Agriculture Archives - Missourinet

Missouri farmers can expect more details soon on trade relief package

August 21, 2018 By Alisa Nelson

The federal government is expected to have more information by the end of this month on its $12 billion trade relief package for farmers, including those in Missouri. USDA Trade Under Secretary Ted McKinney says farmers will need to sign up for the program and compensation will be based on 2018 yield data.

Missouri farmers can expect more details soon on trade relief package

“We hope and are intending to make that easy, so they can go online and get the form,” McKinney says. “A lot of it is already stored at the Farm Service Agency location. We’re going to encourage them to get that in very quickly.”

President Donald Trump’s tariffs on imports have prompted other nations to put tariffs on U.S. products, including agriculture goods. The retaliatory tariffs have created additional uncertainty for farmers.

McKinney says while most farmers would prefer markets, relief from retaliatory tariffs is necessary as they continue to face a decline in the farm economy.

“The mitigation strategy isn’t something anybody wanted, but when other countries didn’t like our desire to straighten out and fix these inadequacies that get at free, fair, and reciprocal trade, we undertook the program with a lot of support,” he says.

According to McKinney, farmers should be able to apply for the program beginning around September 4.

Courtesy of Radio Iowa’s Pat Curtis

Missouri pork leader weighs in on industry, health ordinances and State Fair’s Pork Place (AUDIO)

August 21, 2018 By Brian Hauswirth

Longtime Missouri Pork Association (MPA) Executive Vice President Don Nikodim says the pork industry is doing extremely well in terms of producing.

The Pork Place restaurant at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia (2017 file photo courtesy of the Missouri Pork Association)

“Not quite as well in terms of profitability,” Nikodim says. “We seem to be able to produce a lot more pigs than we need from time to time. But it kind of works in cycles and we figure it will come around. There are some trade issues right now that are working through the system.”

Nikodim says he’s optimistic there will be positive news regarding trade with Mexico in the near term.

He also notes the drought has impacted all of agriculture, adding that more cows are going to market.

Nikodim spoke to Missourinet about the pork industry and other key issues Thursday afternoon at the State Fair in Sedalia, after the Governor’s ham breakfast.

Mr. Nikodim is concerned about health ordinances being proposed across Missouri involving concentrated animal feeding operations, which are known as CAFOs.

“The activist groups don’t let up, I mean they’re out there driving issues,” says Nikodim. “They are not a health issue point-blank. It’s a zoning in disguise, most counties know that. I’ve even had county people stand up and say we’ve found a way to zone without zoning. We’ll call it a health ordinance.”

Nikodim says his organization is trying to address health ordinances the best they can.

The issue has come up recently near the mid-Missouri town of Clarksburg in Cooper County, and it’s also come up in neighboring Howard County. Both counties are west of Columbia.

Supporters of health ordinances have raised concerns about groundwater pollution and odor.

Meantime, Nikodim says business was “really good” at the Pork Place restaurant on the State Fairgrounds during the State Fair, which wrapped up Sunday.

He notes the Pork Place began serving at the fairgrounds in 1979, and that they’ll be celebrating their 40th anniversary next year.

“So we’re in the midst of planning some special activities and celebrations for next year, so we’re excited about it,” Nikodim says.

The Pork Place’s air-conditioned building was built in 2009, and their menu has been updated to include items like pulled pork and ribs.

They’ve also added what’s known as the “Pork Stop”, which is a service window for those who want to get a pork burger quickly at the fair.

The restaurant was packed on Thursday afternoon. A Missourinet reporter interviewing Nikodim saw many farmers and lawmakers eating lunch, including U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown, and State Rep. Sara Walsh, R-Ashland.

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Kansas City, also visited the Pork Place that day with veteran State Rep. DaRon McGee, D-Kansas City, and took photos with pork producers.

Cleaver tweeted that day, encouraging his constituents to stop by and eat Missouri pork.

We likely won’t learn details about attendance numbers at the 2018 Missouri State Fair for another month.

State Fair marketing director Kari Mergen tells Missourinet they won’t have official numbers until all Orscheln and Break Time outlets have reported.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and Missouri Pork Association Executive Vice President Don Nikodim, which was recorded on August 16, 2018 at the State Fair in Sedalia:

Governor Parson announces relief package for Missouri farmers impacted by drought

August 20, 2018 By Jason Taylor

Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced a drought relief plan for the state’s farmers Monday at a news conference at the state capitol in Jefferson City.

Governor Mike Parson is joined by heads of several state agencies to announce a relief program for farmers stricken by drought

The plan includes access to public water from which farmers can pump water out and a lottery to harvest hay from state land.

Roughly 98% of the state has been impacted by drought. The hardest hit areas experiencing “exceptional drought” are in northwest Missouri along with Howard County in the central portion of the state. Much of the rest of northern Missouri is in the next highest level, “extreme drought” as are portions of 12 counties in the southwest part of the state. 86 counties are currently in a drought alert.

Governor Parson issued an executive order creating the “Drought Assessment Committee” in July to examine ways to assist areas that are being impacted. Parson said he’s also traveled the state, holding roundtables in every corner of Missouri to discuss and witness the drought firsthand.

The governor, himself a longtime cattle rancher in southwest Missouri’s Bolivar, mentioned he fed hay for the first time ever in the month of August two weeks ago. “Anytime you’re feeding hay in the state of Missouri in August, I guarantee you it’s not a good sign for any farmers in this state, whether you’re a row crop (farmer) or whether you’re a livestock (farmer),” said Parson.

He praised three state agencies – the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Conservation – for collaborating to find a path to provide relief for farmers.

United State Drought Monitor of Missouri counties impacted by drought

Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chin also commended the agencies for working together and noted the Department of Transportation is helping to ease the burden on farmers by reducing some restrictions and permit fees, so they can haul hay more easily to feed cattle.

Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Director Carol Comer added that her agency’s soil and water program has worked with the Soil and Water District Commission to implement programs to provide financing and wave regulations to assist livestock producers in accessing water. She also said DNR’s financial assistance center is offering emergency funding to help local communities provide safe drinking water.

Department of Conservation Director Sara Pauley said her agency identified 28 Conservation Areas that have water impoundments which can be used by livestock farmers to pump out water. The various areas are actually a combination of Conservation Areas and Community Lakes in which local managers will issue special use permits to livestock producers.

Governor Parson and the agency heads were joined in the news conference by representatives from the Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, Missouri Dairy Industry Alliance, and Missouri Dairy Association.

Sean Cornelius with the Missouri Dairy Industry Alliance has a farm near Hamilton northeast of Kansas City, which is part of the area hardest hit by the drought. He was happy to report he received 1.7 inches of rain Sunday night but stated that the total of 3.2 inches since May is very short.

Mike Deering, Executive Vice President of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, told Missourinet sister network Brownfield that the lottery for access to hay, which will be available on acreage at 16 state parks and historic sites, will leave some farmers without relief.

“The lottery system, you know there’s going to be some hurt feelings,” said Deering. “You have that whether it’s the wells in 2012 or this, but at least, at least they’re trying to do something and give some farmers the opportunity. We just hope the right farmers get that.”

During a historical drought in 2012, then Governor Jay Nixon issued an executive order authorizing the state Soil and Water Districts Commission to implement practices for livestock producers and farmers to drill or deepen wells or expand irrigation systems. The cost-share program did not provide universal assistance to farmers not all of the 11,000 applications for assistance were approved.

Greg Buckman, President of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, was highly complimentary of the governor and state agencies for providing quick aid for farmers.

“It’s the fact that you guys have come together and helped us create some relief in the stress points right away, instead of two or three months after (when) it does no good,” said Buckman. “Opening up some of the haying opportunities, the water opportunities are incredibly crucial to those people who are lacking in those areas.”

Agriculture Department Director Chris Chinn also said the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service is also been making some acreage available to Missouri farmers for hay harvesting.

Chinn also clarified that a federal program being sought by Democratic Missouri Congressman Emanual Cleaver for water tower grants won’t help the current drought situation but would provide more water storage in rural areas for future droughts.

Libla: “We need to fund the Missouri State Fair more” (AUDIO)

August 20, 2018 By Brian Hauswirth

A veteran state lawmaker who represents the Bootheel is calling for additional funding for the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia.

State Sens. Denny Hoskins (left) and Doug Libla (right) at the Missouri State Fair ham breakfast in Sedalia on August 16, 2018 (Brian Hauswirth photo)

State Sen. Doug Libla, R-Poplar Bluff, says the fair showcases Missouri.

“We need to get this place (the state fairgrounds), I mean absolutely get our buildings redone that need to be done. We need to pave our (fairgrounds) streets. I know there’s been some stuff done on our camping and stuff,” Libla says.

The Missouri State Fair’s current state budget is about $4.7 million. Libla says investing more money in facilities will pay dividends in the future.

“We need to help the volunteers here at our State Fair to really showcase it up and invest, because it’s going to bring us a big return back,” says Libla.

State Fair Director Mark Wolfe says there have been improvements at the state fairgrounds during the past year.

Those include new exterior paint and windows at the coliseum, and a new roof and new windows at the women’s building.

There’s also a new office and new bleachers at the swine barn. And there have been electrical upgrades at about 500 campground sites in Sedalia.

The State Fair, which has about 55 full-time employees, is operated by the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA).

The 2018 Missouri State Fair wrapped up Sunday.

State Fair marketing director Kari Mergen tells Missourinet they won’t have official fair attendance numbers until all of their advance admission outlets have reported.

Governor Mike Parson (right) and Salem Congressman Jason Smith speak at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia on August 16, 2018 (photo by Learfield director of news services Ashley Byrd)

Agriculture is the state’s top industry. MDA released a 2017 report, which says it’s an $88 billion industry in Missouri.

Libla, who represents eight counties, notes it’s also the biggest industry in southeast Missouri.

“My district’s very diverse, we have all the rowcroppers down in the Bootheel area there, and just out of Poplar Bluff, just east of Poplar Bluff to the south,” Libla says. “And then you got the cattle farmers and some guys like that and tourism and timber.”

Libla says southeast Missouri farmers grow everything but citrus.

He spoke to Missourinet at the Governor’s ham breakfast on Thursday.

Numerous other state lawmakers and state officials in both parties attended the ham breakfast.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and State Sens. Doug Libla and Denny Hoskins, which was recorded at the Governor’s ham breakfast in Sedalia on August 16, 2018:

Ashcroft says Missouri farmers are optimistic about the future (AUDIO)

August 17, 2018 By Brian Hauswirth

SEDALIA, Mo.- Missouri’s Secretary of State is praising the State Fair in Sedalia, noting that Missouri farmers feed the world.

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (right) speaks to Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth at the State Fair in Sedalia on August 16, 2018 (photo courtesy of the Secretary of State’s Twitter page)

Jay Ashcroft (R) spoke to Missourinet at the Governor’s ham breakfast on Thursday. He says coming to the fair is fun.

“Meeting the people of Missouri, talking to them and getting their ideas, this is Missouri, this is what makes our country great at the Missouri State Fair,” Ashcroft says.

Ashcroft says farmers he’s spoken to at the State Fair are optimistic about the future of Missouri and the nation.

He notes agriculture is Missouri’s number one industry.

“It’s vitally important not only to Missouri but to the rest of the world,” says Ashcroft. “We feed the world, the United States does, and Missouri is right in the center of the best farmland in the country.”

The Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) released a 2017 report, which says agriculture is an $88 billion industry in Missouri.

The Show-Me State has about 100,000 farms, 90 percent of which are family-owned.

Saturday is “youth in agriculture” day at the State Fair.

There will also be a fireworks display Saturday night, sponsored by Sedalia-based Bryant Motors.

The 2018 Missouri State Fair’s theme is “Come home.”

The fair ends Sunday.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, which was recorded on August 16, 2018 at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia:

Missouri’s Hoskins: “I know the farmers out there are suffering”

August 17, 2018 By Brian Hauswirth

SEDALIA, Mo. -A key state senator says the drought is hurting farmers in his western Missouri district.

State Sens. Denny Hoskins (left) and Doug Libla (right) at the Missouri State Fair ham breakfast in Sedalia on August 16, 2018 (Brian Hauswirth photo)

State Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, is hopeful about getting a grant to assist drought-impacted farmers.

Hoskins is the Missouri Senate Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee’s vice chairman.

“We’re looking at all different options right now, whether it be a federal grant or possibly a CDBG (community development block grant) grant in order to fund some water towers,” Hoskins says. “I know the farmers out there are suffering and their livestock are suffering and crops are suffering.”

Hoskins met with U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Kansas City, on Thursday morning at the State Fair in Sedalia to discuss the drought and an effort to get a grant for the water towers.

Cleaver, who’s a Senior Whip in the House Democratic Caucus in Washington, tells Missourinet that farmers in his district cannot get water to their cattle, because of the drought.

Senator Hoskins says the bipartisan meeting went well.

“I know he (Congressman Cleaver) met with some farmers last week in Ray County and we’re just looking at anything we can do to help out our farmers,” says Hoskins.

Lafayette, Ray and Saline counties are represented in the Missouri Senate by Hoskins and by Cleaver in Congress. Cleaver and Hoskins emphasize it’s a bipartisan effort.

All three counties have a significant agricultural presence.

Missouri Congressman Emanuel Cleaver speaks to Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth at the State Fair in Sedalia on August 16, 2018 (Ashley Byrd photo)

Cleaver, who’s finishing his seventh term on Capitol Hill, confirms he’s written a letter to Governor Mike Parson (R), in support of a community development block grant for the water towers.

The drought has also impacted southern Missouri.

State Sen. Mike Cunningham, a livestock farmer in Rogersville, says his constituents want it to rain.

“I wish I could legislate some for them, I’ve got a farm and boy I just have nothing. Hay is nothing, it’s just a tough time in the Ozarks right now,” Cunningham says.

State Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Chris Chinn says 98 percent of Missouri has been impacted by the drought.

Cleaver, Hoskins, Cunningham and Chinn attended the Governor’s ham breakfast at the State Fair in Sedalia on Thursday.

The breakfast was sold out. State Fair marketing director Keri Mergen says all 1,000 meal tickets for the breakfast were sold.

USDA Designates 25 Missouri counties as primary natural disaster areas

August 16, 2018 By Missourinet Contributor

USDA Designates 25 Missouri counties as primary natural disaster areas

(USDA) Missouri agricultural producers who suffered losses and damages due to recent drought on two separate occasions could be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency emergency loans. For the recent drought, the U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has designated Andrew, Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Mercer, Nodaway, Randolph, Ray, Saline and Sullivan counties in Missouri as primary natural disaster areas. Producers in the contiguous counties of Adair, Atchison, Audrain, Boone, Buchanan, Clay, Cooper, Holt, Howard, Jackson, Knox, Lafayette, Monroe, Pettis, Platte, Putnam, Shelby and Worth are also eligible to apply for emergency loans.

For the second recent drought, the Secretary has designated Adair, Buchanan, Howard, Putnam, Schuyler and Scotland counties in Missouri as primary natural disaster areas. Producers in the contiguous counties of Andrew, Boone, Chariton, Clark, Clinton, Cooper, DeKalb, Knox, Linn, Macon, Mercer, Platte, Randolph, Saline and Sullivan are also eligible to apply for emergency loans.

Producers in all designated primary and contiguous counties will have until April 1, 2019, to apply for emergency loans to help cover part of their actual losses. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the emergency loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from the impacts of this disaster.

Additional information is also available online at https://www.farmers.gov/recover.

Story courtesy of Missourinet affiliate KFEQ in St. Joseph

Missouri Chamber praises Parson for making workforce development a top priority

August 16, 2018 By Brian Hauswirth

(News director Bob Ehle at Missourinet Moberly affiliate KWIX covered Governor Parson’s visit to Moberly, and contributed to this story)

Missouri’s governor says infrastructure and workforce issues were two common themes he heard during meetings this week with agriculture and business leaders in northern Missouri’s Mexico, Kirksville and Moberly.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson (left) is next to U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke at the Gateway Arch rededication ceremony in downtown St. Louis on July 3, 2018 (file photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI)

Governor Mike Parson (R) spoke to Missourinet Moberly affiliate KWIX (AM 1230) on Monday, after hosting an “agriculture in business roundtable” at the Orscheln Farm and Home distribution center in the Magic City.

“And it was pretty evident what everybody was talking about in the room, which really matches up with what other segments of the state are talking at the same time,” Parson says. “And the two things that are the highlights out of all of this is infrastructure and workforce development.”

The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry President says the Show-Me State is making great strides toward making our workforce one of the most competitive in the world.

Chamber President Dan Mehan is praising Parson for making workforce development a top priority for his administration.

“He gets it, he understands the critical need that it is,” says Mehan. “That along with infrastructure. It’s great to have the governor come and listen to the people on the front line trying to find those employees and create those opportunities. So, it’s great for him to do a listening tour.”

Mehan participated in the governor’s agriculture in business roundtable in Moberly.

Parson says community colleges will play a key role in moving the workforce forward.

A proposed ten-cent gasoline tax increase on the November statewide ballot has the vocal support of Governor Parson.

“It’s a huge vote in November, the people are going to make that decision but I think it’s really important that we inform them the best we can, we tell them what we’re going to do, how we’re going to do it and when we’re going to do it and I think we ought to be able to tell that to the voters,” Parson says.

If Missourians approve the gas tax increase, it would be phased in over four years at 2.5 cents annually.

Missouri’s fuel tax hasn’t been increased since 1996.

Governor Parson will deliver the keynote address at Thursday morning’s 8 o’clock ham breakfast at the State Fair in Sedalia, and will also participate in the “agriculture’s next generation in the workforce roundtable” Thursday at 1 p.m. at the State Fairgrounds.

Southwest Missouri mayor says company expansion is answered prayer

August 16, 2018 By Alisa Nelson

A seed coating factory is expected to be up and running the beginning of next year in the southwest Missouri community of Lamar. Mayor Kent Harris tells Missourinet he’s happy Smith Seed Services shares the same vision to bring more jobs to the community of 4,500 people.

Photo courtesy of Smith Seed Services

“Our population has stayed very stable. We know that it’s a great place to live. We want it to be a great place also to work. That’s why we are just excited to kind of get back on track to that. I just feel like this is going to be the first step of several things that are to come for the city of Lamar. I consider this answered prayer.”

The wholesale lawn and garden seed company, which is headquartered in Oregon, is expected to hire about 40 workers. According to the future plant’s division manager, Brian Jaasko, the jobs will consist of full-time, temporary employees. He says the average pay for the workers has not been released.

“This facility is going to be brought up to speed in phases over the course of the next three to four years,” Jaasko. “When we’re looking at the number of people that we’re going to employ right off the bat, we’ll have a footprint but it’s not going to be the whole footprint until we kind of get developed. We want to create jobs that are going to be here ten years from now.”

He says a few things attracted the company to Lamar.

“Ease of access on and off of Highway 71 is a good idea. There are excellent raw material resources in this area,” Jaasko. “There is a fair amount of seed grown in the area. The hauling charges would be lower for a lot of our customers to get their seed coated.”

Harris says having the company’s factory centrally located in the U.S. is an advantage for Smith Seed Services.

“They have been looking for some time for an area east of Halsey, Oregon to more serve the Midwest and even further east United States,” he says. “There is on the site, which they have purchased at this point, several large warehouses which they were very interested in having, that goes right along with what they would need to add onto.”

The state and local incentives given have not been made public.

Missouri Governor’s ham breakfast in Sedalia will be packed on Thursday

August 15, 2018 By Brian Hauswirth

Thursday’s 66th annual Governor’s ham breakfast at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia is sold out.

2018 Missouri State Fair logo (courtesy of the Missouri State Fair and the Missouri Department of Agriculture)

State Fair marketing director Keri Mergen tells Missourinet all 1,000 meal tickets for the breakfast have been sold.

State Fair Director Mark Wolfe describes the ham breakfast as a unique event.

“You know I always tell people, buy your ticket, get it in advance so you make sure that you get one,” Wolfe says.

You can still purchase a $10 ticket to get inside the director’s tent, without breakfast.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson (R) will deliver the keynote address at tomorrow’s breakfast, which begins at 8 a.m. at the State Fairgrounds.

Director Wolfe says the ham breakfast is an opportunity for you to mingle with policymakers.

“It’s a great opportunity for folks that maybe don’t normally get a chance to meet their legislators or their congressional folks face-to-face, you know in a casual setting like that where you can just stand and visit,” says Wolfe.

U.S. Reps. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City) and Jason Smith (R-Salem) will be among those at the ham breakfast, along with U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville).

Many Missouri lawmakers will also attend, along with local leaders and commodity group officials.

The Governor’s ham breakfast is a traditional gathering of Missouri elected officials and ag leaders.

Thursday is “Governor’s, Legislators’ and Judges’ Day” at the State Fair.

It’s also Throwback Thursday, with a $5 gate admission all day for those 13 and older.

Children 12 and under will get in free.

The theme for the 116th Missouri State Fair is “Come Home.”

The fair runs through Sunday, August 19.