A field of soybeans

USDA lowers corn and soybean estimates

The USDA has lowered its 2019 corn and soybean production estimates. As of September 1st, corn is projected at 13.799 billion bushels, down 1% from August, a smaller cut than what some analysts were expecting, and 4% lower than the 2018 total of 14.420 billion bushels. The average yield is expected to be just over […]

Smithville Fire Protection District Website

Missouri State Auditor issues follow-up report on Smithville Area Fire Protection District

A follow-up report by State Auditor Nicole Galloway shows the Smithville Area Fire Protection District has made progress to implement many of the recommendations of a 2018 audit. The citizen-requested audit highlighted improper incentive payments to employees, questionable credit card and travel expenditures, and poor planning for the construction of a fire station by the […]

USDA Sign

Useful USDA resources available for farmers hurt by 2018, 2019 disasters

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has announced that agricultural producers affected by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019, including Hurricane Dorian, can apply for assistance through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+). Signup for this U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program began Sept. 11, 2019. “U.S. agriculture has been dealt a hefty […]

Offenders filling sand bags

Department of Corrections contributes labor and funds to help flood and storm victims

When storms and floods struck the state in the spring and summer of 2019, the Missouri Department of Corrections staff and offenders invested long workdays and hard-earned dollars to help fellow Missourians. Supervised by staff working extra hours outside their usual shifts, more than 350 offenders from Missouri prisons contributed 1,548 workdays to flood relief, filling and placing […]

Hy-Vee Hy-Vee storefront

Hy-Vee, Pinky Swear Foundation raise more than $100,000 for children with cancer and their families

Hy-Vee, Inc., in partnership with Pinky Swear Foundation, a national charitable organization that supports children with cancer and their families, announced today that its register roundup event raised more than $100,000 across Hy-Vee’s more than 260 stores. The annual Hy-Vee Pinky Swear Register Roundup took place from August 1-18 to give customers the opportunity to […]

Corn in the field

Grain crop review for August 2019

Volatility seems to be the theme for the last several months. Weather forecasts, overseas trade relations, and harvest predictions have been large contributors for the past month. There has been plenty of moisture this year throughout the Corn Belt. However, the excessive moisture paired with the cooling temperatures have raised some concern over potential yields. […]

Lets Fight Hunger Together

American Family Insurance agents with participation of FFA combat hunger

American Family Insurance Agent Cara McClellan of Trenton joined other American Family agents of Missouri in participating in a donation drive and food packaging event with the Future Farmers of America to combat food insecurity. Donations and the American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation one-to-one matching gift program for charitable organizations helped provide more than 128,000 […]

School Safety news graphic

Students will be safer as required background checks on school volunteers becomes state law

A new state law will help protect children at their schools as beginning August 28, school volunteers will be required to undergo criminal background checks before being left alone with children. Auditor Galloway pushed for the new law after her audit of the state’s sexual offender registration program found background checks were mandatory for school employees, […]

NCMC Geyer Hall

NCMC Board of Trustees set tax levy at Tuesday meeting

Five National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Excellence Awards were presented at the North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday evening. The NISOD Awards went to Cory Cooksey with Business Technology for Teaching, Health Sciences Program Coordinator Kristi Cutsinger for Academic Support, Admissions Director Kristie Cross for Student Affairs, Senior Database Administrator […]

MPA Youth Pig Show Circuit Website

Area youth participate in MPA Youth Show Pig Circuit

Missouri junior swine exhibitors traveled to jackpot shows throughout the summer competing for points in the MPA Youth Show Pig Circuit. Points for the circuit could be earned from nineteen different shows held across Missouri. An awards presentation was conducted to conclude the program August 7 at the Pork Place on the Missouri State Fairgrounds […]