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 applications by March 8, 2022. “Specialty crop production plays a big role in Missouri agriculture and […]
Tag: production
Chief financial officer of Missouri company pleads guilty to embezzling $3.1 million dollars
A former Kansas man pleaded guilty in federal court to embezzling $3.1 million from his employer and failing to pay nearly $1 million in taxes owed to the federal government and the state of Kansas. Richard Scott Simkins, 56, now residing in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty […]
Missouri monthly job report shows unemployment rate at 3.5 percent
Missouri non-farm payroll employment increased from October 2021 to November 2021, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by two-tenths of a percentage point. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 7,600 jobs over the month, with job gains in both the goods-producing and service-providing industries. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in November […]
Department of Natural Resources to host six free pesticide pickups in 2022
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will provide six free waste pesticide collection events in 2022. All of the events will be open from 8 a.m. to noon and are open to all Missouri farmers and households. March 12 – Fisher Delta Research, Extension, and Education Center, 147 W. State Highway T, Portageville March 26 […]
USDA announces January 2022 lending rates for agricultural producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced loan interest rates for January 2022, which are effective Jan. 3. USDA’s Farm Service Agency loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment, and storage structures, or meet cash flow needs. Operating, Ownership, and Emergency Loans FSA offers farm […]
New online Master Gardener training begins on January 19
Gardening is an activity with many rewards, said David Trinklein, state horticulture specialist for the University of Missouri Extension. “One of them is the satisfaction of sharing your plant knowledge with others. The Master Gardener program was initiated to do just that,” Trinklein said. Its motto, “helping others learn to grow,” emphasizes service to others […]
Brandi Ellis wins Young Farmer Excellence in Agriculture Award
Brandi Ellis, of Weatherby, won the Missouri Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Award during the organization’s 107th annual meeting on December 7 at the Lake of the Ozarks. The Excellence in Agriculture Award is designed to recognize young farmers and ranchers who have not received a majority of their income from […]
USDA invests more than $288 million to build and improve critical rural infrastructure in Missouri
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Missouri State Director Kyle Wilkens announced that USDA is investing $288,302,000 to build and improve critical rural infrastructure in Missouri. “Infrastructure is more than just laying pipes in the ground and wires on poles,” said Wilkens. “By investing in modern infrastructure, Rural Development is investing in the lives of […]
Missouri’s unemployment rate drops two-tenths of a percentage point in November to 3.5%
Missouri non-farm payroll employment increased from October 2021 to November 2021, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by two-tenths of a percentage point. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 7,600 jobs over the month, with job gains in both the goods-producing and service-providing industries. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in November […]
USDA provides additional pandemic assistance to hog producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a new program to assist hog producers who sold hogs through a negotiated sale during the period in which these producers faced the greatest reduction in market prices due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program (SMHPP) is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative and addresses […]
Top oil and gas companies report $174 billion in profits keeping prices at the pump high
As the country continues to endure high gas prices, 24 of the top oil and gas corporations made nearly $174 billion in profits this year, with profits in the past three months alone topping $74 billion, according to a new report by Accountable.US. Tony Carrk, executive director of the watchdog group, said top executives at Chevron […]
USDA opens 2022 signup for Dairy Margin Coverage program, expands program for supplemental production
As part of the ongoing efforts to support dairy farmers and rural communities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture opened signup for the Dairy Margin Coverage program and expanded the program to allow dairy producers to better protect their operations by enrolling in supplemental production. This signup period – which runs from Dec. 13, 2021, to […]
USDA to make up to $800 million available to provide economic relief to biofuel producers
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA will make up to $800 million available to support biofuel producers and infrastructure. The announcement includes $700 million to provide economic relief to biofuel producers and restore renewable fuel markets affected by the pandemic. The Department will make the funds available through the new Biofuel Producer […]
High School Holiday Hoops shootout in Trenton tips off on December 18
As the countdown continues for the 17th annual NCMC Foundation-sponsored High School Holiday Hoops the Holiday Hoops committee would like to thank the many individuals who help make the annual event a success. The event tips off Saturday, December 18, 2021, at the Ketcham Community Center on the campus of North Central Missouri College. Again […]
Controversial bill would have aided Orscheln Products LLC, under scrutiny for contamination
(Missouri Independent) – Two years ago, a company led by an influential Republican businessman faced off with the state’s environmental regulators over whether it needed to do additional testing for a chemical that health officials worried could pose a cancer risk to the company’s workers. The Moberly manufacturing facility, Orscheln Products LLC, is owned by […]
USDA announces December 2021 lending rates for agricultural producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced loan interest rates for December 2021, which are effective Dec. 1. USDA’s Farm Service Agency loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment, and storage structures, or meet cash flow needs. Operating, Ownership, and Emergency Loans FSA offers farm […]
NCMC agriculture students participate in state conference
Five agriculture students from North Central Missouri College participated in the Missouri Postsecondary Agriculture Student Organization State Conference held in Ozark, MO. Students competed in career development contests, participated in leadership seminars, and toured Wonders of Wildlife in Springfield, Missouri. Students attending the conference were Abigail Neill, Abby Dobbins, Gabryelle Hapes, Rylee Johnson, and Tanner […]
Warren County, Missouri selected as location for planned beef processing facility creating 1300 jobs and $1 billion in economic impact
Warren County has been selected by American Foods Group as the planned location for a new state-of-the-art beef processing facility, pending final approval. Once established, the facility would create more than 1,300 new jobs and generate $1 billion in economic impact in the state of Missouri. “Missouri is able to compete for projects of this […]
Agriculture Secretary: Biden Administration ‘protecting animal agriculture’ with methane reduction plans
(Missouri Independent) – Reducing the number of livestock will not be a priority for the Biden administration as it seeks to drastically cut methane emissions to stem climate change, according to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. Instead, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “climate-smart” initiatives will focus on new types of animal feed and manure […]
USDA awards funds to 13 organizations to create livable communities attracting people and jobs
U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small announced that USDA is awarding $3 million in cooperative agreements to 13 organizations. These organizations will provide technical assistance to people living in rural and Tribal communities so they can apply for and access government resources for projects that will attract jobs and […]