Smithfield Food Website

Smithfield Foods & RAE launch joint venture to create renewable energy, wildlife habitat

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 […]

For Rent Sign in Yard

Missouri suffers major shortage of affordable housing

Missouri’s low-income housing crunch shows no sign of abating, according to a new report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition.  Researchers found that there are almost 196,000 low-income households in Missouri, but there are just under 83,000 affordable rental homes. So about 113,000 are forced to pay way more than they can afford just to […]

State of Emergency

Governor Parson declares “State of Emergency” in Missouri

Governor Mike Parson has declared a state of emergency in Missouri in response to worsening conditions along the Missouri and Mississippi River systems as a result of release from upstream reservoirs, snowmelt and excessive rainfall. Governor Parson also activated the Missouri State Emergency Operations Plan, which allows state agencies to coordinate directly with local jurisdictions. […]

Cows grazing in pasture

Use sound grazing practices to reduce overgrazing and weeds

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 […]

Drought

2018 drought report now available online

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources submitted the 2018 Drought Response Report to Governor Parson today. The report provides detailed information about 2018 drought conditions and the state’s response to the drought. “Shortly after taking office, we witnessed one of the worst droughts we have experienced in many years,” said Governor Mike Parson. “As a […]

Pothole in road

Winter weather takes toll on north Missouri roads

Across Northwest Missouri, the effects of winter weather are evident everywhere you look frozen ground, canceled classes, snow-covered fields, and potholes. The Missouri Department of Transportation normally launches its pothole efforts in March, but with the extreme weather we’ve faced this year, the roads are taking a beating. When they’re not out plowing ice and […]

Air Ambulance Bill of the month

Missourians face large bills, aggressive collection tactics from air ambulance transports

Missourians are frequently subjected to aggressive collection efforts by air ambulance providers totaling tens of thousands of dollars in a practice called balance billing, according to a detailed report released today by the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration (DIFP). To assess the scope of the problem, the DIFP initiated a data call for […]