Twenty-five years ago, Brian Pemberton bought acreage filled with thorn trees, scrub brush and multiflora roses. The only water source was a frog pond. The land needed four things: a road, buildings, fences, and water. Thanks to hard work and cost-share programs, those goals were met. Grazing Acres Farm is now complete with a solid […]
The Environmental Protection Agency released the proposed Renewable Volume Obligation rule for 2020. Once again EPA has failed to account for lost volumes due to refinery exemptions and uphold the President’s commitment to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “We are frustrated the EPA did not account for potential waived gallons going forward in the proposed […]
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has $1 million available for Missouri landowners who apply by July 19 for assistance to plant cover crops on flooded cropland, State Conservationist J.R. Flores said. Flores said that only land in the 13 Missouri counties included in a Presidential Disaster Declaration is eligible. Those counties are Andrew, […]
The financing plan for the East Locust Creek Reservoir project in Sullivan County has received $3,000,000 in state funding following legislative approval this year. Governor Mike Parson had requested and the General Assembly supported $10,000,000 to be placed in the Multi-purpose Water Resources Fund which enables the State to enter into a debt-share arrangement with […]
Route 145 in Mercer County is now closed due to a culvert failure near Lake Paho. Crews from the Missouri Department of Transportation closed Route 145 between Route B and U.S. Route 136 west of Princeton Thursday morning. Due to the culvert’s location in a conservation area with sensitive environmental issues, it may take some […]
After working overnight for about 12 hours, the state Senate has given initial approval to a bill that would restrict Missouri counties from enforcing regulations tougher than the state for large cattle operations. Creve Coeur Democrat Jill Schupp and Lee’s Summit Republican Mike Cierpiot say the measure would bar counties from limiting where CAFOs can […]
Public health groups are calling for a nationwide recall on some cellular phones after a new study showed some units when pressed up against the body, emit 11 times more radiation than Federal Communications Commission safety limits allows. A study done by a professor emeritus of electrical engineering from the University of Utah analyzed data from […]
Chillicothe FFA placed third out of 347 chapters in the state, earning a Top Chapter Award at the 91st Missouri FFA Convention. Only 10 percent of state chapters receive a top chapter designation each year. The National Chapter Award Program is designed to recognize FFA chapters that actively implement the mission and strategies of the […]
Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Roeslein Alternative Energy (RAE) have formed a joint venture called Monarch Bioenergy to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) across Smithfield’s hog farms in Missouri. This partnership converts manure collected from Smithfield farms into RNG, while simultaneously delivering ecological services and developing wildlife habitat. Once complete, all Smithfield company-owned finishing farms in […]
A controversial agriculture bill could resurface today in the Missouri Senate. The state Senate could debate today whether to ban Missouri counties from enforcing rules stricter than state regulations required for large animal feeding operations. Jefferson City Republican Mike Bernskoetter’s bill would bar counties from limiting where the farming operations, known as CAFOs, […]
The governor has signed an executive order to ease requirements during and after Missouri flooding. Governor Mike Parson has signed an executive order giving Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Carol Comer some flexibility in easing requirements. Comer’s discretionary authority to temporarily or suspend environmental rules or regulations currently under her purview will […]
In the wake of flooding, Republican State Senators Dan Hegeman of Cosby and Tony Luetkemeyer of Parkville filed Missouri Senate Concurrent Resolution 24 this week urging the United States Army Corps of Engineers to reprioritize flood control in the management of the Missouri River. The Corps of Engineers changed the Missouri River Master Manual in […]
The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved a request filed by Grain Belt Express Clean Line LLC (Grain Belt) which sought Commission authority and a certificate of convenience and necessity to construct, own, operate, control, manage and maintain a high voltage, direct current transmission line, and associated facilities within eight Missouri counties (Buchanan, Clinton, Caldwell, […]
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service has released a draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Little Otter Creek Watershed Plan. The plan involves the construction of a proposed multipurpose reservoir in Caldwell County. This supplement addresses changes since NRCS prepared the Little Otter Creek Watershed Plan and Environmental Impact Statement in 2003. The supplement […]
Bacon is popular, but living near a hog farm is not. Bacon isn’t possible without hogs, so if we want bacon, we’re going to have to raise pigs. Missouri Senate Bill 391 is opposed by people who either don’t like bacon or don’t realize how it’s made. The bill would require that county regulation aimed […]
Weed problems may explode this year thanks to the drought of 2018 and residual problems associated with overgrazing in parched pastures, says University of Missouri Extension agronomist Valerie Tate. Last year’s extreme weather conditions created a forage shortage. As a result, many pastures were overgrazed. When pastures are overgrazed, there is little green leaf material […]
Two Trenton FFA members qualified for State Proficiency Awards after receiving first place in competition at the area level Wednesday night. Teresa Burkholder placed first in Agricultural Processing, and Karli Provorse received first place in Small Animal Production. They will participate at the state level during the FFA Convention in Columbia in April. Trenton FFA […]
Specifications have been approved regarding bids to be sought for residential sanitation collection and disposal in the city of Trenton. The city council last evening reviewed details of the bid documents. City Administrator Ron Urton said the request for bids will be published this week, with bids due at the city hall by 2 o’clock […]
The Trenton City Council will consider an ordinance at a meeting next week regarding an engineer-consultant agreement. The meeting will be held at Trenton City Hall on Monday night, February 11th at 7 o’clock. An ordinance to be considered would approve a second amendment on an agreement with Environmental Specialty Solutions, Incorporated of Kansas City […]
Trenton has qualified eight entries for STAR events competition on the state level in March. Results have been announced following the regional STAR events held Tuesday at First Baptist Church in Chillicothe. STAR is an acronym for students taking action with recognition. It’s one of the programs for students in the school organization: Family, Career, […]
