Medical Marijuana

Audio: Missouri Legislature adopts medical marijuana changes

The Missouri Legislature has passed changes to the state’s new medical marijuana industry. The FBI informed the state health department, which licenses and regulates the medical marijuana industry, that the department will not have access to its national fingerprint background check database. Representative Lane Roberts, R-Joplin, says his legislation would clear up that problem. “Because […]

Safety first graphic

Graves, Hartzler ask for further clarity on CDC meatpacker safety guidelines

Congressman Sam Graves, along with Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, sent a letter to Dr. Robert Redfield, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within Department of Health and Human Services and Loren Sweatt, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Occupational Safety and Health Administration within the Department of Labor, demanding further clarification on […]

Governor Parson and Christine Smith

Pfizer facility in Chesterfield, Missouri scaling up operations for COVID-19 vaccine production

Governor Mike Parson was joined by Christine Smith, head of the Pfizer Biotherapeutics and Pharmaceutical Sciences Department and site head of Pfizer’s Research and Development facility in Chesterfield.  Pfizer’s Chesterfield facility is one of three Pfizer-owned sites in the United States that has been identified as an initial manufacturing center for COVID-19 vaccine production.  “For […]

Governor Parsons and Lieutenant Governor Kehoe

Governor Parson, Lt. Governor Kehoe highlight importance of supporting Missouri businesses

Governor Parson encouraged Missourians to shop local and support Missouri-based businesses, which will be critical to stimulating the state’s economy moving forward.  “We are on the road to recovery, and we must continue taking steps to protect ourselves and others. With that said, we encourage Missourians to safely re-engage in the economy,” Governor Parson said. “Now more […]

President Trump Signs Paycheck Protection Program

President Trump signs Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act

President Trump, at the White House, signed the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. The bill, which unanimously passed the Senate on Tuesday, provides additional coronavirus relief funding for small businesses, agriculture producers, and hospitals and health care providers.  “More help is on the way for Missouri small businesses and the health care […]

Hogs

As work at meat processing plants slows, hog producers may want to feed pigs cheaper diets and hold them longer

University of Missouri Extension swine nutritionist Marcia Shannon says producers can feed more fiber and less fat to slow growth.  “This is a good time to move to feeding low-energy, high-fiber diets with an adjusted lysine-to-calorie ratio and remove any growth-promoting technologies,” Shannon says. Fiber, a poor source of energy, is cheap and fills pigs […]

USDA Sign

USDA unveils tool to help rural communities address COVID-19 pandemic

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue unveiled a one-stop-shop of federal programs that can be used by rural communities, organizations, and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide (PDF, 349 KB) is a first-of-its-kind resource for rural leaders looking for federal funding and partnership opportunities to help address this pandemic. “Under […]

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 […]

Farmers Market

Farmers market vendors prep for season amid COVID-19 concerns

University of Missouri Extension food safety specialist Londa Nwadike says that, right now, science is on the side of produce growers.  “There is currently no evidence that the novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, has been transmitted through food or food packaging,” said Nwadike, who has dual extension appointments with MU and Kansas State University. That’s […]

USDA announces more than 3.4 million acres selected for general signup in Conservation Reserve Program

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the acceptance of more than 3.4 million acres in the general Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup recently completed, the first general signup enrollments since 2016. County offices will begin notifying producers with accepted offers no later than April 3. Through CRP, farmers and ranchers receive an annual rental payment for […]

Farm and farmland news graphic

Farmers wanting to apply for EQIP, CSP can apply from Home

The Missouri Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) would like to remind producers of the program sign-up deadlines to be considered for FY 2020 funding are as follows: Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) application deadline is March 30, 2020. Environmental Quality Incentive Program-Regional Conservation Partnership Program (EQIP-RCPP) application deadline is March 30, 2020. Conservation Stewardship Program-Classic […]

Sunn Hemp Research

Department of Agriculture to hold training for those interested in becoming certified industrial hemp samplers

The Missouri Department of Agriculture will hold a training session for individuals interested in becoming certified industrial hemp samplers. Training will be held at the University of Missouri Forage Systems Research Center east of Linneus the afternoon of March 24th at 1 o’clock. Field Specialist in Agronomy Valerie Tate says certified industrial hemp samplers must […]

Congressional Art Competition

Congressman Sam Graves announces 2020 Congressional Art Competition

Congressman Sam Graves has announced the kickoff to his 2020 Congressional Art Competition. The U.S. House of Representatives sponsors the nationwide contest each spring. Since 1982, when the program first began, over 650,000 high school students across the country have participated. “North Missouri students always produce some of the most exceptional artwork. We truly have some […]

Farmers Market

Chillicothe Farmers Market to hold meeting on March 24

The Chillicothe Farmers Market will plan and budget for advertising and events at its annual meeting later this month. The meeting will be at the Livingston County Health Center in Chillicothe on the evening of March 24, 2020, at 6 o’clock. Other agenda items include setting dues and an election of officers. Anyone interested in selling […]