Farm & Ranch

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded a $179,614 grant to the University of Missouri to support efforts to help to veterans, Latinos, women and socially disadvantaged persons to farm or go into agribusiness. The grant will fund eight workshops over the course of a year, said MU Extension health and safety specialist Karen Funkenbusch.

By Shiloh Perry In the midst of debates and with Election Day quickly approaching, the importance of agricultural policy is even more pressing. In fact, everyone has a stake in American agriculture and protecting our farmers and ranchers’ ability to produce. Agricultural policy issues hit home for all Americans, both on and off the farm.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Sept. 12 crop production report estimates corn production up by 11 percent over last year. USDA predicts three percent more soybean this year. Crop producers will have more grain to sell at lower prices in 2016. Storage might become tight after this year’s excellent wheat yields, says University of Missouri

By Stewart Truelsen If the buzz about urban farms can be believed, they are growing significantly even as rural farms and ranches decline in number. Nationally, there are no reliable statistics on the number of urban farms. The Census of Agriculture doesn’t count them, at least not yet. In Chicago, by one count there are

Missouri Farm Bureau continued its tradition of holding an election year Straw Poll at the Farm Bureau building at the Missouri State Fair.  This year’s Straw Poll asked who fairgoers would support for U.S. Senate, Governor, Lt. Governor, and Attorney General.  It also asked if they supported continuation of the 1/10 sales tax for state

Beef cattle breeders in the southwest Missouri are invited to consign bulls to the Oct. 31 tested bull sale at Springfield Livestock Marketing Center. The 88th sale since 1973 is sponsored by the Southwest Missouri Beef Cattle Improvement Association in cooperation with University of Missouri Extension. The eligible counties for consignors run from Vernon County

by Rebecca French Smith The farmers’ market in Columbia is almost always packed. The parking lot at the Activity and Recreation Center (ARC) is full, spilling over into the adjacent school and grocery store parking lots. Market-goers are elbow-to-elbow looking for fresh-from-the-farm food. It’s become a Saturday morning gathering place. I love the farmers’ market.

The combination of prolonged high heat and dry weather potentially threatens fish ponds, says a University of Missouri Extension fisheries and wildlife specialist. “Fish are at risk from high water temperatures, oxygen depletion, increased disease potential and other problems as water levels drop in ponds through lack of runoff and evaporation,” said Bob Pierce. “Ponds