Hay and Grazing with cattle in pasture

USDA announces changes to emergency haying and grazing provisions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency has announced changes for emergency haying and grazing of acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program. This includes changes outlined in the 2018 Farm Bill that streamlines the authorization process for farmers and ranchers. “FSA authorizes emergency haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program acres under certain […]

CAFO Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation

COVID-19 pandemic hits livestock farmers hard

Missouri Farm Bureau public affairs director Eric Bohl says the COVID-19 crisis has hit livestock farmers hard. First, stay-at-home orders destroyed demand from restaurants and schools as well as a large portion of the meat and dairy market. As the pandemic grew, it began to impact employees at meat processing plants which caused several processors […]

FFA Website

Area students awarded State FFA Degree

The Missouri FFA Association has named a record 988 members receiving the State FFA Degree. The members qualified for the highest honor the state can give to members as a result of agricultural and leadership achievements. State FFA Degree recipients include Braymer Chapter members Kayla Lynn Henry, Lillian Smith, and Brett Stephenson; Bodey Yaeger from […]

Grazing School Map

Grazing schools postponed due to COVID-19

The University of Missouri and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service will postpone their annual series of management-intensive grazing schools in 2020 due to safety concerns about COVID-19. Organizers will look at the situation in late May to consider options, said MU Extension forage specialist Craig Roberts. NRCS and MU Extension specialists hold more than […]

Missouri Response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

The Big Picture: Missouri’s response to COVID-19

As concerns over the new coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to grow across the state and the nation, Governor Mike Parson and his administration are working each day to respond to the virus and protect the health and well-being of Missourians. Expanding COVID-19 Testing The state is currently working with the University of Missouri to expand COVID-19 […]

Spickard, Missouri

Spickard Board of Aldermen adopt 2020-2021 budget

The Spickard Board of Aldermen adopted the proposed 2020-2021 budget Wednesday night. The budget projects total income of $138,770 and total expenses of $125,756. That leaves a net ordinary income of $13,014. The budget includes general, sewer, and water funds. The board approved charging residents Arthur Jackson and Cody Hughes water bills to the average […]

CRP Website Revised (Conservation Reserve Program website)

USDA to open signup March 16 for Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands

Farmers and ranchers may apply to enroll grasslands in the Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands signup beginning March 16. The signup runs through May 15. “Through this CRP Grasslands signup, farmers and ranchers can protect grasslands, rangelands, and pastures, while maintaining the land as working grazing lands,” said Kim Viers, Acting State Executive Director. “The program […]