Town Hall

What’s next after Proposition A defeat?

Local and state leaders will join citizens groups and unions today to establish ways to build on the momentum gained after the defeat of Proposition A.  A town hall meeting at Oppenstein Brothers Park in Kansas City will discuss how to increase wages to at least $15 an hour for low-wage workers. Jessica Podhola, director […]

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.

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 […]

Right To Work news graphic

Environmentalists step up to oppose “Right To Work”

Voters will decide in less than a week whether Missouri will become a right-to-work state, potentially weakening unions. It isn’t just union members and labor groups opposing Proposition A: Environmentalists are standing against the right-to-work proposition as well.  Dennis Roach, a former engineer, and union member and a current member of the Sierra Club said unions […]

Missouri Hospital Association

Hospital workforce challenges persist in Missouri

A new report from the Missouri Hospital Association finds increased turnover rates among the majority of hospital-based healthcare positions. Vacancy rates decreased for several employee categories, including registered nurses, between 2016 and 2017. However, combined turnover among all professions surveyed increased statewide from 16 percent in 2016 to 17.7 percent in 2017. “Every Missourian has […]

Farm Service Agency FSA

Livestock producers in 25 counties now eligible for benefits through Livestock Disaster Forage Program

Producers in 25 Missouri counties are now eligible to apply for benefits through the Livestock Forage Disaster Program and Emergency Assistance for Livestock. Both programs are administered through the Farm Service Agency. Counties now accepting applications include Adair, Andrew, Buchanan, Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Clinton, Daviess, Dekalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Howard, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Mercer, Nodaway, […]

USDA Logo

Meeting in Bethany to address local resource concerns

A work group will meet later this month to identify local priority resource concerns and provide input about program criteria to the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Service. The meeting will be held at the USDA Service Center in Bethany on the afternoon of July 26th at 1:30. Grundy County District Conservationist Scott […]

Dairy Cows

Close-up cow’ barns help cows avoid heat stress, produce more milk

Martin Prairie Farms near Humansville treats dairy cows like guests.  The family-owned dairy farm north of Humansville in Hickory County dedicates itself to top-of-the-line herd nutrition and care, says University of Missouri Extension dairy specialist Reagan Bluel. Freddie and Mary Martin, son David, and David’s spouse, Alana, own and operate the nearly 3,000-acre farm. Almost […]

Mental Health Awareness Month

Suicide rate is higher in rural areas

For many, the peace and quiet of country living is the American dream. But that dream can turn into a nightmare for those who become isolated and disconnected from their communities, says University of Missouri Extension safety and health specialist Karen Funkenbusch. May is Mental Health Month. It is a good time to talk with […]

Dicamba

Volatility in Dicamba remains controversial

Of all the factors that led to the off-target movement of dicamba in 2017, volatility remains the most controversial. Older formulations, such as Banvel and Clarity, have long been known to volatilize when sprayed under certain environmental conditions. Engenia, FeXapan, and XtendiMax were all marketed as dicamba formulations substantially lower in volatility than previous formulations. […]