MDC or Missouri Department of Conservation birding trail

Missouri Department of Conservation to offer free guided birding hike on May 2 at Crowder State Park

Learn about birds and birding when the Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri State Parks offer a free guided birding hike from 8 a.m. to noon on Monday, May 2, at Crowder State Park near Trenton. Varied ecological habitats make northwest Missouri a good place to see a variety of birds on a single hike. […]

White-tailed Deer Fawn

Missouri Department of Conservation urges the public to leave wildlife wild

As many head outside to enjoy the longer days and warmer weather this spring, they may come across a variety of newborn animals. It may appear young creatures are abandoned, but that’s usually not the case. The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds Missourians that interfering with wildlife does more harm than good. MDC State Wildlife […]

Newtown-Harris School Website

Newtown-Harris Board of Education approves meal prices for next school year

The Newtown-Harris R-3 Board of Education on April 13th approved meal prices for next school year. Breakfast will cost $1.80 daily for kindergarten through sixth grade, $1.90 for seventh through 12th grade, $2.45 for an adult, and 30 cents for reduced. Lunch will cost $2.55 daily for kindergarten through sixth grade, $2.70 for seventh through […]

Missouri State Highway Patrol Dive Team

Missouri State Highway Patrol Dive Team called in to search Elmwood Lake in Milan

A dive team from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Missouri Department of Conservation searched for possible hidden evidence at Elmwood Lake in Milan on April 4th. Public Information and Education Officer, Corporal Justin Dunn, reports the Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control received a tip about possible hidden evidence. Dunn says divers […]

Photo of crappie (Photo courtesy Mo Dept of Conservation)

New Smithville Lake crappie regulation showing good results, similar change considered for Mozingo Lake

Smithville Lake currently has a special crappie regulation that allows anglers to keep 30 crappies but no more than 15 over nine inches long. The change was made in 2019 and allows anglers to harvest more undersized black crappie while protecting the white crappie numbers. White crappie generally grows to a larger and more desirable […]

USDA Sign

USDA offers CLEAR30 option for producers to enroll land with expiring conservation contracts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is announcing the signup period for its Clean Lakes, Estuaries, And Rivers initiative (CLEAR30) — a nationwide opportunity for certain landowners and agricultural producers currently implementing water quality practices through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to enroll in 30-year contracts, extending the lifespan and strengthening the benefits of important water quality […]

Drinking Water Fountain (Photo by Sean Musil on Unsplash)

Missouri House bill would cut down on poisonous lead in school drinking water

(Missouri Independent) – Missouri children would be better protected from lead poisoning under a state legislative bill to require schools to nearly rid their drinking water of the dangerous toxin. The bill, heard Monday by the House Conservation and Natural Resources Committee, would require schools to test drinking water, remove old coolers and filter water where […]

North Central Missouri Development Alliance or NCMDA

North Central Missouri Development Alliance holds annual meeting

Grundy County’s assets were discussed at the North Central Missouri Development Alliance’s annual meeting on March 29th. The Grundy County Industrial Development Corporation, Grundy County Commission, Trenton City Council, and other community members attended and shared ideas. NCMDA Executive Director Scott Sharp and Secretary Jackie Soptic talked about a Missouri Partnership representative being in Trenton […]

Bull Elk

Missouri Department of Conservation sets 2022 elk and bear seasons with permit applications in May

The Missouri Department of Conservation will offer five permits to hunt bull elk in Missouri this fall with at least one permit designated for qualifying area landowners and the remaining permits for the general public. MDC will also offer 400 permits for the taking of a maximum of 40 black bears during the second Missouri […]

Wild duck (waterfowl) (Photo courtesy David Waite on Unsplash)

Missouri Department of Conservation sets upcoming migratory game bird and waterfowl seasons

The Missouri Conservation Commission approved recommendations from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) at its March 25 meeting for upcoming 2022 migratory-game-bird-hunting seasons and 2022-2023 waterfowl-hunting seasons. 2022 MIGRATORY GAME BIRD HUNTING Mourning Doves, Eurasian Collared Doves, and White-Winged Doves Season: Sept. 1 through Nov. 29 Limits: 15 daily and 45 in possession combined total […]

Coyote standing in field (Photo Credit Mo Dept of Conservation)

Missouri Department of Conservation approves expansion of furbearer hunting, trapping seasons

The Missouri Conservation Commission gave final approval to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) at its March 25 open meeting on regulation changes that will extend current furbearer hunting and trapping seasons for abundant furbearer species. The extension comes in response to stakeholder requests to provide additional opportunities for the taking of multiple furbearer species. […]

CRP Website Revised (Conservation Reserve Program website)

Audio: Ag groups support more Conservation Reserve Program flexibility to aid in potential global grain shortage

Ag groups are calling on the Biden administration to provide flexibility for prime farmland in the Conservation Reserve Program as the Russian/Ukraine conflict has the potential to impact global food security. Ag economist Scott Irwin at the University of Illinois tells Brownfield Ukraine produces about 60 million acres of crops which are at risk this […]

MoNASP Statewde Archery Tournament 2022

Young archers excel during 2022 MoNASP state tournament in Branson

The 2022 Missouri National Archery in the Schools Program (MoNASP) state archery tournament was held March 17-19 at the Branson Convention Center and drew more than 4,300 student archers in grades 4-12 from 218 schools across the state. The tournament was sponsored and coordinated by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Conservation […]

Broadband Internet Access

Expanded rural broadband likely a focus of federal farm bill

(Missouri Independent) – The coronavirus pandemic highlighted the need for federal assistance to develop high-speed internet connectivity in all parts of the country, members of a U.S. House subcommittee agreed this week as they reviewed provisions that are likely to be included in the next farm bill. “I represent a largely rural district in north-central, […]

Three fisherman on a boat with a paddlefish (Photo courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation)

For those that like snagging, paddlefish season begins March 15

Imagine catching a giant, prehistoric fish whose ancestors swam during the time of dinosaurs. That is a reality for thousands of paddlefish snaggers during Missouri’s annual spring paddlefish snagging season. Paddlefish — named for their large, paddle-shaped snouts — are an ancient species that can grow to seven feet and weigh more than 100 pounds.  […]

Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, R-Arnold, Chair of the House Children and Families Committee speaks during a hearing Oct. 5, 2021. (photo by of Tim Bommel - Missouri House Communications)

Change to bill cutting Missouri sales tax on food transformed it into massive tax hike

(Missouri Independent) – With a change of just a few words, a bill to expand the sales tax exemption for food purchases became a bill virtually ending the exemption, infuriating its sponsor and forcing a Missouri House committee to give it another look. On Monday, the House Rules – Administrative Oversight Committee voted to send state Rep. […]

Farm Scene

Farmers who plant cover crops will be eligible for crop insurance premium subsidies

Farmers who plant cover crops will be eligible for crop insurance premium subsidies worth $5 an acre for the second year in a row. To qualify for the payments from USDA, farmers must report their cover crop acreage to the Farm Service Agency by March 15. Last year, USDA made payments totaling $59.5 million for 12.2 million acres of cover […]