Republican Party news graphic

Audio: Missouri congresswoman says Republican National Convention will focus on optimism and heroes

A west-central Missouri GOP congresswoman says this week’s 2020 Republican National Convention in Charlotte will focus on optimism. While U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, isn’t a delegate this year, she’s excited about the convention. “And looking at the great American heroes that we have in our local communities, and how we together collectively have made this the […]

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Andrew County recognized as model program for their exemplary support of breastfeeding mothers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded Andrew County, Missouri, with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Loving Support Award of Excellence for exemplary efforts in supporting breastfeeding WIC mothers. These awards were part of USDA’s National WIC Breastfeeding Week, celebrated August 1-7. Breastfeeding provides countless benefits to both babies and […]

USDA Sign

New USDA survey to measure areas for improvement

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a new annual survey of farmers, ranchers, and private forestland owners. The survey will help USDA understand what it is doing well and where improvements are needed, specifically at the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Risk Management Agency. A selection of 28,000 producers will receive […]

Hay and Grazing with cattle in pasture

USDA announces changes to emergency haying and grazing provisions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency has announced changes for emergency haying and grazing of acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program. This includes changes outlined in the 2018 Farm Bill that streamlines the authorization process for farmers and ranchers. “FSA authorizes emergency haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program acres under certain […]

Seeds from China Final

Missouri Department of Agriculture asks residents to report unsolicited seed shipments

The Missouri Department of Agriculture has received reports from residents of unsolicited seeds being delivered from foreign countries such as China and the surrounding areas. Missouri’s announcement follows several states who have also reported packages of these seeds being delivered across the United States. Consistent with nationwide reports, the packages were labeled as jewelry, specifically […]

First Vesicular Stomatitis Virus case confirmed in Missouri horse

Missouri State Veterinarian Dr. Steve Strubberg announced the state’s first case of Vesicular Stomatitis in a horse in Newton County. The announcement follows a positive confirmation from the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory, making Missouri the seventh state to confirm the virus this year. As a result, the Missouri Department of […]

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 […]

Farmers Market

Free ‘how to’ webinar for those selling in farmers markets on accepting EBT/SNAP payments

Are you a farmers market or direct marketing farmer or rancher who wants to expand your potential customer base by accepting electronic benefit transfer/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (EBT/SNAP) and other electronic payments? The University of Missouri Extension is hosting an informational webinar about the MarketLink Free EBT SNAP Equipment Program at 11 a.m.-noon Tuesday, April […]

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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 […]