The Missouri Department of Conservation is set to launch a new canine unit through its Protection Branch this summer. The new unit, consisting of five dogs and their conservation agent-handlers, will be stationed around the state and used as necessary to work throughout Missouri. According to MDC, the capabilities of canines are extensive in conservation-related […]
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will continue initiatives to integrate conservation with agriculture practices and help restore and manage sand prairies after being awarded two partnership projects through the Natural Resources Conservation Service Regional Conservation Partnership Program. Through RCPP, conservation partners work in collaboration with NRCS to help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners throughout […]
The Missouri FFA Association recognized Kidridge Griffin of the Trenton FFA Chapter as the State Star Farmer at the 93rd Missouri FFA Convention. His parents are Ethan and Amanda Griffin of Trenton. His advisors are Kabel Oaks and Sadie Roy. The State Star Farmer is chosen based upon outstanding production agriculture in the student’s supervised […]
The Missouri FFA Association named Trenton FFA as the Top Chapter in the state. The chapter placed first out of 351. The Trenton FFA advisors are Kabel Oaks and Sadie Roy. The National Chapter Award Program is designed to recognize FFA chapters that actively implement the mission and strategies of the organization. These chapters improve […]
The Chillicothe FFA Chapter placed third in the agricultural sales career development event at the 93rd Missouri FFA Convention. There were 16 teams in the competition. The team members include Seth Hansen, Gabbryelle Hapes, Makenna Campbell, and Chandler Stedem. Hansen placed second, Hapes placed fourth, Campbell placed 31st and Stedem placed 40th out of 56 […]
The Grundy County Commission on April 27th signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the Natural Resources Conservation Service Streambank Stabilization project near the Thompson River Bridge on Highway 6. The agreement is with the Grundy County Industrial Development Corporation for providing local match funding in conjunction with the project. The county is the designated sponsor. […]
A tractor-trailer truck hit a bridge rail and caught fire on Highway 36 east of Chillicothe early Saturday. Chillicothe and Wheeling firefighters extinguished the blaze with the damage described by Chillicothe Fire Department Captain Derrick Allen as a total loss to the truck and trailer from the crash and fire. Diesel fuel spilled into Medicine […]
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA will open enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program with higher payment rates, new incentives, and a more targeted focus on the program’s role in climate change mitigation. Additionally, USDA is announcing investments in partnerships to increase climate-smart agriculture, including $330 million in 85 Regional Conservation Partnership Program […]
In recognition of the Missouri Bicentennial, University of Missouri Extension will extend this year’s Century Farm application deadline to June 1. “With our partners the Missouri Farm Bureau and the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, we want to be sure every eligible farm family has an opportunity to apply in this special […]
The Grundy County Commission accepted a proposal and applied for funding on April 20th. Presiding Commissioner Phillip Ray reports the proposal was for a 911 recorder license from Command 1 for $3,600. The commission applied for annual state funding for the local emergency planning commission of approximately $2,600. The Grundy County Commission had a conference […]
The Galt Board of Aldermen on April 14th reviewed the qualifications of engineering companies to do a study to evaluate potential improvements to the water system. Benton and Associates from Kirksville were chosen. City Clerk Ashley Bonnett reports the company is to present a proposal at the next meeting, and the board will decide whether […]
Jenna Hasekamp, a member of the Audrain County F&L Hustlers 4-H Club, is helping to pioneer Missouri community College teams’ participation at livestock judging contests. This fall, Hasekamp will join North Central Missouri College’s livestock judging team, which started last fall and is currently the only Missouri community college team competing in livestock judging. “Jenna […]
United Hog Systems, LLC has withdrawn its permit application to build a concentrated animal feeding operation in northern Livingston County. Presiding Commissioner Ed Douglas says the Livingston County Commission got word April 14th from the Department of Natural Resources. Douglas explains United Hog originally applied for a CAFO in February 2020 but withdrew that application. […]
The Princeton R-5 Board of Education heard an update on April 12 on a Department of Natural Resources grant involving a ball field project. The school district, Princeton Ball Association, and the City of Princeton are working together on the grant. The application is for a matching grant that will fund a $250,000 match. The […]
Three agriculture students from North Central Missouri College participated in the National Professional Agriculture Student Organization Conference March 15-19. The conference was hosted virtually this year. Over 300 agriculture students from across the country competed in career program areas and participated in leadership workshops. NCMC students who participated in the conference were: Calvin Basham, Cowgill; […]
The Grundy County Commission approved March 23rd, on a vote of two to one, a motion involving the Natural Resources Conservation Service Streambank Stabilization near the Highway 6 Thompson River Bridge. Commissioner Don Sager and Presiding Commissioner Phillip Ray voted in favor of the motion, which involved entering into a contract with NRCS, with the […]
Advocates for family farms, rural neighborhoods, and the environment are asking Iowa lawmakers to find a more equitable balance between the interests of factory farms and of the communities they’re in. Research has shown higher levels of nitrates and phosphorus in the water, as well as air quality issues, in communities with nearby concentrated animal feeding […]
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Missouri, Caldwell County Commission, USACE, and Caldwell County SWCD will host a groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate the beginning of construction on the Little Otter Creek Reservoir on March 19th, 2021. After over two decades of planning, design, reviews, and permitting, the Little Otter Creek Reservoir will begin […]
(Missouri Independent) – U.S. Rep. Debra Haaland made history on Monday when she became the first Native American to ever be confirmed by the U.S. Senate to hold a position in a president’s Cabinet. In a narrow 51-40 vote, senators confirmed Haaland, a New Mexico Democrat, to serve as secretary of the interior, where she […]
Webmasters note: This article is a commentary by Tim Gibbons of the Missouri Independent. Tim Gibbons is communications director for the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, a statewide farm and rural organization dedicated to preserving family farms and promoting stewardship of the land and environmental integrity. The comments in the article are those of the author, […]
