MFA Incorporated announces three new directors have been elected to its board. MFA member-owner delegates elected the board members at district meetings held across Missouri during the last week of February. New members include Frank Schieber of Stanberry, Mo., to represent District 1; Craig Lambert of Pattonsburg, Mo., to represent District 4; and Dwayne Schad […]
The Missouri USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced March 30th as the cut-off date to apply for Fiscal Year 2020 funds through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program -Environmental Quality Incentive Program (RCPP-EQIP). EQIP allows farmers, ranchers, forestland managers, and landowners an opportunity to conserve natural resources by […]
The USDA says it’s relaxing some hemp requirements under its interim final rule. Under its new guidance, USDA will delay enforcement of labs to be registered by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Also, hemp producers will not be required to use a DEA-registered “reverse distributor” or law enforcement to dispose of plants that are not compliant. USDA […]
USDA officials announced a March 20, 2020 application cutoff for Missouri agricultural producers interested in renewing their General 2014-1, 2015-1, 2016-1 and 2016-RCPP Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) contracts. To be eligible for the renewal opportunity, the existing contract must expire in 2020. General contracts are only allowed one renewal contract. The CSP program helps agricultural […]
Changes are coming in the business structure of GFG Ag Services that will include a temporary closing later this week of the office location in Trenton to prepare for the changes. According to Troy Smith, ownership of the GFG feed division will be changing effective March 1st. The new owner is Consumers Oil and Supply […]
Applications are being accepted for the 2020 Northeast Missouri Livestock Person of the Year Award for an individual who has made a significant contribution to the livestock industry in Northeast Missouri and/or beyond. The applications are open to Northeast Missouri counties, including Linn, Putnam, Sullivan, Adair, Macon, and Schuyler. Eligible applicants can be livestock producers, […]
Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Roeslein Alternative Energy announced an additional $45 million investment in their Monarch Bioenergy joint venture, which captures methane from hog manure to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) in Missouri. The additional investment will enable the continued implementation of “manure-to-energy” projects on Smithfield’s farms, resulting in RNG generation across 85% of the […]
A man described as a convicted felon with multiple offenses in his past was arrested on Saturday by members of the Grundy County Sheriff’s Department. Forty-two-year old John Ervin Peterson was reported to have moved into a vacant house at Spickard and now faces two counts of receiving stolen property. Bond is $25,000 cash with […]
The chief veterinarian for the National Pork Producers Council, Dr. Liz Wagstrom, says the U.S. has made good progress in preparing for a potential outbreak of African swine fever. “We are a lot better off than we were two years ago,” Wagstrom says. “I believe because of our high biosecurity herds that, even if we […]
The I-35 Cattlemen’s Association is accepting auction item donations for its scholarship dinner later this month to benefit the association’s Youth in Agriculture Scholarship Fund. Cattlemen’s Night at The Pearl will be held at The Pearl at 5301 Northwest Tom Creek Road south of Hamilton the evening of February 29th. Social hour and a cash […]
The local Disabled American Veteran Chapter #60 will host a free Sweetheart Lunch for veterans on Saturday, February 15th noon to 12:30 pm at Dino’s Diner in Trenton. “Our goal is to ensure that we as veterans give back to our fellow veterans in the community”, said Chapter Adjutant Jorry Browning. Veterans will be asked […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced the availability of two programs that protect hemp producers’ crops from natural disasters. A pilot hemp insurance program through Multi-Peril Crop Insurance provides coverage against loss of yield because of insurable causes of loss for hemp grown for fiber, grain or Cannabidiol (CBD) oil and the Noninsured Crop […]
The state’s Medicaid director will present his budget to the Missouri House Budget Committee Tuesday morning in Jefferson City. The hearing is set for 8:15. During his January State of the State Address, Governor Mike Parson (R) credited former House Speaker and current Medicaid director Todd Richardson for finding $84 million in savings, in the Medicaid […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reminds agricultural producers interested in the Conservation Reserve Program 2020 general signup to enroll by February 28, 2020. This signup is available to farmers and private landowners who are either enrolling for the first time or re-enrolling for another 10- to 15-year term. “This is the first opportunity for general […]
A former Cameron, Missouri, high school teacher was sentenced in federal court for secretly recording pornographic videos of three teenage victims in his bathroom. William Derek Williams, 40, of Cameron, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Williams to 10 years […]
The Big Muddy Mini Maker Faire 2020 Call for Makers is open and invites individuals and groups to be makers on March 7, 2020, at Restoration Natatorium in St. Joseph. In its third year, The Big Muddy Mini Maker Faire continues to grow and features makers from around the region. The Big Muddy Mini Maker […]
The sea of native warm-season grass on Gene Cowherd’s Barry County farm is a reminder of a time when buffalo grazed tall prairie grasses. Cowherd’s first-year grasses stand more than 6 feet high with thick, green undergrowth. The grasses are part of a diverse grazing system that also includes alfalfa, Bermuda grass, orchardgrass, red clover, […]
A winter weather system will enter the state Wednesday morning bringing a potential for a wintry mix of freezing rain, sleet, snow, and rain mixed with snow throughout the day and into Friday. This is a slow-moving front and will produce a variety of precipitation over the next three days. Travelers are urged to remain […]
USDA’s Farm Service Agency encourages agricultural producers to enroll now in the Agriculture Risk Loss and Price Loss Coverage programs. March 15, 2020 is the enrollment deadline for the 2019 crop year. Although more than 200,000 producers have enrolled to date, FSA anticipates 1.5 million producers will enroll for ARC and PLC. By enrolling soon, […]
MU Extension is offering free microbial water testing to Missouri produce growers through a grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The tests, which meet water testing requirements for FSMA and Good Agricultural Practices certification, are conducted by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). Sample bottles and forms are […]
