(Missouri Independent) – Regulators ordered an industrial hog farm in northern Missouri to pay more than $18,000 for spilling 300,000 gallons of manure into miles of nearby streams. An advocate for environmentally responsible agriculture called that “pathetic,” noting the fine amounted to less than $0.04 per gallon of waste spilled. “You’re talking about a multi-billion […]
From March 11 – 19, Governor Mike Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson will travel to the United Kingdom and Ireland for their third international Trade Mission. The U.K. and Ireland are key trade partners for Missouri, with nearly $354 million and more than $130 million in exports in 2021, respectively. Consistent with Governor Parson’s […]
Highly pathogenic avian flu has been detected in a commercial turkey flock in northwest Iowa. This is the second case of the H5N1 virus being found in the state and the first time a commercial facility has tested positive for the disease since 2015. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has established a […]
Federal officials have confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza in a commercial chicken flock in Stoddard County, Missouri. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic influenza (HPAI) in the commercial broiler chicken flock. Samples were delivered to the Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Missouri for […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced loan interest rates for March 2022, which are effective March 1, 2022. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment, and storage structures, or meet cash flow needs. Operating, Ownership, and Emergency Loans FSA […]
The Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority (MASBDA) announces the opening of two funding opportunities, while also announcing recipients of the most recent grant cycle. MASBDA is accepting applications for two programs that add value to Missouri agricultural products and aid the economy of a rural community. The Missouri Value-Added Agriculture Grant can be used for […]
(Missouri Independent) – The Russian invasion of Ukraine this week might drive up the costs of farm fertilizers globally — which nearly quadrupled last year in price in the United States and remain high — and presents an opportunity for unscrupulous companies to artificially inflate those prices further, according to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. “That’s […]
Hog producers who sold hogs through a spot market sale during the COVID-19 pandemic now have until April 15, 2022, to submit their applications for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program. SMHPP, which is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, originally had a deadline to submit applications by Feb. 25, […]
Multiple reports were given at the North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees meeting February 22nd. Vice President of Student Affairs Doctor Kristen Alley reported NCMC’s graduation rate is 42%, and the withdrawal rate is 39%. NCMC is the only community college in the state to have a higher graduation rate than a withdrawal rate. […]
Five senior members of the Trenton FFA chapter stopped at KTTN Monday morning and were guests on Open Line promoting National FFA Week. The week began on Sunday when 26 members of the chapter attended services at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Trenton. Chapter President Colton Roy gave the morning message. Junior officers of […]
The Salute to Agriculture Luncheon to be held near Chillicothe on February 18th was postponed due to school being canceled for Chillicothe on February 18th. The event is hosted by the Chillicothe FFA Chapter and Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce. The luncheon has been rescheduled for February 21st from 11:30 to 1 o’clock. It will […]
Missouri 4-H youths and volunteers can learn about common Missouri crops, insects, diseases, disorders, weeds, and pesticide safety through a new 4-H Crop Scouting program. The inaugural event is July 19 at the University of Missouri’s Bradford Farm, about 8 miles east of Columbia. “Missouri 4-H is very excited to be bringing state-level opportunities to […]
Missouri poultry producers, both commercial and backyard flocks, are encouraged to review and tighten biosecurity protocols in light of the avian influenza virus confirmation in birds east of the Mississippi River. Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 is known to be deadly for domesticated chickens and turkeys. Avian influenza was confirmed in a commercial chicken operation […]
The Princeton R-5 Board of Education on February 14th approved the 2022-2023 school calendar and changed school hours. The first day of school will be August 23rd, and the last day is scheduled for May 19th, 2023. Snow days are built into the calendar that totals 1,109 hours. For the 2022-2023 school year, the day […]
Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2022 crop year have until March 15, 2022, to sign a contract. The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers these two safety net programs to provide vital income support to farmers experiencing substantial declines in […]
The Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce and Chillicothe FFA Chapter will hold a luncheon for businesses, individuals, and families that are part of the agriculture base for the region. The annual Salute to Agriculture will be at the Mervyn W. Jenkins Expo Center on the Litton Agri-Science Campus near Chillicothe on February 18th. Lunch will […]
(Missouri Independent) – This story was originally published as a collaboration between Investigate Midwest and Watchdog Writers Group. The American Farm Bureau Federation calls itself the “voice of agriculture,” a slogan it trademarked in 2007. But as the divide between agribusiness and small farmers has grown in recent decades, a unified voice of agriculture has become harder to […]
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small today unveiled a resource guide to help people in rural America start and grow businesses, create good-paying jobs in their communities and strengthen America’s economy. “America’s rural entrepreneurs are critical to the success of our nation’s economy,” Torres Small said. “They create jobs […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a new USDA Market News Mobile Application, providing producers and everyone else in the supply chain with instant access to current and historical market information. The initial version of the free app includes nearly 800 livestock, poultry, and grain market reports, with additional commodities added throughout the coming year. […]
The Princeton R-5 Board of Education will discuss a 2022-2023 school calendar proposal and the school start time next week. The board will meet in the high school library on February 14th at 5:30 in the evening. Other items on the agenda include updates on the United States Department of Agriculture grant for transportation, the […]
