The Missouri State Fair celebrated youth in agriculture on Saturday, Aug. 21. The annual Sale of Champions highlighted the day, breaking records from previous sales, raising a total of $185,948 for Youth in Agriculture. The Grand Champion Steer was exhibited by Payton Rodgers of Savannah, MO. Payton is the daughter of Blaine and Melissa Rodgers, […]
Tag: farms
Smithfield’s natural gas project implements manure-to-energy technology across northern Missouri’s hog farms
Monarch Bioenergy, a joint venture between Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Roeslein Alternative Energy, has finished installing manure-to-energy technology on nearly all of Smithfield’s Northern Missouri hog finishing farms. The new technology captures methane emissions and converts them into carbon-negative renewable natural gas to power homes, vehicles and businesses. “We are delighted to reach this exciting milestone, which is a significant step toward […]
USDA invests nearly $5 million in high-speed broadband access for rural Missouri
The United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development Missouri Acting State Director D Clark Thomas announced the agency is investing $4,924,245 to deploy broadband infrastructure in rural areas of Missouri without sufficient access to high-speed internet. “Access to high-speed internet is vital to stay connected with one another and expands opportunities for employment, education, healthcare, […]
Tractor Supply honors Brimson farmer and veteran with grant for small business
Tractor Supply Company, the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, donated $100,000 to Farmer Veteran Coalition, including awarding $1,000 gift cards to 50 military veterans nationwide to support their agriculture businesses and $50,000 from the Tractor Supply Company Foundation to support additional programming and grants. Local farmer veteran Christine Chaney of Brimson, Missouri received the award for her business, C&P Farms. C&P Farms is […]
Researchers find cattle are losing adaptations to environmental stressors
As a fourth-generation cattle farmer, Jared Decker knows that cattle suffer from health and productivity issues when they are taken from one environment–which the herd has spent generations adapting to–to a place with a different climate, a different elevation, or even different grass. But as a researcher at the University of Missouri, Decker also sees […]
Coalition of lawmakers urge Biden administration to drop proposed tax hike on farm families
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), along with the entire Senate Republican caucus, sent a letter to President Biden urging him to abandon his effort to impose a capital gains tax increase on family-owned businesses, farms, and ranches. Repealing this part of the tax code would have a devastating effect on multi-generation operations, which could lead […]
University of Missouri Extension to hold “Feedlot School” at North Central Missouri College
The University of Missouri Extension will hold a Feedlot School Aug. 4-5 on the Barton Campus of North Central Missouri College in Trenton. Speakers will present the “ins and outs of feeding cattle in Missouri,” says MU Extension beef nutritionist Eric Bailey. “There is renewed interest in feedlots due to new packing plants being built […]
Sullivan County Fair officials announce winners of Sullivan County Fair Queen and Junior Miss competition
The 2021 Sullivan County Fair Queen & Junior Miss Pageant was held on Monday, July 5, 2021. There were 3 young women vying for the Junior Miss title, and 5 women vying for the Fair queen title. Selected as the queen was Miss Jocelyn Perez. She is the daughter of Aurelia Cruz of Milan. Miss […]
Missourians need to make their voices heard about the future of the farm and food system
This article is a commentary. The views expressed in this article are those of the author, Tim Gibbons, and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of KTTN/KGOZ Radio, management, or staff. (Missouri Independent) – Missouri Rural Crisis Center recently sent in comments to the Biden Administration and USDA in response to their request […]
2020 “Focus on Missouri” Agriculture Photo Contest winners announced
A breathtaking photo featuring a glimpse into the life of a Missouri cattle rancher is the Best in Show for the 2021 Focus on Missouri Agriculture Photo Contest, hosted by the Missouri Department of Agriculture. The photograph, submitted by Holly Brown of Webb City, Mo., was chosen from nearly 900 photos submitted by amateur photographers […]
Some of Missouri’s largest CAFOs are seeking less stringent state regulation
Eleven of Missouri’s largest concentrated animal feeding operations are working to reduce the state’s oversight of their hog facilities despite a record of manure spills and clean water violations. Smithfield Foods, the world’s largest pork producer, has 11 CAFOs seeking new state permits. The facilities, dotted across northern Missouri, combined are capable of raising more […]
Governor Parson fills five county office vacancies
Governor Mike Parson filled five-county office vacancies. Densil Allen Jr., of Knob Noster, was appointed as the Johnson County Presiding Commissioner. Dr. Allen is a former veterinarian and owned and operated Warrensburg Animal Hospital until his retirement. He has also owned and operated Allen’s Auction Service and taught animal science courses at the University of Central […]
As massive livestock operations move in, fighting them gets harder for rural neighbors
(Missouri Independent) – Jeff Jones has lived on his family’s land east of Columbia, Missouri, his entire life. Some of the family’s farms are more than 150 years old. And Jones, who raises cattle and grows row crops, has no intentions of going anywhere. But after years of fighting, his community is home to a […]
Vicky Hartzler makes it official, joining 2022 Missouri GOP Senate primary
(Missouri Independent) – Vicky Hartzler made her entry into the 2022 U.S. Senate race official Thursday, kicking off her campaign at a firearms store surrounded by supporters. One day before Republicans gather in Kansas City for their annual Lincoln Days meetings, Hartzler said her experience in Congress will make her the best candidate over the […]
Laredo Board of Education accepts bids, will offer free breakfast and lunch for students
The Laredo R-7 Board of Education accepted several bids on June 7. They were for propane from Ferrellgas for $1.31 per gallon, fuel from Landes for five cents off, trash from WCA for $84.66, and milk from Prairie Farms. Administrator Misty Foster reports school breakfast and lunch will be free for students next school year. […]
Governor Mike Parson appoints fifteen to various boards and commissions
Governor Mike Parson announced fifteen appointments to various boards and commissions. Bryan Atkins, of Rea, was appointed to the Board of Probation and Parole. Mr. Atkins served as the Sheriff of Andrew County from 2009 until his retirement in 2020. Prior to being elected sheriff, he served as a Deputy Sheriff for Andrew County. He also formerly […]
Couple who falsely claimed to be farmers sentenced to prison in $1.1 million COVID-relief fraud
A couple was sentenced to prison for their participation in a scheme to file four fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $1.1 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Latoya Stanley, 38, […]
Iowa program aims to usher in next generation of farmers
Iowa farmers have been busy with the spring planting season. As operations hire workers for the summer, a nonprofit connects them with aspiring ‘ag’ professionals who could represent the industry’s future labor force. For nearly a decade, the group Practical Farmers of Iowa has carried out its Labor-4-Learning initiative, where participating farms provide on-site training for […]
Pleasant View R-6 Board of Education approve bids
The Pleasant View R-6 Board of Education May 18th approved bids for next school year. One was from the People’s Coop for diesel at five cents below the pump price. A bid from Prairie Farms Dairy was approved to provide milk at 30.28 cents for one percent white milk and 33.07 cents for chocolate milk. […]