Pheasants and Quail Forever

Pheasants and Quail Forever encouraging farmers and ranchers to consider pollinator habitat

With a November 16 deadline approaching, Pheasants and Quail Forever is encouraging farmers and ranchers to consider utilizing a federal program that provides financial and technical assistance to establish habitat that benefits Monarch butterflies and other wildlife. Jake Swafford, Coordinating Wildlife Biologist, said the Monarch Initiative administered by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) […]

Missouri Department of Corrections

Missouri Department of Corrections offering higher education opportunity for staff and offenders

The Missouri Department of Corrections is working with Ashland University of Ohio to establish a higher education program for staff and offenders. For DOC staff, Ashland University plans to offer a tuition discount for online degree programs through the College of Online and Adult Studies. Offerings include associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s programs in fields such […]

Smithfield Food Website

Smithfield Foods announces investment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Smithfield Foods, Inc. announces, through the nationwide expansion of Smithfield Renewables, innovative projects designed to help meet its goal to reduce the company’s greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent by 2025, which it set in concert with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). This month marks the one-year anniversary of Smithfield Renewables. As part of the expansion of Smithfield […]

Amaren Missouri

Missouri Public Service Commission grants request by Ameren to build wind farm in Schyler and Adair counties

The Missouri Public Service Commission has granted a certificate of convenience and necessity to Ameren Missouri to construct and operate an approximate 400-megawatt wind generation facility in Schuyler and Adair counties. The High Prairie Wind Farm will be constructed pursuant to a Build-Transfer Agreement between Ameren Missouri and TG High Prairie Holdings under an agreement […]

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

MU Extension produces short videos on CAFOs

The University of Missouri Extension recently rolled out an educational program to give the public science-based information about Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, otherwise known as CAFOs. The program includes a webpage and a series of five-minute videos, says Teng Lim, MU Extension agricultural engineer. “MU Extension faculty often respond to great, but similar, questions in rural […]

USDA Sign

USDA Issues farm safety net and conservation payments

 The United State Department of Agriculture continues to invest in rural America with more than $4.8 billion in payments being made, starting this month, to agricultural producers through the Farm Service Agency’s Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC), Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Conservation Reserve (CRP) programs. Approximately $3 billion in payments will be made under the […]

Audio: Hartzler on committee negotiating Farm Bill differences, says SNAP worker requirements main roadblock

West-central Missouri Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler says there are still issues standing in the way of the farm bill reaching committee agreement. Hartzler, a Republican serving as a farm bill conference committee member, says the primary disagreement is the food stamp benefit work requirements favored by House Republicans.     The Farm Bill has expired, however, […]

Environmental Quality Incentives Program

Deadline to apply for Environmental Quality Incentives Program is November 16th

The United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service has announced the deadline to apply for the Fiscal Year 2019 funds through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program is November 16th. EQIP allows farmers, ranchers, forestland managers, and landowners to conserve natural resources by making financial assistance available to improve soil, water, air, plants, animals, […]

Empire District Liberty Utilities Company

Audio: Missouri to allow state’s third largest regulated utility to move aggressively toward wind power

(Missourinet) – Missouri has given initial approval for the state’s third-largest utility to build a major wind farm to generate power. The plan by Empire District in Joplin is opposed by the state Office of Public Counsel. The Counsel’s Geoff Mark says Empire’s predictions of customer savings is based on unrealistic projections that it’ll be able […]