AUDIO: McCaskill :18

She notes the Corps budget includes $5 million for flood management and more than $70 million for habitat work on the Missouri River…

                                   AUDIO: McCaskill :13

But when she asked Bostick he thinks the disparity between flood management and habitat work, she didn’t get a satisfactory answer.

                                  AUDIO: Bostick & McCaskill :31

North east Missouri also is recovering from 2011 flooding, the most severe part of it affecting land behind the Bird’s Point Levee that was blasted open to relieve river threats to Cairo, Illinois. 

                                        AUDIO: McCaskill & Bostick :31

She says she need sto know from Bostick before she votes on his confirmation “that what the Army Corps blew up they will put back to the way it was before they blew it up.”  

 AUDIO: entire exchange 13:42

Dickson Despommier — a professor at Columbia University in New York — is one of the world’s foremost experts on vertical farming. He tells the Joint Committee on Urban Agriculture the idea has mushroomed since his team of researchers started working on the idea. Despommier says vertical farming is happening in countries that have run out of arable land to feed its people — South Korea, Japan, Holland, England, Singapore. (Holland is building theirs underground with grow lights.) Japan got serious about vertical farming in a sterile environment after contamiation concerns from the Fukushima nuclear incident.

Stateside, in addition to Chicago, there are projects in Milwaukee and Seattle.

The world population is expected to grow by another 3 billion people — that’s 3 billion more mouths to feed, so this is an idea that is going to continue to grow, Despommier says. He says Missouri has the research institutions, the farming interest and the legislative drive to make vertical farming projects successful in this state.

His presentation on vertical farming shows how crops can be grown in industrial buildings amid dense population. “Just Google ‘vertical farming’,” he says. “It’s a really big deal.”

The committee also heard about initiatives in urban aquaculture and community gardening projects. A bill to push such initiatives in the state is expected to come forward soon.

Despommier says to one member of the committee who asked whether it can grow jobs, yes, so long as farmers are displaced by floods, drought and production moving overseas. He says Missouri, one of several states, can certainly identify how Mother Nature has wrecked so many crops.

By the year 2050, nearly 80% of the earth’s population will reside in urban centers. Applying the most conservative estimates to current demographic trends, the human population will increase by about 3 billion people during the interim. An estimated 10⁹ hectares of new land (about 20% more land than is represented by the country of Brazil) will be needed to grow enough food to feed them, if traditional farming practices continue as they are practiced today. At present, throughout the world, over 80% of the land that is suitable for raising crops is in use (sources: FAO and NASA). Historically, some 15% of that has been laid waste by poor management practices. What can be done to avoid this impending disaster? — From www.verticalfarm.com

AUDIO: Jessica Machetta reports (1:10)

Rolla veterinarian Dan Brown is a state senator who wants a law enacted requiring all dog and cat owners to make sure the animals are vaccinated against rabies.  His bill says anyone who feeds or shelters an animal for three or more days would commit a misdemeanor if the animals don’t get their shots.

He says rabies most often is in wild animals.  But domesticated animals are the usual link between the rabid wild animals and humans. 

Some critics read his bill to mean farmers would have to inoculate their barn cats and people feeding feral cats in their neighborhoods would have to have them vaccinated.

St. Louis lawyer Dave Roland is the one who thinks the proposal is overkill. He cites numbers from the Bureau of Communicable Disease and Prevention for the last decade that there have been only about ten cases of domestic animal rabies  in the last ten years.  And he says Missouri has had only two rabies fatalities in the last 53 years. 

Brown says most communities already have rabies vaccination ordinances.  His bill targets rural areas. The Senate Agriculture Committee is studying it.

AUDIO: Listen to the committee hearing 47:45 

Munzlinger also says some production agriculture people should be on the commission, a position voiced by the Farm Bureau which wants at least half of the commissioners to be people directly involved with or knowledgeable about farming.

Executive Director Dave Murphy of the Conservation Federation of Missouri says 75 years of success by the department proves the commission needs no changes. He says it would be wrong for regional commissioners giving deference to constituents to people in the region instead of making statewide management of forest, fish, and wildlife as a top priority. Another federation official says the proposal is a Farm Bureau power grab. 

Other opponents of Munzlinger’s bill say the Missouri conservation department is the envy of many states—because a four person commission with a statewide view avoids political manipulation that an eight-member regions-based board would face.

Listen to the committee hearing 54 mins mp3

Farm Services Agency offices are closing in Jefferson, Dallas, and Morgan Counties.  Food and Nutrition Services offices are closing in St. Louis County and in Jackson County.  The USDA is closing the Natural Resources Conservation Service office in Stoddard County.  Rural Development offices are being closed in Hillsboro, Jefferson City, Carthage, and in Jackson, in southeast Missouri. 

AUDIO: Listen to Ag Secretary Vilsack :23 mp3

The $3,316,925 in community development block grants will pay to repair and rebuild levees damaged by last year’s floods — the districts are in Buchanan, Carroll, Holt and Platte counties.

“Throughout the summer, levees in northwest Missouri that protect valuable farmland, homes and communities were damaged by historic flooding,” Nixon says. “Today, I’m pleased to announce that my administration is making more than $3.3 million available to help local communities meet their share of the costs associated with Army Corps of Engineers efforts to repair and rebuild these levees. Protecting valuable farmland, communities and vital infrastructure are critical priorities, and we are following through on our commitment to provide the resources to rebuild. This funding will ensure that communities and farmers have the protection they need to move forward.”

The levee districts to receive the funding include:

• The Bean Lake Levee Association, which protects approximately 7,250 acres of land in Platte County that includes more than $116 million worth of structures; dozens of miles of highway, rail, bridges and roads; an electrical power plant; and 421 acres within Little Bean Marsh Wildlife Reserve. The association will receive a community development block grant of $224,000.

• The Big Tarkio Drainage District which protects the communities of Craig and Bigelow and more than 20,000 acres of prime farm land in Holt County. Interstate 29 and the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad line, along with numerous county and state routes, lie within the area protected by this district. The district is not part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintenance program, and the $667,317 in CDBG funds represents nearly the entire cost of rebuilding its levee system.

• The Corning Levee District protects the area between the Big Tarkio River and Mill Creek Drainage District. As part of this levee system, the district helps protect a number of assets in Holt County, including the city of Craig, the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad line, Interstate 29 and numerous county and state highways, including Missouri 111. This district also is not part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintenance program, and the $1,220,707 in CDBG funding represents nearly the entire cost of rebuilding of the levees there.

• Holt Levee District #10 is a crucial component of the Holt County levee system and sustained 16 breaches during last year’s flooding. The district, located in the central part of the county, protects the cities of Craig and Big Lake, the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad line, Interstate 29 and numerous county and state routes. The district also protects approximately 15,000 acres of prime farmland, along with many homes and farmsteads. Holt Levee District #10 will receive $484,571 in community development block grants.

• The Rushville-Sugar Lake Levee Association protects 7,000 acres of productive farm land. Additionally, this levee protects the Louis and Clark State Park, and a portion of US 59, which supports an average of 9,500 daily motorists. The association will receive $349,992 in community development block grants.

• The Union Township Levee District, which is a mainline levee and the first line of defense for much of northwestern Holt County. The levee protects the low-lying communities of Craig and Big Lake, Big Lake State Park, and the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad line. Interstate 29 and several Missouri state routes are also protected by the district, along with thousands of acres of fertile farm land. The district will receive $197,355 in CDBG funding.

• The Wakenda Levee District, which protects 22,900 acres of prime farm land, dozens of homes, and several businesses in Carroll County. This levee district also protects an airport, 14 miles of railroad track, more than 80 miles of roads and four highway routes. The Wakenda Levee District will receive $172,983 in community development block grants.

Eleven levee districts applied for community development block grants to cover either the 20 percent local cost share required under the Army Corps of Engineers’ maintenance program, or for the entire cost if the levee district is not part of the Corps’ system. One of the districts withdrew its request because it was able to get full funding. Nixon says the remaining three applications are still pending approval, but are expected to be awarded their requested funds after the approval process is complete.

The Director of the Central Missouri Food Banks says this food drive is great because it helps people out through the winter, not just during the holidays. Director Peggy Kirkpatrick says she knows the holidays are a giving time, but people need help all winter long.

She says this has been a year unlike any she’s seen in her 20 years working with the food bank, so any donation of any kind is helpful.

This food drive lasts all winter and into March. While this food drive seeks donations of fresh food items like fruits and vegetables grown in local gardens, non- perishable foods are welcome too.

She says often the food banks and pantries can get more out of a donation of a dollar than that dollar could buy at a store, because the food banks partner with food distributors and farmers. Kirkpatrick says while children are off school, this is a great time to bring them to a food bank to voulenteer and learn about helping others.

This idea came from a garden that participated in the Agriculture Department’s 10 thousand Gardens campaign. Sandy Parley of Columbia was one of those gardeners and she was chosen at random for a 500 dollar gift card to Tractor Supply Company to help her garden. That garden donated all its produce to a local food bank.

AUDIO Allison Blood reports. Mp3 [1:01]

Missouri Agriculture Director Jon Hagler announces the success of the 10,000 Gardens Initiative

Announced in March, the goal was to have gardens across the state registered, with prizes being offered every time a new milestone of 1,000 was reached. The final garden was registered last week.

Those 10,000 sites cover more than 3.6 million square feet, or nearly 83 acres in all parts of the state. With the final registration, a $500 Tractor Supply Company gift certificate was presented to Sandy Perley of Columbia. Perley is a master gardener who volunteers with the Heart of Missouri Master Gardeners in Columbia.

The Department used the opportunity to unveil its winter Harvest for Hunger Food Drive. The Department will accept donations at its Jefferson City offices and encourages Missourians to donate food items, to benefit the Missouri Food Bank. Its staff kicked off the Drive with a cash donation of over $1,000.

The drive will conclude in March.

Find more information on the 10,000 Gardens Challenge or the Harvest for Hunger Food Drive at AgriMissouri.com.

Timothy Wolfe is introduced as the new University of Missouri System President.

Timothy Wolfe has been introduced as a Missourian and a high school football star with international business experience with IBM. He is a Harvard graduate whose parents were college professors.

Wolfe tells those at his introduction this morning that he faces a daunting task, with the University being the fastest-growing in the American Academic Union. He applauds the move to the Southeastern Conference.

He says a more extensive use of technology, an increase in job creation and work on performance funding would most benefit the system.

Wolfe earned a laugh during this morning’s announcement when he admitted that his wife, Molly, went to KU. The couple have twins, a son and a daughter.

The announcement was made at the Reynolds Alumi Center on the University of Missouri Columbia Campus. He will be introduced at 4:00 p.m. in Rolla at Missouri University of Science and Technology, tomorrow in St. Louis at 7:30 a.m. and at 12:30 in the Student Union at the University of Missouri-Kansas.

The announcement comes after a year-long search for the replacement for Gary Forsee, who resigned as system president to care for his ailling wife. Steve Owens served as interim president leading up to the selection of Wolfe.

The National Weather Service is calling for the La Niña weather pattern to continue into the spring … and the Army Corps of Engineers says that means flooding is imminent.

Corps spokesman Jim Pogue from the Memphis District says this leaves the flood plain in Southeast Missouri vulnerable when the spring rains arrive. He says the upper cravasse is at 51 feet. Pogue says getting it back to its 62.5 feet is the goal … but there’s only enough funding to get to 55. The lower two crevasses have been rebuilt to the 55-foot mark.

The levee was at 62.5 feet before the Corps blasted it out to save Cairo, Ill., from certain demise this winter and into spring.

At risk — again — in the coming spring are areas in the Lower Mississippi River Valley along with the Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland river basins through the middle of December. The La Niña will continue to bring the likelihood of above normal precipitation through spring.

Col. Vernie Reichling, commander of the Corps’ Memphis District says current weather conditions ”continue to hamper our ability to achieve our revised target of 55 feet using normal levee construction techniques” on the northernmost crevasse. “As such, I have directed workers to preposition supplies and equipment that will allow us to reach a 55-foot level of protection with temporary construction methods.”

Materials to be prepositioned for a temporary levee include supplies like HESCO bastions (large collapsible wire mesh containers with heavy duty fabric liners filled with sand), sand bags and plastic sheeting. These materials can be used to quickly raise the levee height, the Corps reports, and the HESCO bastions and related work can be done around the clock and would not be as dependent upon favorable weather conditions as conventional levee construction is.

The Corps will also be placing clay as weather permits. Heavy rains have interrupted that work several times in recent weeks.

AUDIO: Jessica Machetta reports [Mp3, 1:10 min.]