Representatives of United States Department of Agriculture and State of Missouri agencies will participate in public meetings May 2-3 in northwestern Missouri to explain various types of flood-recovery assistance available to landowners and units of government. During the meetings, representatives of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), Rural Development (RD), […]
USDA extended the deadline to May 17 from May 1 for agricultural producers to certify 2018 crop production for payments through the Market Facilitation Program (MFP), which helps producers who have been significantly affected by foreign tariffs, resulting in the loss of traditional exports. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) extended the deadline because heavy rainfall […]
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced Tuesday that the United States Department of Agriculture is accepting online applications for funding through the new ReConnect Rural Broadband Pilot Program. The funds will enable the federal government to partner with the private sector and rural communities to build modern broadband infrastructure in areas with insufficient internet service. Insufficient […]
Representatives of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and State of Missouri agencies will participate in public meetings May 2-3 in northwestern Missouri to explain various types of flood-recovery assistance available to landowners and units of government. During the meetings, representatives of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), Rural Development […]
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is making $2 million available to interested farmers to help install voluntary edge-of-field monitoring stations on agricultural land in five states, including Missouri. “Edge-of-field water quality monitoring provides quantifiable data that supports voluntary-based conservation efforts aimed at reducing the movement of sediment and nutrients off Missouri farms,” State Conservationist […]
Acting Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Joel Baxley announced that USDA is investing $485 million to upgrade rural electric systems and reduce energy costs. The funding includes nearly $7.1 million for smart grid technologies that improve system operations and monitor grid security. “Under the leadership of Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA is a proud […]
They say it takes a village to raise a child. A village of the University of Missouri Extension Master Gardener volunteers grow gardens to help feed the hungry and homeless across the state. Last year, volunteers for the Laura Miller George Help Center of Mexico, Mo., gardened and grew for the local food pantry and […]
The next deadline for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applications to be considered for funding this year is May 10, 2019. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) plans to invest up to $700 million for new enrollments and contract extensions in the fiscal year 2019. The 2018 Farm Bill made several changes to this critical […]
A USDA undersecretary has toured flooded farmland in northwest Missouri and southwest Iowa, including a stop in extreme northwest Missouri to speak with farmers. Undersecretary Bill Northey says flooding is always devastating but admits he wasn’t prepared for what awaited him. Northey calls the flooding in northwest Missouri and southwest Iowa […]
A farmer from northwest Missouri’s Langdon says the flooding there is the worst he’s ever seen. Former Missouri Farmers Union President Richard Oswald says the flooding has damaged dozens of levees near the Missouri River. With more than 40 levee breaks between Kansas City and Omaha, northwest Missouri farmer Richard Oswald is NOT […]
The Sunnyview Foundation is continuing their work on raising funds for additional landscaping for the residents. The Foundation has completed the purchase of a new van for Sunnyview Nursing Home and Apartments. The project included a grant and loan combination through USDA rural development which awarded Sunnyview a grant through USDA Rural Development in the […]
Thompson Farm, Spickard, makes a home for beef reproduction research from the University of Missouri. That doesn’t protect it from harsh weather of hot droughts and frigid calving season faced by all beef farms recently. Weather cut beef herd size and boosted costs for labor and feed, farm manager Jon Schreffler told a meeting of […]
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service has released a draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Little Otter Creek Watershed Plan. The plan involves the construction of a proposed multipurpose reservoir in Caldwell County. This supplement addresses changes since NRCS prepared the Little Otter Creek Watershed Plan and Environmental Impact Statement in 2003. The supplement […]
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 […]
Because of the federal disaster declaration stemming from the drought of last year, applications are due for economic injury disaster loans of up to two million dollars to help meet working capital needs that can be blamed on the drought. The loans can be used to pay fixed debts, payroll accounts payable and other bills that […]
In a paper to be released soon, researchers tell how they used drones to track migration patterns of pests. “This research will help us quickly determine habitat preference and dispersal patterns for newly detected invasive insect species,” says University of Missouri Extension field crops entomologist Kevin Rice. That information can help farmers decide how to […]
Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture is giving funding priority in a key grant program for applications to address opioid misuse in rural communities. “The opioid epidemic is dramatically impacting prosperity in many small towns and rural places across the country,” Hazlett said. […]
The East Locust Creek Reservoir Project Team and North Central Missouri Regional Water Commission have released the 2019 Work Plan for the reservoir in Sullivan County. Water Commission General Manager Brad Scott reports the Commission and Project Team “are at the mercy” of about 23 agencies and their oversight, inputs, and approvals. The East Locust […]
Sixty years after the first of 1,182 flood-prevention structures were built in Missouri with federal financial and technical assistance, landowners who have witnessed the before-and-after effects of heavy rain are still praising the benefits of the watershed projects. “Panther Creek used to flood almost every time it rained, but it hasn’t flooded at all since […]
The Grundy County United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency has announced the results for the County Committee election. Brad Wilford of Laredo was elected to represent his local administrative area. He will take office in January and join the existing committee. Loren Baugher of Galt will serve as the first alternate. County Executive Director Curtis Crawford […]
