The Environmental Protection Agency released the proposed Renewable Volume Obligation rule for 2020. Once again EPA has failed to account for lost volumes due to refinery exemptions and uphold the President’s commitment to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “We are frustrated the EPA did not account for potential waived gallons going forward in the proposed […]
GUANGZHOU, CHINA – After decades chasing the enormous China market, a sale of U.S. rice was confirmed here last week. “This sale marks a turning point for the U.S. rice industry and its relationship with China as it is the first ever of U.S. rice to a private importer and is truly historic as it […]
Rain and flooding prevented many Missouri farmers from planting corn and soybean this year. Now farmers want to protect these unplanted fields by seeding a cover crop. Cover crops do just that: The plants cover the ground, and their roots stabilize the soil. Cover crops provide a simple and natural way to reduce soil erosion, […]
The Savannah R-III School District (SHS) and North Central Missouri College (NCMC) are collaborating to bring Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC’s), and Maintenance classes this fall in the evenings at Savannah High School, with Robotics, Fluid Power, and Industrial Mechanics scheduled for spring. The classes are open to SHS students as well as community members. NCMC […]
Farmers and ranchers with expiring Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts may now re-enroll in certain CRP continuous signup practices or, if eligible, select a one-year contract extension. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) also is accepting offers from those who want to enroll for the first time in one of the country’s largest conservation programs. FSA’s […]
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has $1 million available for Missouri landowners who apply by July 19 for assistance to plant cover crops on flooded cropland, State Conservationist J.R. Flores said. Flores said that only land in the 13 Missouri counties included in a Presidential Disaster Declaration is eligible. Those counties are Andrew, […]
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency will begin accepting nominations for county committee members Friday, June 14, 2019. Agricultural producers who participate or cooperate in an FSA program may be nominated for candidacy. Individuals may nominate themselves or others and organizations may also nominate candidates. Members serve three-year terms. The committees are […]
The Spickard Board of Aldermen took action on several matters at a meeting this week. One action was paying Robert Payne for three and a half hours at $10 per hour for time previously worked checking pumps and making repairs. Payne was approved to perform future sewer repairs as needed at a rate of $10 […]
Governor Mike Parson congratulated Kansas City and all of Missouri for being selected by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue as the new home of USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agricultural Policy (NIFA). “We are thrilled that Secretary Perdue chose to relocate ERS and NIFA to the heartland. […]
The financing plan for the East Locust Creek Reservoir project in Sullivan County has received $3,000,000 in state funding following legislative approval this year. Governor Mike Parson had requested and the General Assembly supported $10,000,000 to be placed in the Multi-purpose Water Resources Fund which enables the State to enter into a debt-share arrangement with […]
Sponsors representing segments of state government can apply until July 19 for financial and technical assistance from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to repair flood damage in 13 Missouri counties. Following a federal disaster declaration in response to severe storms and flooding that occurred from March 11 to April 16, NRCS State Conservationist […]
A disaster aid package that includes much-needed resources for Missouri farms and communities impacted by flooding passed the Senate by a vote of 85 to 8. “The flooding in our state has been completely devastating in some areas – from destroyed homes to lost crops to damaged infrastructure,” said Blunt. “Relief is finally one step […]
The USDA will provide 16 billion dollars in payments to farmers, including in Missouri, for losses from trade disputes with China, the European Union, and Turkey. U.S. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods will indirectly be paying for the program. Farmers can expect the payments by the end of […]
Aurora Packing Company, Inc., a North Aurora, Illinois, company, is recalling 62,112 pounds of raw beef products due to possible E. coli contamination just days before the Memorial Day holiday weekend, according to a Thursday announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. The products were packaged on April 19 and shipped across […]
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency will accept applications for certain practices under the Conservation Reserve Program continuous sign-up beginning June 3rd and offer extensions for expiring CRP contracts. The FSA stopped accepting applications last fall for the CRP continuous sign up when 2014 Farm Bill authority expired, however, the 2018 Farm […]
Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifers averaged $1,891 at Fruitland on May 3rd during the second of four spring sales. This price topped last year by $100, said Erin Larimore, sale coordinator and University of Missouri Extension regional specialist, Jackson. The 117 heifers came from 16 herd owners in the MU program that improves beef herd replacements. The […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture published a memorandum to state agencies (PDF, 156 KB) encouraging them to require Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants to cooperate with child support programs. “We want states to take action to ensure that SNAP and child support work together to help children,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “Increasing […]
The wet and cold start to this year’s corn planting season bodes poorly for yields, based on research from the University of Missouri Extension. But MU Extension agronomist Bill Wiebold says farmers should not switch from corn to other crops or early maturing corn varieties because of rain-delayed planting. There is still time to get […]
Cost-share funding is available to help produce growers pay for USDA Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification. “These funds are available for Missouri farmers who are applying for USDA GAP certification for the first time or for farms who are reapplying for USDA GAP certification,” said Londa Nwadike, state food safety specialist for the University of […]
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced today the availability of a new web-based tool – developed in partnership with the University of Wisconsin – to help dairy producers evaluate various scenarios using different coverage levels through the new Dairy Margin Coverage program. The 2018 Farm Bill authorized DMC, a voluntary risk management program that offers financial protection […]
