Smithfield Food Website

Smithfield Foods & RAE launch joint venture to create renewable energy, wildlife habitat

Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Roeslein Alternative Energy (RAE) have formed a joint venture called Monarch Bioenergy to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) across Smithfield’s hog farms in Missouri. This partnership converts manure collected from Smithfield farms into RNG, while simultaneously delivering ecological services and developing wildlife habitat. Once complete, all Smithfield company-owned finishing farms in […]

Natural Resources Conservation Service or NRCS

Missouri Natural Resources Conservation Service sets April 15 application deadline to apply for easements

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service has set an April 15 deadline to apply for wetland and agricultural land easements in Missouri. NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to help private landowners, tribes, land trusts and other groups protect valuable lands through easements. The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program focuses on restoring and protecting wetlands as […]

Audio: 40 Missouri Payless stores to close

Dozens of Missouri Payless shoe stores are closing after Payless filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April 2017.      Kansas-based Payless ShoeSource is closing all of its stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, including 40 in Missouri. Some locations, which are scattered all over the state, have already closed or will close […]

Cows grazing in pasture

Use sound grazing practices to reduce overgrazing and weeds

Weed problems may explode this year thanks to the drought of 2018 and residual problems associated with overgrazing in parched pastures, says University of Missouri Extension agronomist Valerie Tate. Last year’s extreme weather conditions created a forage shortage. As a result, many pastures were overgrazed.  When pastures are overgrazed, there is little green leaf material […]