The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending the Conservation Reserve Program General Signup period, which had previously been announced as ending on Feb. 12, 2021. USDA will continue to accept offers as it takes this opportunity for the incoming Administration to evaluate ways to increase enrollment. Under the previous Administration, incentives and rental payment rates […]
Tag: production
Cover crop conference, “Finding Common Ground in Cover Crops,” goes virtual
“Finding Common Ground in Cover Crops” is the theme of the 2021 Midwest Cover Crops Council Conference. The virtual conference, February 23-25, kicks off with updates from cover crop specialists in the council’s 12 Midwestern states and Ontario, Canada, says Charles Ellis, University of Missouri Extension agricultural engineering specialist and a member of the council’s […]
Missouri Department of Agriculture announces grants for Missouri specialty crop producers
The Missouri Department of Agriculture is now accepting proposals for anticipated funding through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Interested individuals, community organizations, and research institutions working to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Missouri should submit their application by March 8, 2021. “Specialty Crop Grants are one of the many financial assistance options […]
Alumni musicians featured in free Truman State University livestream concert
Truman State University alumni Anthony Cooperwood and Jo Ann Daughtery will perform in a live stream jazz event at 7 p.m. February 2 as part of the Kohlenberg Lyceum Series. Cooperwood has spent the last 35 years performing music and entertaining people all over the world. His performances include almost 10 years with Cirque du […]
Special Olympics Missouri, Polar Plunge to be held at Simpson Park in Chillicothe
A Special Olympics Missouri Polar Plunge will be held at Simpson Park in Chillicothe to benefit training and competition of Special Olympics Missouri North Area athletes. The Chillicothe Correctional Center will host the event on February 13th. Registration will begin that morning at 11 o’clock, and the plunge for anyone at least 10 years old […]
EPA takes action to investigate PFAS contamination
As part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) extensive efforts to address PFAS, the agency is making new information available about EPA testing that shows PFAS contamination from fluorinated containers. Through a coordinated effort with both the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and a pesticide manufacturer, the agency has determined that fluorinated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) containers that are used to […]
Mercer County Sheriff confirms explosion at Smithfield contract farm
The Mercer County Sheriff’s Office confirms there was a minor explosion on January 11th at a contract farm for Smithfield Hog Production of Princeton. Smithfield Hog Production, Missouri General Manager, Michael Rainwater released a written statement saying the company is “deeply saddened” that a team member was “involved in a serious accident.” Rainwater said “Smithfield […]
Consignment auction to benefit Jamesport Community Association set for March
Consignments are being sought for an antique auction in Jamesport to benefit the Jamesport Community Association. The auction will be held at the A. V. Spillman Event Center on March 5th. No reserves, reproductions, or crafts will be accepted. Items must be suitable for an antique auction. Spokesperson Misty Scott says a percentage of the […]
Adoption of farming technology, or precision ag, varies across generations
Farmers who fear they are falling behind in farm technology might not be as behind as they think. Kansas State University cropping system economist Terry Griffin explains that a recent Kansas Farm Management Association study of farm technologies dispels the myth that all farmers use all of the latest technology. Griffin was one of the […]
Director of Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services attends White House task force meeting on Operation Warp Speed
President Donald Trump and the White House Coronavirus Task Force invited a small group of private business, state, and health care leaders to the White House to brief them on Operation Warp Speed, the COVID-19 vaccine production and distribution project started earlier this year. Dr. Randall Williams, director of the Missouri Department of Health and […]
Beef producers sought for GrowSafe system research at MU
Researchers at the University of Missouri’s Southwest Research Center are inviting beef producers to take part in a program to identify beef cows that use feed efficiently. MU Extension researchers will mine data from the GrowSafe system to help producers select breeding stock cows that eat less than other cows while producing calves with similar […]
NCMC agriculture students participate in state conference; elected PAS President and Vice President
Eight agriculture students from North Central Missouri College participated in the Missouri Postsecondary Agriculture Student Organization (PAS) State Conference November 9-11, 2020. The conference was hosted virtually by State Fair Community College in Sedalia, MO. Over 100 students from seven Missouri community colleges and universities participated in the conference. Calvin Basham, an NCMC student, concluded […]
Governor Parson announces the launch of new COVID-19 vaccine website for Missouri residents
As research and development of multiple COVID-19 vaccines continue to show promising safety and effectiveness findings, Governor Mike Parson announced the launch of a new vaccine website for Missouri residents. MOStopsCOVID.com provides Missourians with information regarding the safety of the vaccines, research and production processes, and when they may be eligible for vaccination. The website will […]
USDA to open signup for the Conservation Reserve Program and CRP Grasslands in early 2021
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the signup periods for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the CRP Grasslands in 2021. Signup for general CRP will be open from January 4, 2021, to February 12, 2021, and signup for CRP Grasslands runs from March 15, 2021, to April 23, 2021. Both programs are competitive and […]
December 11th is the deadline for dairy producers to enroll in the 2021 Safety-Net program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reminds dairy producers that the deadline to enroll in Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) for the calendar year 2021 is Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) opened DMC signup in October to help producers manage economic risk brought on by milk price and feed cost disparities. “2020 has been […]
Missouri Department of Conservation survey shows slight improvement in turkey production
This year’s annual wild turkey brood survey by the Missouri Department of Conservation shows that turkey production was slightly better on the statewide scale this year and some regions saw significant improvements in productivity. MDC’s statewide poult-to-hen ratio (PHR) for this year was 1.0, which was 11% greater than the 2019 PHR and equal to […]
Temple Grandin headlines women in ag online conference
Temple Grandin, renowned author on animal behavior and autism, will be one of four keynote speakers during the virtual 2020 Pixels of Production – Women in Agriculture conference. Pixels of Production offers women farmers and ranchers a four-night opportunity to learn practical tips and be inspired, says University of Missouri Extension swine nutritionist Marcia Shannon. […]
USDA Issues $1.68 billion in payments to producers enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is issuing $1.68 billion in payments to agricultural producers and landowners for the 21.9 million acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which provides annual rental payment for land devoted to conservation purposes. “CRP is one of the many ‘tools’ that USDA offers to producers and private landowners to […]
Mushroom workshop to be held at Winigan Community Center
The fungi life cycle, edible mushroom species, and methods for forest farmed mushrooms will be discussed at a mushroom production workshop outside the Winigan Community Center. The University of Missouri will hold the program on November 5th from 10 to 3 o’clock. Participants will learn how to plug logs with shiitake mushrooms spawn. Each participant […]