A virus affecting swine has been in the news recently after being identified through testing at the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, IA. While the virus, Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus, is not considered a reportable disease, it is something officials are monitoring. Continue reading

June is National Dairy Month, and in recognition of the incredible role dairy producers and agribusinesses have in Missouri agriculture and our state's economy, we're headed to Hazelwood to celebrate at the Prairie Farms facility! Director of Agriculture Dr. Jon Hagler will visit Hazelwood Monday, June 3, for a tour of the facility and special announcement. Continue reading

Whether producers are working with livestock or planting crops, staying safe on the farm is important, especially around large equipment. One researcher in the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources has a new way to help with that - an application for smart phones that can summon help in the event of an accident. Missouri Farmer Today, KOMU News and the Associated Press all published information about the new app last week, just in time for spring field work. Continue reading

The Missouri Department of Agriculture's energy efficiency program MAESTRO was recently recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy for making a difference in energy efficiency in the state. MAESTRO, the Missouri Agricultural Energy Savings Team - A Revolutionary Opportunity, offered tools and incentives for farmers to improve energy efficiency on livestock farms, including energy audits, technical assistance, rebates and other financial support. Launched in 2011 by Governor Jay Nixon, the program was one of the first of its kind. The focus on farms and farm homes was made possible by a $5 million grant and partnership with the University of... Continue reading

The Census of Agriculture, conducted by USDA, serves as the basis for much of the agricultural industry data the public sees - from the amount of crops harvested, to the value of land, to the number of head of cattle and acres of farmland to the average age of farmers. The nationwide survey is conducted only once every five years. On Monday, Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack announced that the deadline to participate in the Census is May 31, 2013. Continue reading

T he Department hosted a group of outstanding young people from Truman State University this morning for a tour and opportunity to visit with Director of Agriculture Dr. Jon Hagler. The students, from Truman State University's Missouri Government Internship Program, visited MDA and other state government agencies and leaders during their day in Jefferson City. During their time at MDA, the students went on a tour of the Department with Director Hagler and learned about regulatory and promotional efforts from Dr. Hagler and MDA staff. The tour ended with a special stop that allowed students an opportunity to get up-close-and-personal... Continue reading

Writer Sylvia Forbes recently highlighted the John and Jo Ann Alford and their love of our State Horse, the Missouri Fox Trotter, in an article in Missouri Farmer Today. Check out their story and the breed's ties to our state! Continue reading

April is Garden Month in Missouri, and while the cool, rainy weather has kept many of us from getting out into the garden as much as we would have liked, it hasn't stopped us from thinking about garden plans. In recognition of Garden Month, our team has been sharing some of their favorite gardening tips on Twitter and Facebook. Continue reading

With cool weather hanging on well into April this year, many cattle producers are still waiting for springtime pastures that can support herds without supplemental hay. Knowing that some producers are still feeding hay, especially after last summer's extremely dry conditions, this story from the University of Arkansas Extension program hit really close to home. It's a perfect illustration that the cheapest hay may not always be the best deal. Continue reading

When the World Dairy Expo begins in Madison, Wisconsin this October, exhibitors - including those from Wisconsin - will need to be compliant with new traceability requirements for their livestock. The USDA Animal Disease Traceability Rule requires that most livestock traveling across state lines have one of several approved identification methods. Continue reading

Director of Agriculture Dr. Jon Hagler is spending National Agriculture Week abroad this year, promoting Missouri's agricultural products alongside Governor Nixon in Taiwan and South Korea. Continue reading

The FDA is currently seeking comments from the public on a proposed rule for handling fresh produce. The proposed rule, Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption, is currently posted online at fda.gov. Comments are being accepted through May 16, 2013. Continue reading

The Focus on Missouri Agriculture Photo Contest runs through July 1 this year, and gives amateur photographers across the state an opportunity to submit their best images of a beautiful Missouri farm, of a farm tractor that has been in the family for years and the fun and excitement of a child at agritourism operation. Contest winners will be recognized during the 2013 Missouri State Fair, and their photos will be displayed at the Fair and at the Missouri Department of Agriculture in Jefferson City. Photographers also have the opportunity to win great prizes, courtesy of AgriMissouri. "Every farm in... Continue reading

Equine Herpes Virus, a neurological disease affecting horses, was identified last week in Florida. The affected animal, a horse at a show near Ocala, Fla., exhibited clinical symptoms of the disease and was transferred to the University of Florida for treatment. Several other horses and facilities have been quarantined for testing and observation. No Missouri facilities are quarantined at this time as a result of this case, nor has the Department been notified of any quarantines affecting Missouri horses. Continue reading

February 24-March 2, 2013 is Bird Health Awareness Week, and our partners at the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service are working to help Missourians keep their birds healthy. Whether your birds are backyard pets, and 4-H or FFA project or part of your family's livelihood, USDA has information that can help you protect your flock. Continue reading

History lessons came to life at Rockwood South Middle School in St. Louis, as Michelle Wren spoke to students about growing up in southeastern Missouri and experiencing the civil rights movement first-hand. February is Black History Month, and Wren stepped outside her regular role as a substitute teacher for the school district to share her and her family's experiences as sharecroppers and with integration in the bootheel. Continue reading

During the Missouri Corn Growers Association annual meetings in Jefferson City this week, the producer organization recognized some of the individuals whose efforts made a difference for Missouri's corn growers in 2012. Honorees included several agriculture industry companies, legislators and the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority. Continue reading

Thousand Cankers Disease of Walnut is a pest complex that is lethal to walnut trees, especially the Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) native to Missouri. The Missouri Department of Agriculture recently expanded the list of states affected by that quarantine, following positive identifications of the pest in Virginia, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. Continue reading

Plant science researchers and students at the University of Missouri are often the go-to folks when it comes to figuring out what exactly that plant - regardless of whether it popped up in the yard, garden, field or in a photo - might be. During the recent Crop Management Conference in Columbia, the researchers, led by Dr. Kevin Bradley, rolled out a new way for everyone to have that knowledge at their fingertips. The new app is called ID Weeds and is compatible with both iPhone and Android devices. Continue reading

In December 2004, Congress recognized the first official National Day of the Horse. Each year, December 13 is now recognized as the National Day of the Horse. This year marks the 9th official celebration of horses and the equine industry throughout the U.S. Celebrating horses is a natural fit for Missouri, a top state for horses and equine science. Continue reading

A Missouri-grown Christmas Tree went up in Missouri's Capitol today. The tree, grown outside Jackson, Mo., was donated by Steve and Teresa Meier of Meier Horse Shoe Pines and presented by the Meiers and the Missouri Christmas Tree Association. Continue reading

An announcement about the future of U.S. agricultural exports posted on FarmProgress.com today caught our attention, and is too exciting not to share. USDA recently released new numbers for agricultural exports that show continued growth and a positive outlook going forward. In fact, the Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade said that U.S. ag exports are up more than 50 percent in the last four years. Continue reading

Missouri specialty crop growers currently have an opportunity to purchase special disaster coverage through the USDA Non-insurable Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP). The program provides financial assistance to producers of Missouri’s otherwise uninsurable crops, including fruits like apples and peaches, when low yields, loss of inventory or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters. Continue reading

This weekend's St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper included a feature story about a Missouri agribusiness owner who has combined his love of chickens and eggs with his skills in salesmanship and the hard work of Missouri farm families. In the article "Missouri egg man doesn't crack while peddling 'farm fresh product" writer Jesse Bogan highlighted Ben Roberts' egg-dropping sales pitch to promote the dense calcium shell found on eggs from Ben Roberts' Heritage Poultry & Eggs. Continue reading

Each year, the Department's Focus on Missouri Agriculture photo contest receives hundreds of entries representing the many facets of Missouri's farms, farm families and rural communities. After the contest entries are judged and displayed at the Missouri State Fair, the winning shots are displayed in MDA's home in Jefferson City, the George Washington Carver Building. We also use the outstanding shots in our publications, on our website and at special events. This year, we took that one step further, entering some of our winning photos in a national competition sponsored by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA). We're very excited to share some photo contest news we received this week. Specifically, that a photo we entered in that national competition was selected as a winner! Continue reading