BTC Bank

BTC Bank named top farm lender

BTC Bank has been recognized as a Top Farm Lender by both the American Bankers Association and Independent Community Bankers of America. BTC Bank’s recognition is based on the strength of its competitive banking services and operational efficiencies throughout 2019 and showcases BTC Bank’s commitment, ingenuity, and skill in adapting to market dynamics and evolving […]

Measuring a cow's weight

University Missouri Extension pilots beef record-keeping project

The University of Missouri Extension began a three-year project in March to help beef producers improve whole-herd record-keeping. MU Extension specialists in Columbia, Albany, and Savannah worked with three northwestern Missouri producers to record and compare whole-herd production data, said livestock specialist Shawn Deering. By comparing individual and herd data to regional and national standards, […]

Great seal of Missouri and US Flag with money

Missouri invests in meat & poultry supply chain

Governor Mike Parson and Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn announced the creation of the Missouri Meat & Poultry Processing Grant in an effort to quickly increase food supply chain resilience in our state. Established by the General Assembly through this year’s budget process, $20 million in CARES Act Funds will be directed to meat & […]

College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources

Agricultural research centers moving forward with mostly virtual field days

Following discussions with local health departments and advisory boards, all educational field days offered by the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Agricultural Research Centers, except one, will be hosted virtually this year. The Graves-Chapple Research Center, located near Rock Port, Mo., is the only Research Center that will host […]

Farm Service Agency FSA

Farm Service Agency county committee nominations open June 15

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will begin accepting nominations for county committee members on Monday, June 15, 2020. Elections will occur in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA) for these members who make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2020 election must be postmarked or received in […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

MFA Incorporated

MFA Incorporated announces new board members

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 […]