Production for both corn and soybeans declined from last year, according to the 2022 Crop Production Annual Summary released this month by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. more

Arkansas seniors who have participated in county, district and Arkansas state fairs are eligible to apply for the Arkansas Fair Manager’s Association scholarship. more

Since 2004, FCS Financial has provided nearly $775,000 to Missouri high school seniors seeking higher education. Up to 35 scholarships, each at $1,500 will be awarded to children or grandchildren of FCS Financial members. more

The Missouri State Fair and the Youth in Agriculture Committee are accepting applications for Youth in Agriculture scholarships for Missouri high school seniors graduating in 2023. The application form can be found on the fair’s website, www.mostatefair.com. more

At the American Farm Bureau Federation annual convention held earlier this month, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced several major developments at the U.S. Department of Agriculture that he says will benefit farmers, ranchers and producers across the nation. more

The Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday is a time to celebrate how far our country has come regarding the treatment of all citizens equally. A former boss of mine, Congressman Ike Skelton, liked to remind folks that, “If you ain’t getting better, you’re getting worse.” In that vein, this holiday is also a time for us all to ask ourselves how we can do better. USDA Rural Development strives to do better every day and prove that we are more than just another government agency. more

The University of Missouri Extension office of Howell County will host its annual Beef and Forage Conference from 5:15 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at 1376 Bill Virdon Blvd., East Towne Village, West Plains. more

On the first day of the new year, these five ducks were snapped taking a sunset swim in a pond on a farm near Louisburg, Kansas, on U.S. 69 South. While many ponds and lakes were still partially frozen over from last week’s bitter cold in both Kansas and Missouri, a warming trend should see them thawed out this week, particularly with Monday and today’s high temperatures being in the upper 60s. The National Weather Service office in Springfield is forecasting daytime temperatures in its coverage area to top out in the 40s and 50s for the remainder of the week, and nighttime lows in the mid-20s to mid-30s. more

As the year ends, University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Patrick Davis urges cattle producers to evaluate their record-keeping system to determine if it was successful. more

The 2023 Great Plains Growers Conference is Jan. 13-14 at Missouri Western University in St. Joseph. more

The 2023 Midwest Crops Conference, Jan. 17-18 in St. Joseph is an opportunity for farmers and crop advisers to hear about current research from extension specialists from the University of Missouri, Kansas State University and the University of Nebraska. more

Six-year-old Belle Baker, of Thayer, recently donned a costume in honor of "Elm Farm Ollie," the first cow to ride in an airplane. more

Each December, over 1,200 farmers and ranchers from across Missouri gather at the Lake of the Ozarks to reconnect with old friends, learn from national experts and debate policy positions for the coming year. The 2022 Missouri Farm Bureau Annual Meeting will be the 108th of its kind, a tradition unrivaled for its longevity and breadth. more

“The November 18th Show-Me-Select (SMS) Replacement Heifer Program Sale at Joplin Regional Stockyards had a good turnout and active bidding on most lots,” reports University of Missouri Extension Livestock Field Specialist Patrick Davis. more

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a 45-day extension of the comment period for the proposed rule “Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity Under the Packers and Stockyards Act.” more

Pasture and hay supplies are short in many areas of central and southern Missouri. University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Gene Schmitz suggests a number of options for livestock producers to consider for feeding their livestock this winter. more

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development has awarded $730,000 in grant funding to a meat processor based in Summersville, announced USDA Rural Development State Director Kyle Wilkens. more

A century ago, poinsettia was added to Santa’s “naughty” list, but the plant’s reputation for being poisonous is unfortunate, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Its pretty bracts and leaves pose no danger to people and pets, other than possible allergic reactions. more

Missouri’s transportation system is a tremendous asset including 33,825 miles of roads and 10,387 bridges. The system ranks among the largest for any state in the nation. The Missouri Department of Transportation working with its statewide regional planning partners have identified $1 billion in annual unfunded needs. From the broader unfunded needs, MoDOT has developed a High Priority Unfunded Needs list to guide the development of projects into funded projects as state and federal transportation funds increase. more

Maintaining an annual tradition, the Mtn. View Garden Club is once again welcoming volunteers to help assemble Christmas swags to decorate around the city of Mtn. View and the local community center. more