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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:

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

Storm that hit Branson during duck boat sinking known as a derecho

August 1, 2018 By Alisa Nelson

A rare weather system called a derecho blew through Branson the night of a deadly duck boat tour. Senior Meteorologist Doug Kramer of the National Weather Service office in Springfield calls a derecho a line of thunderstorms on steroids.

Storm that hit Branson during duck boat sinking known as a derecho

“It’s a squall line of thunderstorms that’s unusually-intense and travels an unusual amount of distance,” he tells Missourinet.

Kramer says the July 19 system included winds of 45 to 75 miles per hour. It started in southern Nebraska, traveled through west-central, southern and southwest Missouri and into Arkansas.

He says Missouri is within the bulls-eye for the type of storm known for being unusually intense and traveling hundreds of miles.

“From a nationwide standpoint, we’re (Missouri) in the maximum area where we typically see these more frequently,” Kramer says. “So, like southwest Missouri, northwest Arkansas, northeast Oklahoma and southeast Kansas – that four-state region typically sees three of them about every four years.”

Kramer says increased moisture levels in the Ozarks likely leads to the frequency of derechos here. Seventeen of the 31 passengers on board died in the July boat sinking.

The storm caused widespread tree and power line damage in Missouri.

KOLR-10 Springfield reporter describes the duck boat recovery at Table Rock Lake (AUDIO)

July 23, 2018 By Brian Hauswirth

The U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies took about 90 minutes Monday morning to lift the sunken “Ride the Ducks” boat to the surface of southwest Missouri’s Table Rock Lake.

Missouri State Highway Patrol crews assist the U.S. Coast Guard during the Duck boat recovery efforts on July 23, 2018 (photo courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Twitter page)

The boat’s recovery will assist investigators as they work to find out what caused Thursday evening’s deadly incident, which killed 17 people.

Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley says multiple investigations are underway into the incident.

Hawley says the NTSB and Coast Guard are handling the investigation into the sinking of the vessel itself.

He says the Missouri State Highway Patrol is overseeing the investigation into the circumstances that led to the tragedy.

Reporter Daniel Shedd at Missourinet Springfield television partner KOLR-10 was at Table Rock Lake again this morning, for the Duck Boat recovery.

Shedd spoke to Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth about what NTSB investigators are looking for, and also describes different ways Branson-area residents are remembering the victims:

Missouri congressman discusses Table Rock Lake tragedy and possible congressional action (AUDIO)

July 22, 2018 By Brian Hauswirth

A Missouri congressman who represents Branson and Table Rock Lake says Congress must do whatever is needed to try to prevent future tragedies like the deadly boating incident Thursday evening in his district.

U.S. Rep. Billy Long, R-Springfield

17 people were killed when a “Ride the Ducks” amphibious vehicle capsized and sank during a severe thunderstorm.

U.S. Rep. Billy Long, R-Springfield, says the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will conduct a thorough investigation.

“We’ve got to do whatever we can to prevent anything similar to this happening if at all possible,” Long says.

Long says there were 80-mile-per-hour winds and five-foot swells on Table Rock Lake during the storm, adding that it’s “something none of us had ever seen from the time that the lake filled.”

Long, who serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee in Washington, hopes there won’t be any more amphibious duck boats going out on the water until officials can ensure that passengers are safe.

The “duck boats” were first used during World War II.

“I did speak to a friend of mine from Arkansas and he reminded me that in 1999, there was a very similar boat duck accident on Lake Hamilton that took 13 lives,” says Long.

Fox News reports 39 people have died in duck boat incidents since 1999, including the 17 who were killed Thursday evening on Table Rock Lake.

Congressman Long, who’s not prepared to call for hearings, says it’s important to have a thorough NTSB investigation.

He says requiring passengers to wear life jackets is something that could be discussed.

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) is pledging to examine legislative solutions to increase safety on amphibious vehicles. She also praises the cooperation of the two federal agencies investigating the incident.

U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R) describes the deadly incident as a “tragedy that never should have happened.” Blunt says he’s ready to “pursue whatever action is necessary” to prevent a future tragedy.

Senators McCaskill and Blunt both traveled to Branson on Friday.

Congressman Long has been in contact with the White House and with the NTSB.

Long tells Missourinet he’s also been in contact with Branson Mayor Karen Best.

“I’ve offered the full support of my entire staff in the district and in Washington to the mayor, and anything that she needs she will have,” Long says.

The congressman says the entire southwest Missouri community is in mourning. He praises first responders and divers.

Mayor Best says their lives “were forever changed” on Thursday.

A memorial service is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 3 at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout.

The college and city of Branson will host the service, to memorialize and pray for the 17 victims. The service will also include special music.

Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley (R) says multiple investigations are underway into Thursday’s incident.

Hawley says the NTSB and the Coast Guard are handling the investigation into the sinking of the vessel itself. He says the Missouri State Highway Patrol is overseeing the investigation into the circumstances that led to the tragedy.

Hawley briefed reporters Saturday at the MSHP Command Center in Branson. He’s also “strongly encouraging” the owners of “Ride the Ducks” to cooperate with the Highway Patrol’s investigation.

The “Springfield News-Leader” reports Ride the Ducks Branson was purchased in 2017 by Ripley Entertainment.

The Stone County Sheriff’s office released the names of the 17 victims on Friday.

Nine victims are from Indiana, and five are from Missouri, including Bob Williams of Branson.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet news director Brian Hauswirth and Missouri Congressman Billy Long, which was recorded on July 20, 2018:

Missouri’s Hawley: there are multiple investigations into deadly Table Rock Lake incident

July 21, 2018 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s Attorney General says “multiple investigations” are underway into Thursday evening’s boating incident on Table Rock Lake near Branson, an incident which killed 17 people.

Attorney General Josh Hawley (R) traveled to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) Command Center in Branson on Saturday, where he briefed reporters.

Hawley says there are multiple investigations into the tragedy, involving several agencies.

He says there’s an investigation into the sinking of the vessel itself, and says the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the U.S. Coast Guard are handling that.

Hawley also says there is another investigation into the circumstances that led to Thursday evening’s tragedy, and says the Missouri State Highway Patrol is overseeing that.

As Attorney General, Hawley is Missouri’s top law enforcement official.

He tells reporters he had good meetings Saturday with Missouri state troopers and with the Coast Guard, adding that he’s encouraged by the progress that’s been made so far.

Hawley emphasizes the investigations are in their early stages.

The Attorney General tells reporters he is “strongly encouraging” the owners of “Ride the Ducks” to cooperate with the Highway Patrol’s investigation.

He says their full cooperation “is something that will be very necessary going forward.”

Hawley is also encouraging anyone with videos of Thursday’s Table Rock Lake incident to share that video with the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Missouri’s two U.S. Senators arrived in Branson on Friday, and were briefed by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Coast Guard and the Missouri Highway Patrol.

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) is pledging to examine legislative solutions to increase safety on amphibious vehicles, and praises the cooperation of the two federal agencies investigating the incident.

U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R) describes the deadly incident as a “tragedy that never should have happened.” He says he’s ready to “pursue whatever action is necessary” to prevent a future tragedy.

Branson radio broadcaster describes being live on-air when deadly boating accident happened (AUDIO)

July 20, 2018 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri Governor Mike Parson is pledging the support of all necessary state resources to assist with the investigation into Thursday night’s deadly boating tragedy at Table Rock Lake near Branson. 17 people were killed when a “Ride the Ducks” amphibious vehicle capsized and sank in about 60 mile-per-hour winds.

Scott McCaulley is the longtime operations manager and sports director at Missourinet Branson affiliate KRZK Radio (FM 106.3). He spoke to Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth today about last night’s storm and what’s been happening. McCaulley was live on-air hosting a candidate forum just three miles from the scene, when the storm struck:

13 confirmed dead after boat sinks in southwest Missouri

July 20, 2018 By Brian Hauswirth

Thirteen people are confirmed dead, after a boat capsized during a Thursday evening storm on southwest Missouri’s Table Rock Lake. Missourinet Springfield television partner KOLR-10 quotes Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader as saying that children are among the dead.

Photo courtesy of KOLR in Springfield and Craig Smith

About four people are still missing. Seven people have been injured – some critically.

The station reports 31 people were on the “Rides with Ducks” boat at the time it capsized. The boat sank.

Captain Jim Pulley, the owner of Sea Tow Table Rock Lake, tells the Springfield News-Leader the storm hit the lake with 80 mile-per-hour winds that kicked waves up five feet high.

Divers are in the water this morning searching for those unaccounted for.

Parson places 47 Missouri counties on drought alert

July 18, 2018 By Alisa Nelson

Gov. Mike Parson has signed an executive order putting 47 Missouri counties on drought alert. The move calls upon the state Department of Natural Resources to activate the Drought Assessment Committee and the associated drought impact teams. The order directs all Missouri agencies to examine how the state can assist affected communities and identify communities that could be affected.

Gov. Mike Parson-R

“Missouri farmers are resilient, but with no control over Mother Nature, this year’s drought has been difficult to battle,” Parson says in a press release. “By responding early to this drought, we can greatly reduce the impact upon our agricultural community as well as on all Missouri citizens. Our farmers are the backbone of our state, and it is imperative that we assist to get through this difficult time.”

According to the press release, there are several known drought impacts at this time, including those to livestock forage and water. There are also at least three public water supplies impacted in northern Missouri.

Of the 47 counties on the order, 32 are in northern Missouri. All of the counties include: Adair, Andrew, Audrain, Barry, Barton, Boone, Buchanan, Caldwell, Callaway, Carroll, Chariton, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cole, Cooper, Dade, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Howard, Jackson, Jasper, Knox, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lewis, Linn, Livingston, Macon, McDonald, Mercer, Moniteau, Monroe, Newton, Nodaway, Platte, Putnam, Randolph, Ray, Saline, Schuyler, Scotland, Sullivan, and Worth.

In June, to aid the agricultural community, the Department of Natural Resources’ Soil and Water Districts Commission granted a statewide variance that allows grazing on practices that would normally be livestock-excluded.

For more information on the Missouri Drought Plan, the Drought Assessment Committee, Executive Order 18-05, and the Drought Monitor map, click here.

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