Black River Technical College Automotive Collision Technology student Mike Fraley recently traveled to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind., where he received an American FFA degree. more

University of Missouri Extension is one of 14 partners to organize the new Heartland Regional Food Business Center serving Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas. more

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday released a new version of its Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PHZM), updating this valuable tool for gardeners and researchers for the first time since 2012. USDA’s Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The new map — jointly developed by USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Oregon State University's (OSU) PRISM Climate Group — is more accurate and contains greater detail than prior versions, said officials. more

“Record-keeping is important to make management decisions for optimum cattle operation productivity and profitability,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension Livestock Field Specialist. more

If anything is worse than a pasture rooted up by feral hogs, it’s a pasture that dries and hardens after hogs leave damaged areas the size of tractor tires. more

In 2022, the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported that it was “aware of 2,211 deaths associated with off-highway vehicles” between 2016 and 2018. Of that 2,211, 1,591 were all-terrain vehicles. more

The West Plains High School FFA organization is taking orders for adviser Jay Hale’s “famous” baby back smoked pork ribs. more

Missouri net farm income sees a backslide from record-setting levels in 2022, according to the fall 2023 Missouri Farm Income Outlook report released by the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center (RaFF) at the University of Missouri. more

Large rural lifestyle retail chain Tractor Supply Company announced this week the 146 recipients of the inaugural FFA Future Leaders Scholarship by Tractor Supply, including one local, MaKenna Taylor of Moody. more

Do you wonder if your saddle fits your horse properly? Do you have questions about the best types of grass to use for your pastures? Do you want to know strategies to reduce the amount of hay your horses waste? more

Pomona residents Jason and Jennifer Poor and their family were among the families honored during the 66th annual Missouri Farm Family Day, held Aug. 14 at the Missouri State Fair. more

The Monthly Monitor is a new report compiled by the University of Missouri’s Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center and Farm Journal that surveys economists nationwide on their projections of agricultural trends. Now, Scott Brown, director of the policy center, is forecasting a positive outlook for farm finances even as the weather has created significant challenges this past year in North America. more

After more than a year of waiting, researchers at the University of Missouri welcome the arrival of one of the nation’s first-of-its-kind electric, autonomous tractors. Known as the Monarch MK-V tractor, this revolutionary piece of technology will be studied for its ability to refine agricultural practices and support farmers with disabilities. more

Agricultural commodities that experienced peak prices in 2022 could see a backslide as 2023 is coming to end. Additionally, projects are showing this slowdown could last well into 2024.
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Cattle producers looking to rapidly improve the genetic progress of their herds will have a hands-on opportunity to learn how to artificially inseminate their cows. more

The Willow Springs second grade team of educators made up of Julia Kelley, Mark Gossard, Audrey Foster, Elizabeth Anderson and Jeannie Thompson has been awarded two $500 Missouri Farm Bureau mini-grants for this school year.  more

Lincoln John Kelley, West Plains, Missouri, is a new junior member of the American Angus Association®, reports Mark McCully, CEO of the national organization with headquarters in Saint Joseph, Missouri. more

Brucellosis is a disease, caused by the members of bacterial Brucella family, that mainly infects cattle, goats and sheep, leading to pregnancy loss, which has caused billions of dollars in economic losses for livestock producers worldwide. The disease can also jump from animals to humans, mainly through consumption of unpasteurized dairy products or inhaling the spores from the tissues of infected animals. more