A key bill that COULD hit the Senate floor in Jefferson City this week involves the Grain Belt project in rural northern Missouri. State Senator Jason Bean of southeast Missouri’s Holcomb has filed a bill that’s been heard in committee. Under his bill, the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) could not issue a […]
A collaboration between the University of Missouri and North Central Missouri College has resulted in a new weather station at NCMC’s Elizabeth and Arthur Barton Farm at Trenton. Phil and Chris Hoffman retired owners of the Hoffman & Reed grain elevator in Trenton, began the movement for the weather station after attending the annual Crop […]
The Grain Belt Express project plans to run wind power transmission lines across eight rural counties in northern Missouri—from Buchanan through Ralls. Though the Public Service Commission has approved it and the commission’s approval won a court challenge, agricultural opponents have once again found support in the Legislature. The Missouri House passed HB 527 to stop utility […]
Farmers from across the state will rally this (Wednesday) afternoon at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City, for private property rights. Holcomb GOP State Senator Jason Bean will present his bill today to the Missouri Senate Commerce Committee. Under his bill, the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) could not issue a certificate of […]
(Missouri Independent) – On the heels of a historic cold snap that left thousands across the Midwest without power, Kansas and Missouri residents could soon reap the benefits of a massive high-powered transmission line delivering renewable energy. Grain Belt Express, a project a decade in the making, is starting to acquire land along its route spanning […]
Large government payments helped 2020 Missouri net farm income match or exceed the 2014 record of $3.4 billion, according to Abigail Meffert, senior research associate with the University of Missouri Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI). Missouri’s outlook falls in line with the U.S. Agricultural Market Outlook, a summary of 10-year baseline projections presented […]
Carroll County Memorial Hospital acknowledged heart health awareness by encouraging employee involvement and raising funds for the CCMH Foundation, which will be directed towards the needs of CCMH’s Cardiopulmonary Department. For the month of February, the hospital also took on a hue of red in lights and decorations. Employees sported red attire for GO RED […]
As grain prices hit new levels, farmers are considering potential profit in preparing for the 2021 growing season. However, protection is always going to be important. Crop insurance decisions will be critical this year. Gary Schnitkey, University of Illinois agricultural economics professor, said 93% of Illinois farmers took some form of Revenue Protection (RP) insurance […]
When Bradley Schad takes over as CEO and executive director of the Missouri Corn Growers Association and Missouri Corn Merchandising Council on March 15, he will bring a variety of agricultural experiences with him, starting with his time growing up on his family’s diversified farm near Versailles. “I grew up on a farm, I was […]
The Missouri Senate confirmed three appointments for new members to the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. Governor Mike Parson last week announced the appointment of Phil Hoffman of Trenton, Anne-Marie Clarke of Saint Louis, and Hollie Elliot of Fair Grove. Hoffman will represent District 6. He has served as the manager of the Hoffman Reed […]
Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for 2021 must do so by March 15. Producers who have not yet signed a 2021 enrollment contract or who want to make an election change should contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office […]
The House moved to ban the use of eminent domain for a large wind-energy power line planned to span from Kansas to Indiana. In a voice vote on Tuesday, lawmakers approved legislation that would prevent the use of private land for the Grain Belt Express power line without property owners’ permission. The high-voltage […]
The director of Missouri agriculture says it’s been a tough few weeks, especially for livestock producers, in the frigid weather. Chris Chinn, who owns a hog operation with her husband, says it’s also impacting growers who have a lot of grain to get to market. “A lot of farmers had contracts that they […]
“Finding Common Ground in Cover Crops” is the theme of the 2021 Midwest Cover Crops Council Conference. The virtual conference, February 23-25, kicks off with updates from cover crop specialists in the council’s 12 Midwestern states and Ontario, Canada, says Charles Ellis, University of Missouri Extension agricultural engineering specialist and a member of the council’s […]
The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association says one of its key legislative priorities this year is to prevent private companies from using eminent domain to get private land. Ag Policy Chairman Jimmie Long says the organization’s legislative progress was halted last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many Missouri farmers and virtually all commodity groups […]
Grain bids surged throughout December. Overseas feed demand, the worker strike in Argentina, and weather conditions in South America were significant factors in soybean and corn prices gaining so much ground. Dry conditions in key growing areas in South America have put yield potential into question, however, the true range of crop loss is still […]
The Justice Department announced that the career prosecutors reviewing the independent federal investigation into the fatal shooting of Tamir Rice on Nov. 22, 2014, in Cleveland, Ohio, found insufficient evidence to support federal criminal charges against Cleveland Division of Police (CDP) Officers Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback. The department notified counsel for Mr. Rice’s family […]
The Trenton Police Department has released additional information about the tractor-trailer truck overturning into the ditch near Landes Oil Amoco on December 28th. Lieutenant Larry Smith reports the truck with one unit was unoccupied at the time it overturned. Aaron Bunnell was identified as the operator prior to parking it. Bunnell advised he parked the […]
The Grundy County Rural Fire Protection District returned to a grain bin about two miles north of the intersection of Routes O and Y on Tuesday, December 22nd. Grundy County Rural was called to the bin on the Gary Bunnell property as mutual aid for the Spickard Fire Protection District on December 17th. Grundy County […]
A Chillicothe, Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a $142 million scheme to sell non-organic grain as though it was organic. Steven N. Whiteside, 57, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jill A. Morris to a federal information that charges him with falsely signing documents related to the fraud scheme. […]
