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Cost-share funding available to assist produce growers in paying for Good Agricultural Practices certification

Cost-share funding is available to help produce growers pay for USDA Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification. “These funds are available for Missouri farmers who are applying for USDA GAP certification for the first time or for farms who are reapplying for USDA GAP certification,” said Londa Nwadike, state food safety specialist for the University of […]

Dairy Cows

USDA announces new decision tool for new Dairy Margin Coverage Program

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced today the availability of a new web-based tool – developed in partnership with the University of Wisconsin – to help dairy producers evaluate various scenarios using different coverage levels through the new Dairy Margin Coverage program. The 2018 Farm Bill authorized DMC, a voluntary risk management program that offers financial protection […]

Fountain Grove Flooding

Flood-assistance public meetings scheduled on Thursday, Friday in Atchison and Holt counties

Representatives of United States Department of Agriculture and State of Missouri agencies will participate in public meetings May 2-3 in northwestern Missouri to explain various types of flood-recovery assistance available to landowners and units of government. During the meetings, representatives of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), Rural Development (RD), […]

Rylee Johnson and Chris Chinn

County R-V FFA member Rylee Johnson to attend Missouri Agribusiness Academy

Gundy County R-V FFA member Rylee Johnson receives a Missouri Agribusiness Academy certificate during the 91st Missouri FFA Convention, April 25-26, in Columbia, Missouri. Johnson is pictured with Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn. Johnson will attend the academy, which is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Agriculture, this summer.  The academy is a […]

Ada Fox and Chris Chinn

Ada Fox selected to participate in agribusiness academy

Grundy County FFA member Ada Fox receives a Missouri Agribusiness Academy certificate during the 91st Missouri FFA Convention, April 25-26, in Columbia, Missouri. Fox is pictured with Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn. Fox will attend the academy, which is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Agriculture, this summer. The academy is a  youth […]

Honorary FFA Degree

Honorary State FFA Degrees bestowed on area residents

At the state convention. the Missouri FFA Association has presented HONORARY state degrees to several education agriculture leaders and officials. Among the recipients from northern Missouri are Carmen Buller of Kirksville, Brooke Swindler of Norborne, Connor Dignan of Mound City, Tom Zweifel of Maryville; Jason Dimmitt and Ashley McCarty – both of Kirksville. Carmen Buller […]

USDA Reconnect Program

United States Department of Agriculture Accepting Applications for Rural Broadband Program

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced Tuesday that the United States Department of Agriculture is accepting online applications for funding through the new ReConnect Rural Broadband Pilot Program. The funds will enable the federal government to partner with the private sector and rural communities to build modern broadband infrastructure in areas with insufficient internet service. Insufficient […]

Smithfield Food Website

Smithfield Foods & RAE launch joint venture to create renewable energy, wildlife habitat

Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Roeslein Alternative Energy (RAE) have formed a joint venture called Monarch Bioenergy to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) across Smithfield’s hog farms in Missouri. This partnership converts manure collected from Smithfield farms into RNG, while simultaneously delivering ecological services and developing wildlife habitat. Once complete, all Smithfield company-owned finishing farms in […]

Typical pen style CAFO ( Photo by Darrell Hoemann - Investigate Midwest)

Audio: Controversial agriculture bill could resurface today in Missouri Senate

A controversial agriculture bill could resurface today in the Missouri Senate.     The state Senate could debate today whether to ban Missouri counties from enforcing rules stricter than state regulations required for large animal feeding operations. Jefferson City Republican Mike Bernskoetter’s bill would bar counties from limiting where the farming operations, known as CAFOs, […]

Flood of 2019

USDA hosting public meetings about assistance available for flood damages

Representatives of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and State of Missouri agencies will participate in public meetings May 2-3 in northwestern Missouri to explain various types of flood-recovery assistance available to landowners and units of government. During the meetings, representatives of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), Rural Development […]

Governor Mike Parson

Governor Parson requests Army Corps of Engineers manage Missouri River for flood control, navigation

Governor Mike Parson has submitted written testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.  The committee field hearing in Glenwood, Iowa, will focus on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers river management following devastating flooding in the region. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley will participate. Witnesses will include officials from the Army Corps as well […]

Farm Field

Funding available to farmers interested in installing edge-of-field monitoring stations

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is making $2 million available to interested farmers to help install voluntary edge-of-field monitoring stations on agricultural land in five states, including Missouri.  “Edge-of-field water quality monitoring provides quantifiable data that supports voluntary-based conservation efforts aimed at reducing the movement of sediment and nutrients off Missouri farms,” State Conservationist […]