(Missouri Independent) – It’s clear that lead exposure is a problem for Missouri’s children. An estimated 4.5% have elevated levels of lead in their blood, more than almost any other state in the country. What’s far more difficult is figuring out where children are getting exposed to lead, said Carlton Waterhouse, President Joe Biden’s pick for […]
Tag: natural resources
USDA awards funds to 13 organizations to create livable communities attracting people and jobs
U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small announced that USDA is awarding $3 million in cooperative agreements to 13 organizations. These organizations will provide technical assistance to people living in rural and Tribal communities so they can apply for and access government resources for projects that will attract jobs and […]
Missouri Secretary of State promotes Missouri agriculture at Fisher Delta Research Center
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft visited the Fisher Delta Research Center on November 2, 2021, in Portageville, Missouri, for their annual field day dinner event. The research center is part of the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. The center is working with several partners – like the state soybean and […]
Smithfield withdraws request for CAFO permits environmentalists criticized as too lax
(Missouri Independent) – The global meat producer operating some of Missouri’s largest industrial hog operations has withdrawn requests to convert 10 of its permits to what environmental groups say would be more lenient ones. Smithfield Foods Inc., which has a history of environmental violations in Missouri, operates some of the largest concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, in the […]
Missouri Department of Natural Resources announces grants to area communities
Dru Buntin, director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, announced 19 Missouri communities have been approved by the National Park Service to receive more than $3.3 million in federal grants to assist with park and recreation needs. The grants are part of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a federal program that can be […]
Governor Parson announces $750,000 Emergency Energy Loan to Hannibal
Governor Mike Parson announced a $750,000 interest-free loan to the city of Hannibal to ease the impact of excessive wholesale electricity and natural gas costs associated with the February 2021 extreme weather event. The loan was made possible through the Municipal Utility Emergency Loan Program. “The Municipal Utility Emergency Loan Program provides municipal utilities and […]
NRCS announces november 19, 2021 application deadline for financial assistance
The Missouri USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service announced November 19, 2021, as the cut-off date to apply for the Fiscal Year 2022 funds through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program. EQIP allows farmers, ranchers, forestland managers, and landowners an opportunity to conserve natural resources by making available financial assistance to improve soil, water, air, plants, animals, […]
Test for soybean cyst nematodes after soybean harvest
The best time to test for soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is right after soybean harvest, says University of Missouri Extension plant pathologist Kaitlyn Bissonnette. Missouri farmers can submit two free tests to SCN Diagnostics through county University of Missouri Extension centers or directly to the SCN Diagnostics laboratory, Bissonnette said. SCN Diagnostics is a plant […]
Crowder State Park to host guided hikes on October 23 and October 30
Park staff members at Crowder State Park invite the public to the campground amphitheater at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 23, 2021, for a guided 2-mile hike on Redbud Trail. Park staff will discuss plants, trees, and animals along the way. Redbud Trail is a moderately rugged trail that allows visitors to cross several dry creek […]
Department of Natural Resources awards $30,000 grant to Galt
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources awarded a $30,000 Drinking Water Engineering Report Grant to the city of Galt to evaluate the city’s drinking water system. The grant offers funding to qualified communities to help cover engineering costs for evaluating water and wastewater system improvements. The city will use the grant to identify drinking water […]
Department of Natural Resources awards $339,559 grant to Ludlow
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources awarded $339,559 in financial assistance through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Regionalization Incentive Grant program to the village of Ludlow. The funding will be used to construct a connection between Ludlow’s wastewater treatment system and the Southwest Livingston County R-1 School. This grant will fund 100% of the […]
Missouri Attorney General joins 19 state coalition urging Congress to reject legislation that increases energy fees
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt joined a 19-state coalition urging Congress to reject burdensome legislation that would increase fees on energy producers and hit American consumers with even greater price hikes. The two bills in question are the Methane Emissions Reduction Act in the Senate and a provision of the Build Back Better Act in […]
Missouri Department of Conservation graduates 15 new conservation agents
The Missouri Department of Conservation congratulates 15 new conservation agents upon their graduation from MDC’s 2021 Conservation Agent Training Academy. The agent class of 2021 took the Conservation Agent’s Oath during a special graduation ceremony Tuesday, Oct. 12 at Richardson Fine Arts Center on the Lincoln University campus in Jefferson City. MDC Director Sara Parker […]
Missouri Livestock Symposium names Dr. David Patterson as inaugural Achievement Award recipient
The Missouri Livestock Symposium will recognize Dr. David Patterson as the inaugural recipient of the Missouri Livestock Symposium Achievement Award. Dr. Patterson will become a member of the Missouri Livestock Symposium Hall of Fame and will be inducted at a ceremony at the Symposium on Friday evening, December 3 in Kirksville, MO. According to committee […]
Grundy County Commission accepts bid for work on streambank stabilization project
The Grundy County Commission September 28, 2021, accepted a base bid and two add alternates from Binder Irrigation of Table Rock, Nebraska for work on the streambank stabilization project near the Thompson River Bridge on Highway 6. The total cost is $616,944.40. It was previously reported the base bid is $575,030.40, add alternate one is […]
Chillicothe City Council amends city code, authorizes agreement for architectural services and amends storage container ordinance
The Chillicothe City Council on September 23rd passed ordinances to amend the city code, authorize an agreement for architectural survey services, and amend the storage container ordinance. A section of city code amended was “Eating Places, Drinking on Premises, Retail Packaged Sales, License Required” regarding alcohol and setting an effective date. The section now says […]
Grundy County Commission receives update on funding of streambank stabilization project
The Grundy County Commission on September 21, 2021, received an update on funding of the streambank stabilization project near the Thompson River Bridge on Highway 6. Jackie Soptic with the Grundy County Industrial Development Corporation reported she discovered the Missouri Department of Transportation approved funding of $120,980 and sent a letter to the commission in December […]
USDA extends deadline to apply for pandemic assistance to livestock producers with animal losses
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing additional time for livestock and poultry producers to apply for the Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program. Producers who suffered losses during the pandemic due to insufficient access to processing may now apply for assistance for those losses and the cost of depopulation and disposal of the animals through Oct. […]
Princeton R-5 Board of Education approves Newtown-Harris School District to transportation coop
The Princeton R-5 Board of Education September 13th approved the addition of the Newtown-Harris School District to its transportation coop. Newtown will pay the Princeton School District for access to a mechanic. The annual fee of $8,000 will provide preventative maintenance, oil changes, bus inspections, computer diagnostics, and routine repairs. Grundy County R-5, Spickard, and […]
Gallatin Board of Aldermen approve water meter replacement policy, set water rate for water supply district
The Gallatin Board of Aldermen approved a damaged water meter replacement policy on September 13th and set the wholesale water rate for Public Water Supply District Number 2. The damaged water meter replacement policy states that the City of Gallatin has been installing automated metering infrastructure meters at city properties. The meters consist of a […]