A bulldozer starts the installation of geothermal system for turkey barns. An MU researcher has designed a new geothermal system that could save farmers quite a lot of money. Photo courtesy MU.

While Americans prepare to heat up millions of turkeys in their ovens on Thanksgiving, a geothermal energy system developed by a University of Missouri engineer will be keeping live turkeys toasty during the chilly autumn weather.

COLUMBIA, Mo. ­— The long summer drought in Missouri has ruined a large portion of this year’s crop harvest and a University of Missouri equine veterinarian says the negative effects of the dry weather can still be seen across the state.

Missouri News Horizon
--It's no suprise that farmers were not going to have a good harvest but the summer drought was much worse than already had thought. 

Missouri farmers are finishing up their harvests…and things aren’t looking much brighter despite the presence of more normal weather conditions.

OWENSVILLE, Mo. - Gov. Jay Nixon was in Gasconade County to recognize Charlie Schlottach and White Mule Winery with the Governor's Award for Agricultural Achievement, which honors outstanding farmers, growers and processors for their work with agricultural commodities and their communities.

New Haven, Mo. - Watch a trimmed version of Gov. Jay Nixon’s speech Tuesday morning at Scheer Dairy Farm as well as remarks from Rick Scheer after receiving the Governor’s Agricultural Achievement Award

Photos by Kyle Quick
Gov. Nixon presents Rick Scheer The Agricultural Achievement Award.

New Haven, Mo. – Tuesday morning, Governor Jay Nixon recognized Rick Scheer and the Scheer Family Dairy Farm with the Governor’s Award for Agricultural Achievement, which honors outstanding farmers, growers, and processors for their work with agricultural commodities and their communities.

Rick Scheer (right) explains to Gov. Nixon the process involved and how the “robotic milkers” function.

News Brief: Earlier this morning Governor Jay Nixon presented Rich Scheer “The Governor’s Award for Agricultural Achievement” for their use of innovative technology to help Missouri’s economic future in the dairy farm business.

Missouri News Horizon
— While the hot temperatures may be gone, the effects of this summer’s drought are still lingering with Missouri farmers.

The pain is shared throughout the state’s agriculture industry, and that include’s the state’s hog farmers. No, the bacon and pork chops will not be absent from the shelves, but the cost of feed for Missouri farmers hurts where it counts, which may transfer to consumers.

Photo by Kaylin Bade of Union FFA Students

Jerett Rion, COLUMBIA, Mo. – In a recent survey published by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), officials reported that more than one-third of U.S. farmers are 65 years old or older, and half of current farmers plan to retire in the next decade. With fewer young people staying home to take over their family farms, the average age of American farmers is increasing rapidly.

Pictured left, Gary Meyer and
Jerry Eckstein
Photo by Danielle Blair

Did you know that today is known as “Farmer’s Day”?  This day is generally observed to honor the hard labor of farmers; however Farmer’s Day should not only be celebrated by farmers. 

Everyone should celebrate today because, in the words of the National FFA Organization, you would be “naked and hungry” without farmers. 

Photo courtesy MDC

JEFFERSON CITY Mo., Tim Banek, MDC Invasive Species Coordinator -- Invasive plant species threaten the stability of ecosystems by reducing biological diversity and replacing beneficial native species.

The break in Missouri’s drought came just in time for some trees.

JEFFERSON CITY – 2012 is not likely to be remembered for outstanding fall color, but recent rains could save Missouri’s “season of splendor” from fizzling altogether.

Missouri News Horizon
Quick News Photo

GOODMAN, Mo. — Among members of the Missouri dog breeding community, the wounds of 2010 have yet to heal.

That year, Missouri voters approved a ballot measure that strengthened regulations on the industry dealing with treatment of animals. Much of the law was overturned by lawmakers in the 2011 session of the Missouri General Assembly, with the support of Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon, who signed compromise legislation brokered between agriculture and animal rights stakeholders.

Photo courtesy MU

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Following this summer’s findings of the invasive Emerald Ash Borer in Platte, Madison and Reynolds counties, Missouri’s quarantine regulating the movement of many ash wood products has been expanded. 

JEFFERSON CITY - On a recent sunny morning, Pioneer Trail Elementary School students pushed dirt around a newly-planted redbud tree that will bloom and provide shade for years to come.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will host an event Sept. 22 in Warrenton aimed at helping residents of the St. Louis region rid their homes and farms of unwanted pesticides and related chemicals.

The Union FFA and FFA Alumni will be hosting the Annual Antique Tractor Pull this Sunday, August 16, 2012 at the Union City Fairgrounds.

--Congress returns to Washington this week for a quick, pre-election, and one of the first issues expected to come up in the U.S. House of Representatives is the 2013 farm bill.

Despite a bipartisan push for the legislation and calls for passage by many agriculture stakeholders suffering from the summer’s drought, it appears the legislation is simply stuck in ever-present Washington gridlock.

Jerry Taylor, Photo courtesy MU

COLUMBIA, Mo. ­— Each year, in the state of Missouri, cattle ranchers breed 2 million cows. Yet, only about 85 to 90 percent of those cattle actually birth a calf. The other cows either are not able to get pregnant or they miscarry.

Missouri News Horizon
-Farmers who missed out on the state program for emergency water aid now have another place to go for help.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency centers are offering to help farmers get water to their drought stricken animals. Gerald Hrdina, who lead’s the program’s effort in Columbia, said while the federal program can be helpful, it does not pay quite as much as the state program does.