The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending the Conservation Reserve Program General Signup period, which had previously been announced as ending on Feb. 12, 2021. USDA will continue to accept offers as it takes this opportunity for the incoming Administration to evaluate ways to increase enrollment. Under the previous Administration, incentives and rental payment rates […]
“Finding Common Ground in Cover Crops” is the theme of the 2021 Midwest Cover Crops Council Conference. The virtual conference, February 23-25, kicks off with updates from cover crop specialists in the council’s 12 Midwestern states and Ontario, Canada, says Charles Ellis, University of Missouri Extension agricultural engineering specialist and a member of the council’s […]
Forage producers can learn to improve pastures, beef herds, and profits at upcoming schools hosted by the University of Missouri Extension. MU Extension specialists will join other experts from across the country to tell how to renovate Kentucky 31 toxic tall fescue pastures at an in-person school in Mount Vernon. The one-day school is 8:45 […]
Beginning stocker cattle operators can learn how to improve profits during a free online event on February 16 and 18 at 7 p.m. University of Missouri Extension; the Missouri Small Business Development Center for Agriculture, Food and Forestry; and the NRCS+MU Grasslands Project sponsor the two-night workshop. “A properly managed stocker cattle operation can be […]
State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released her eighth monthly report detailing the state government’s use of federal stimulus dollars intended for the COVID-19 response. In March, Auditor Galloway announced that her office would examine the state’s distribution and spending of funding received under the CARES Act and other federal assistance programs recently passed by Congress. […]
All classes of Missouri land values grew steadily in the past year, according to the University of Missouri Extension’s annual survey of farmers, rural appraisers, and agricultural lenders. Ray Massey, MU Extension agricultural economics professor, heads the survey efforts. No governmental or public agencies in Missouri require the reporting of land values, said Massey. Despite […]
A Nevada man was charged in an indictment Wednesday for his alleged participation in a scheme to defraud multiple financial institutions by filing bank loan applications that fraudulently sought more than $1.9 million dollars in forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Nicholas L. […]
The Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development (MDHEWD) released an addendum to its third COVID-19 After-Action Report, which was published in December 2020. Much like last December’s report, the addendum focuses on the initial institutional response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As colleges and universities quickly transitioned to online courses, three major problems […]
President Biden has issued an executive order canceling the 1,200-mile Keystone XL Pipeline project. The nine billion dollar oil pipeline project was first proposed in 2008 and has been stuck in court battles through the years. It would have stretched from Canada to Texas. Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves says Biden’s decision is an economic […]
A Washington man pleaded guilty today to perpetrating a scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 relief guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Nicholas L. McQuaid, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s […]
Missouri non-farm payroll employment increased again in December 2020, but a large increase in the civilian labor force sent unemployment higher. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 10,400 jobs over the month, and over-the-year job losses from COVID-19 shutdowns fell below 100,000. However, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by 1.3 percentage points from November […]
A proposed biofuels rule from the EPA is getting criticism from ethanol supporters. The part of the rule ethanol supporters like would address E-15 labeling and infrastructure requirements and not act on 66 petitions for Small Refinery Exemptions. Growth Energy’s Chris Bliley tells Brownfield EPA’s proposed rule is in the middle between good and bad. […]
The Great Northwest Day at the Capitol will go virtual this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Great Northwest Live Event will advocate regional priorities with state legislators from February 1st through 3rd. Participants are encouraged to ask questions on the Great Northwest Day at the Capitol Facebook page. The schedule includes a legislative […]
The Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division is warning taxpayers about a new wave of COVID-19-related scams as the agency delivers the second round of Economic Impact Payments. For more than half a year, IRS-CI has seen a variety of Economic Impact Payment scams and other financial schemes designed to steal money and personal information […]
St. Louis labor leaders and good-government groups are coming together to demand U.S. Senator Josh Hawley’s resignation. At the U.S. Capitol last week, Hawley fist-pumped the mob that shortly after stormed the building, putting members of Congress and Capitol staff at risk and injuring Capitol and D.C. metro police – including one officer who later […]
The Missouri Office of Workforce Development is continuing its series of Return Strong Virtual Job Fairs this year, starting with a fair for job seekers in the health care industry on Tuesday, Jan. 26. The Return Strong Virtual Job Fairs are part of the state’s efforts to help Missourians skill up and get back […]
Missouri 4-H continues its partnership with Feeding Missouri and the Missouri Farmers Care Drive to Feed Kids. To date, efforts have raised more than 400,000 meals to feed Missourians. The third annual food drive runs January through April to allow plenty of time for clubs to plan and carry out their activities, says Anne Reeder, […]
Governor Mike Parson announced the release of $126,921,606 in previously restricted Fiscal Year 2021 funds, including $117,460,583 in general revenue. “Thanks to our Show Me Strong Recovery Plan, we continue to outpace our economic recovery forecast, which is why were are able to release these funds today,” Governor Parson said. “This is great news for […]
Missouri’s Director of Agriculture says funding for small meat processors will continue to be a priority in 2021. Chris Chinn tells Brownfield roughly $20 million of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funding for the state went towards improving existing small and medium processors and building new ones. “We could also see, approximately, maybe […]
As 2020 comes to a close, Governor Mike Parson highlights the state’s many successes and accomplishments despite the challenges of the past year. “Although 2020 has brought many challenges, we remained committed to serving the people of this state and moving Missouri forward,” Governor Parson said. “We still made great strides in advancing Missouri’s economy, workforce, and […]
