Screenshot from Virtual press conference of Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack

Vilsack: Fertilizer prices are biggest worry for farmers after Russian invasion

(Missouri Independent) – The Russian invasion of Ukraine this week might drive up the costs of farm fertilizers globally — which nearly quadrupled last year in price in the United States and remain high — and presents an opportunity for unscrupulous companies to artificially inflate those prices further, according to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. “That’s […]

American Farm Bureau Federation president Zippy Duvall spoke at the organization’s 2022 annual convention in Atlanta, Georgia (photo provided by American Farm Bureau Federation)

American Farm Bureau Federation claims it’s the ‘voice of agriculture,’ Others beg to differ

(Missouri Independent) – This story was originally published as a collaboration between Investigate Midwest and Watchdog Writers Group. The American Farm Bureau Federation calls itself the “voice of agriculture,” a slogan it trademarked in 2007. But as the divide between agribusiness and small farmers has grown in recent decades, a unified voice of agriculture has become harder to […]

Life Flight Helicopter

Minnesota man life-flighted to hospital after big rig is struck by detached tire from another truck

The Highway Patrol reports a Minnesota man sustained serious injuries when the Freightliner truck he drove was struck by a detached tire from another Freightliner north of Eagleville Friday morning, January 28. An air ambulance transported 58-year-old Thomas Einerson of Olivia, Minnesota to UnityPoint Health of Des Moines, Iowa. No injuries were reported for the […]

Grundy Electric Foundation

GEC Community Foundation awards over $2,900 in grants

The Trustees of the GEC Community Foundation, Inc. met on January 26, 2022, and awarded four grants totaling $2,971.00. All grants are funded by member donations called Operation Round Up where members voluntarily round up their utility bills each month to fund grants to eligible entities. Education grants were awarded to Trenton-IX Middle School, Trenton, […]

USDA website

USDA invests $1 billion to improve community infrastructure for people living in rural towns across the country

United States Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Dr. Jewel Bronaugh today announced that USDA is investing $1 billion to build and improve critical community facilities in 48 states, Puerto Rico and Guam (PDF, 449 KB). This infrastructure funding will increase access to health care, education, and public safety while spurring community development and building sound […]