Efforts to improve morale and change a corrosive culture among Missouri prison workers has been criticized as ineffective. Department of Corrections Director Anne Precythe says progress is being made and defends a 24-hour hotline installed for disgruntled employees to report mistreatment. The head of the Missouri Corrections Officer’s Association says the only way […]
Tag: boost
As meat supplies grow for export demand, trade and tariff doubts hurt on-farm prices
Large supplies of meat and dairy, possibly record-setting tons, are coming to U.S. consumers. For consumers, this can be good news with lower prices at grocery cases. For producers of beef, pork, chicken, and milk it doesn’t bode so well. In a mid-year baseline update for livestock and dairy, University of Missouri economist Scott Brown […]
Tuesday night rain cuts into yearly deficit
Significant rainfall Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning boosted August precipitation to 6.07 inches, which makes August the first-month precipitation in Trenton has been above average during any month since October 2017. Overnight rainfall is also the most rainfall in any month since Trenton received 6.8 inches in October of 2017. The official rain total for Trenton, reported […]
Thompson Farm field day, scheduled for September 17th, adds forest value to beef genetics studies
New research results will be featured at a September 17th field day at the University of Missouri Thompson Farm, Spickard. Woodland improvements on a beef farm will be the newest show-and-tell at the annual event, says Jon Schreffler, MU farm manager. Wooded acres now provide income from timber harvest. Dusty Walter, MU forester, will share […]
Missouri beef farmers learn genetic science guides
Science to develop Show-Me-Select replacement heifers keeps growing. Cattlemen learned the latest in an Aug. 16 “Beef ReproGene” meeting at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Howell County. MU reproduction and genetics specialists gave updates before and after dinner. Dave Patterson, who started the MU Show-Me-Select program 22 years ago, led with a refresher. […]
Gallatin Chautauqua set for weekend of September 14th
Entertainment has been announced for the Gallatin Chautauqua which is scheduled this year for the weekend of September 14th and 15th. A free kids movie, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, will be shown on the north courthouse lawn Friday, September 14th at 8 o’clock. On Saturday, September 15th, children will be able to learn about machines at Kids […]
Show-Me-Select rules require genetically tested bull EPDs
New sire selection rules for Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifers improve reliable calving-ease genetics. “Bulls used in the heifer program will carry DNA-tested EPDs (expected progeny differences),” said Jared Decker, University of Missouri Extension geneticist. The rules going into effect Feb. 1, 2019, were set by the SMS governing board of farmers. “DNA tests add reliability to EPDs […]
Nestlé Purina commits $1 million to Ducks Unlimited in Iowa to help boost water quality
Ducks Unlimited and Nestlé Purina PetCare Company have partnered to protect and improve 1,600 acres of wetland and grasslands across Iowa over the next three years through Ducks Unlimited’s Living Lakes Initiative, promoting healthy soil, healthy crops, and healthy wildlife habitat. Purina, which operates three pet food manufacturing facilities in Iowa (in Clinton, Fort Dodge […]
Drought forces farmers to consider baling soybeans as a forage crop
The prolonged drought in Northwest Missouri has forced many farmers to consider baling their soybeans as a forage crop this year. While soybeans are an excellent feed source for cattle, producers need to take into consideration the herbicides that were sprayed on the soybeans throughout the growing season. Some herbicides such as Roundup and Sencor […]
EPA’s reduction in fuel standards concerns Missouri leaders
Missouri’s air quality could take a hit in future years if a reduction in fuel-efficiency standards announced on Thursday by the EPA is allowed to take effect. The proposal would freeze fuel-economy standards to hold them to 2020 levels. It rolls back an Obama administration requirement to increase the fuel standard to 54 miles per gallon by […]
The Pros and Cons of Right-To-Work and how they might affect you
The term “right to work’ relates to or promotes the right of a worker to be able to obtain employment without being required to join a labor union to do so. When right to work laws are in place, workers cannot be compelled to pay for any cost of union representation, even if the union […]
USDA to authorize up to $12 billion in programs to assist farmers impacted by tariffs
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will take several actions to assist farmers in response to trade damage from unjustified retaliation. President Trump directed Secretary Perdue to craft a short-term relief strategy to protect agricultural producers while the Administration works on free, fair, and reciprocal trade deals […]
Audio: McCaskill says rural America would be hurt by U.S. Postal Service privatization
(Missurinet) – Missouri U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill opposes the privatization of the U.S. Postal Service. During a committee hearing this week in Washington on the proposed plan, she says rural America would experience a decline in service. The Postal Service has been asking for flexibility to increase prices and ease some of the […]
Drought continues as beef farmers plan on fall rains to make winter pasture
Stunted, stemmy pastures unable to support grazing cattle have potential and farmers are dependin on fall rains to bring fall regrowth, says University of Missouri Extension forage agronomist Craig Roberts. Cool-season grass growth always slumps in summer. Fescue goes dormant. This year, the slump dives deep with lack of rain and too much heat. In […]
Grain Belt Express sent back to State Public Service Commission by Missouri Supreme Court
The Grain Belt Express Clean Line, a proposed energy transmission project through northern Missouri, got new life Tuesday following a ruling by the state’s highest court. The Grain Belt Express Clean Line, if built, would carry energy from Kansas to Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, running through several counties including Clinton, Caldwell, Carroll, and Chariton within […]
Trenton R-9 Band to host fundraiser
An ice cream social will be held Saturday to help raise money for the Trenton R-9 band’s overnight trip to Branson. Director of Bands Tim Gilham reports the band will perform at the gazebo at Sesquicentennial Park at Five Points in Trenton Saturday night at 8 o’clock while the band boosters sell homemade ice cream […]
Audio: Sweeping new utility law criticized by watchdog groups
(Missourinet) – A sweeping new law allows Missouri utility companies to use an accounting practice that lets them recover depreciation on investments up front. Ameren, the state’s largest power company, says it stimulates investment in long-needed infrastructure upgrades. Cara Spencer with Consumers Council considers the accounting practice a ploy on the part of utilities to […]
USDA Invests $256 Million in Water Infrastructure in Rural Communities
Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing $256 million in 81 projects to improve water and wastewater infrastructure in rural areas in 35 states. Missouri State Director Jeff Case is pleased to announce that over $10 million was invested into rural Missouri communities. “Rural […]
Missouri legislature passes bill with proposed gas tax
The Missouri Legislature has passed a bill that includes a proposed gas tax increase. During House debate on this final day of the regular session, St. Charles Republican Rep. Phil Christofanelli strongly opposes the measure that would ask Missouri voters in November whether the state should boost the tax by 2.5 cents annually for four […]
Missouri voters to decide on initiative targeting corruption in government
Volunteers in the Clean Missouri Initiative recently submitted nearly 347,000 signatures to the Secretary of State’s office – more than double the amount needed to get their issues on a statewide ballot in November. The initiative’s goal is to rid the state of corruption by giving voters the power to decide on limits to campaign contribution and […]