The East Locust Creek Reservoir Project Team and North Central Missouri Regional Water Commission have released the 2019 Work Plan for the reservoir in Sullivan County. Water Commission General Manager Brad Scott reports the Commission and Project Team “are at the mercy” of about 23 agencies and their oversight, inputs, and approvals. The East Locust […]
Tag: environmental
NRCS watershed efforts continue to benefit farmers, communities
Sixty years after the first of 1,182 flood-prevention structures were built in Missouri with federal financial and technical assistance, landowners who have witnessed the before-and-after effects of heavy rain are still praising the benefits of the watershed projects. “Panther Creek used to flood almost every time it rained, but it hasn’t flooded at all since […]
Chillicothe man pleads guilty in grain marketing scheme
Various media sources report a Chillicothe man faces potential prison time and a hefty fine after pleading guilty in U-S District Court in Iowa. Randy Constant appeared in federal court Thursday and pleaded guilty to a charge of wire fraud in an alleged scheme to defraud that authorities claimed involving the marketing of 140 million dollars of grain […]
Audio: Missouri farm and environmental groups clash over Trump administration’s rollback of clean water protections
The Trump administration announced plans Tuesday to roll back Obama-era rules which placed federal regulations on creek beds and ponds that aren’t directly connected to larger bodies of water. Eric Bohl (Bowl) with the Missouri Farm Bureau says the rules are a legal overreach because creek beds and ponds aren’t navigable. Eric Bohl […]
Audio: Senator Roy Blunt ‘very concerned’ about America’s trade strategy
Missouri U.S. Senator Roy Blunt says he’s been “very concerned” about America’s trade strategy. During the Missouri Farm Bureau Convention this week at the Lake of the Ozarks, the Republican says he’s glad the U.S. did not escalate its trade fight with China. Blunt thinks getting Congress to approve the new North American […]
Missouri Department of Agriculture accepting nominations for annual awards through December 7th
The Missouri Department of Agriculture is now accepting nominations for the Missouri Agriculture Awards. As part of the Missouri Governor’s Conference on Agriculture in January, the Missouri Agriculture Awards will honor six individuals that strive to innovate their farm or ranch, give back to their communities, commit to land stewardship or stand as a great example […]
Audio: Ameren Missouri to offer subscription based solar power to customers
Ameren Missouri, the state’s largest utility, plans to start offering some power through renewable energy sources. It’s building a solar facility in St. Louis County that’ll generate a megawatt of power. Ameren spokesperson Matt Forck says the program is subscription based which means the costs are only incurred by those who want solar power. […]
Audio: Missouri’s largest utility taking initial steps toward renewable energy
Ameren Missouri, the state’s largest utility, has taken initial steps to enter the renewable energy supply chain. Since May, the power company has announced plans for two wind farms and a solar project. John Hickey with the Sierra Club of Missouri, a major environmental group, says the two wind farms together could help offset some […]
Missouri Department of Agriculture issues statement on Dicamba products for the 2019 growing season
the Missouri Department of Agriculture announced it will not pursue Special Local Needs (24c) labels for the use of Engenia, FeXapan, and XtendiMax for the 2019 growing season. This announcement follows the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to extend the registration of these three Dicamba products for another two years with additional safeguards. The Missouri […]
Trenton City Council meets Tuesday evening with full agenda
Ordinances were adopted and bids accepted last night by Trenton City Council. Some of the ordinances resulted from previous city council actions, however, one other proposed ordinances got defeated after the council and the Mayor heard complaints. Danny Stephens of Trenton received formal approval to pay $325 per month for a one year period to rent […]
Diesel fuel spill reported at Trenton Municipal Utilities generator site
Sarah Hearne with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources reports a diesel fuel spill occurred at 921 Industrial Drive in Trenton last week. An incident report states Trenton City Administrator/Utility Director Ron Urton called the Environmental Emergency Response Spill Line November 5th to report the release of about 70 gallons of diesel fuel on a […]
Ordinances on tap for Tuesday meeting of Trenton City Council
The Trenton City Council will consider four ordinances approving agreements and two others at its meeting next week. The meeting will be held at the Trenton City Hall Tuesday night at 7 o’clock. The ordinances would approve agreements with Danny Stevens for the rental of the hangar at the airport and Customized Environmental Solutions for […]
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) […]
Smithfield announces nationwide expansion of “Manure to Energy” projects
Smithfield Food Inc. has announced a nationwide expansion of Smithfield Renewables, innovative projects that are designed to help meet its goal to reduce the company’s greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent by 2025. That is set in concert with the Environmental Defense Fund. This month marks the one-year anniversary of Smithfield Renewables. Smithfield is setting the goal […]
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 […]
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 […]
Trenton Building and Nuisance Board and Trenton City Council to meet Monday
The Trenton Building and Nuisance Board will meet prior to the Trenton City Council meeting at the Trenton City Hall Monday, October 22nd. The Building and Nuisance Board will review 13 properties at its meeting at 6 o’clock that evening. That review includes four properties for the declaration of a nuisance, six for a public hearing, […]
TMU reports latest tests on drinking water shows 9 of 40 samples above EPA action level for lead
Trenton Municipal Utilities recently received the latest round of official drinking water test results from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. TMU reports the results from samples collected in late July and early August show nine of the 40 sample Tier One locations were above the Environmental Protection Agency’s action level of 15 parts per […]
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, […]