USDA Reconnect Program

United States Department of Agriculture Accepting Applications for Rural Broadband Program

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced Tuesday that the United States Department of Agriculture is accepting online applications for funding through the new ReConnect Rural Broadband Pilot Program. The funds will enable the federal government to partner with the private sector and rural communities to build modern broadband infrastructure in areas with insufficient internet service. Insufficient […]

Governor Mike Parson

Governor Parson Requests Federal Disaster Declaration in Response to Flooding

Governor Mike Parson on Wednesday requested that President Donald Trump approve a major disaster declaration for Missouri to provide federal assistance to a total of 13 counties in response to devastating flooding that began March 11. The Governor said he expects the request to be expanded to include additional counties once floodwaters recede and full damage assessments can be […]

Smithfield Food Website

Smithfield Foods & RAE launch joint venture to create renewable energy, wildlife habitat

Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Roeslein Alternative Energy (RAE) have formed a joint venture called Monarch Bioenergy to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) across Smithfield’s hog farms in Missouri. This partnership converts manure collected from Smithfield farms into RNG, while simultaneously delivering ecological services and developing wildlife habitat. Once complete, all Smithfield company-owned finishing farms in […]

Trenton Missouri Police Department (TPD)

Trenton woman arrested on felony stealing charge

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Trenton woman Monday on a felony charge of stealing $750 or more. The bond for 45-year-old Meleah Lawrence is $5,000 cash or corporate surety, and she is scheduled for the associate division of circuit court May 14th. Court documents accuse Lawrence of appropriating United States […]

Typical pen style CAFO ( Photo by Darrell Hoemann - Investigate Midwest)

Audio: Controversial agriculture bill could resurface today in Missouri Senate

A controversial agriculture bill could resurface today in the Missouri Senate.     The state Senate could debate today whether to ban Missouri counties from enforcing rules stricter than state regulations required for large animal feeding operations. Jefferson City Republican Mike Bernskoetter’s bill would bar counties from limiting where the farming operations, known as CAFOs, […]

Woman watering a garden

Garden program set for May in Brookfield

The University of Missouri Extension will host a garden program in Brookfield on the tenth of May. The program will be held at the Brookfield Public Library, at 102 Easy Boston Street. The focus will be on ornamental plants. The Library opens at 10 and the program begins at 10:15. Topics include All-America selections, ornamental […]

University of Missouri

University of Missouri to stop housing development

The opposition is growing to a proposed housing development on land owned by the University of Missouri that could disrupt popular outdoor destinations in the state.  The proposed subdivision on the Missouri Bluffs would include approximately 275 units and be built next to the Weldon Spring and Busch Conservation areas and Katy Trail State Park. […]

Missouri Public Utility Alliance (MPUA)

Missouri Public Utility Alliance responds to Grain Belt-related legislation passed by Missouri House

The Missouri House advanced House Bill 1062 to the Missouri Senate. This bill will effectively kill new infrastructure projects like the Grain Belt Express transmission line. Members of the Missouri Public Utility Alliance (MPUA) have repeatedly let lawmakers know that 39 local consumer-owned utilities, representing more than 350,000 people in the state, stand to lose […]

Grundy County Law Enforcement Center

Arrest warrant served on man already in custody

An arrest warrant was served Wednesday on a Milan man already in custody at the Grundy County Law Enforcement Center. The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports 34-year-old Dustin Eli Nickell has been charged with the misdemeanors of driving while revoked or suspended—first offense; display or possess fictitious, canceled, suspended, revoked, or altered driver’s license; and […]

Flood of 2019

USDA hosting public meetings about assistance available for flood damages

Representatives of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and State of Missouri agencies will participate in public meetings May 2-3 in northwestern Missouri to explain various types of flood-recovery assistance available to landowners and units of government. During the meetings, representatives of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), Rural Development […]