental payment for land devoted to conservation purposes. “CRP is one of the many ‘tools’ that USDA offers to producers and private landowners to […]

Cow and cattle herd

2020: The year of the cull cow

 Now is a good time for beef producers to take advantage of stronger than normal prices for culled cattle, says University of Missouri Extension agricultural business specialist Wesley Tucker. Fat trimmings become a value-added product for hamburgers. Demand for hamburger increased during COVID-19 as more people ate at home instead of restaurants or schools. COVID-19 […]

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USDA making an additional $1.4 billion available to assist ag producers impacted by COVID-19

The United States Department of Agriculture has announced it is making up to an additional $14 billion in aid available nationwide to assist agricultural producers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the second round of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program funding provided through the CARES Act. The application period will be open from September […]

Cover Crop Tool

Updated cover crop tool helps Missouri farmers

The Midwest Cover Crops Council will unveil a new cover crop selection tool during a live one-hour webinar Sept. 23 at 11 a.m. CDT. Cover crops improve water and soil quality, reduce erosion and capture nutrients, said Charles Ellis, a University of Missouri Extension agricultural engineering specialist. However, choosing the right cover crop can be […]

Missouri FFA Jacket with emblem

Area students are winners in FFA proficiency categories; finalists for proficiency awards

Two FFA members in Mercer County are national finalists this year for proficiency awards. Others from chapters at Trenton and Gallatin are listed as winners of medals in their proficiency areas. Brylee Williams of the Princeton FFA Chapter is among four finalists across the country for a national award in swine production entrepreneurship. Zach Main […]

College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources

Agricultural research centers moving forward with mostly virtual field days

Following discussions with local health departments and advisory boards, all educational field days offered by the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Agricultural Research Centers, except one, will be hosted virtually this year. The Graves-Chapple Research Center, located near Rock Port, Mo., is the only Research Center that will host […]

Farm Service Agency FSA

Farm Service Agency county committee nominations open June 15

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will begin accepting nominations for county committee members on Monday, June 15, 2020. Elections will occur in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA) for these members who make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2020 election must be postmarked or received in […]