The Sullivan Independent News

Corn farmers, grower-leaders and guests from across the state gathered in Jefferson City, MO recently for the Missouri Corn Growers Association (MCGA) annual meeting.
Kicking off at the Doubletree Hotel, the day’s activities began with a luncheon featuring keynote speaker National Corn Growers Association President Darrin Ihnen, a grain and livestock farmer from Hurley, SD.
“Missouri has a lot to be proud of, and we are proud to partner with the Missouri Corn Growers Association,” said Ihnen. [...]

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision regarding the expanded Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) regulations was met with mixed emotions from the Missouri Corn Growers Association (MCGA). Recently, the EPA recognized the environmental benefits of corn-based ethanol, yet MCGA leaders were frustrated by the agency’s provisions to incorporate international indirect land use changes (ILUC) in their calculations.
Including the land use component, EPA acknowledged that corn-based ethanol reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions up to 21 percent. This ruling [...]

The Missouri Department of Agriculture is working to help Missouri producers improve their operations by teaching both youths and adults how to evaluate livestock based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s grade standards.
The Missouri Livestock Grading and Judging Contest and Workshop will be held on Sat., Mar. 13 at the University of Missouri’s Trowbridge Livestock Center in Columbia.
The workshop, open to grades nine or lower, provides youths an educational opportunity to learn the process of [...]

A new campaign launches offering Missouri consumers the chance to learn more about their food and register for the opportunity to win free groceries for a year. Now through Apr. 11, Missourians can visit www.FarmersFeedUS.org, sign up for a chance to win a year’s worth of groceries* and meet five featured farmers along the way.
“This is a great opportunity for farmers and consumers,” said Rob Korff, a corn grower from Norborne, MO, board member for [...]

Farmers who wish to obtain or renew a private pesticide applicator license are encouraged to attend one of two upcoming training sessions. Training sessions will be held on Thurs., Feb. 18 at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Both training sessions will be held in the meeting room at the Scenic Regional Library in Union.
In late 2006, the Missouri legislature authorized the recovery of costs for an educational training reference manual associated with certification or recertification.  [...]

Soybean farmers are encouraged to attend a district soybean meeting to be held Tues., Feb. 9 starting at 6:30 p.m. in the lower level of the Memorial Auditorium in Union. The meeting is sponsored jointly by Franklin County University of Missouri Extension and the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council.
Speakers for the meeting include Bill Wiebold, state extension soybean specialist, who will discuss ways to increase soybean yield. Wayne Bailey, state extension entomologist, will discuss soybean insect [...]

The annual Farmer’s Tax Guide is available at the Crawford County Extension Center in Steelville. This free publication is beneficial with information in preparing 2009 tax returns.
The booklet contains information on farm business expenses and income, soil and water conservation expenses, basics of assets, depreciation, depletion, amortization, gains and losses, taxes, casualties, thefts and condemnations and partnerships.
The address of the Crawford County Extension Center is 302 Water Street in Steelville and the phone number is [...]

The Crawford County Extension Center once again is offering the popular Red Cattle Record Books to beef producers. These sell for $5 and are available at the Crawford County Extension Center at 302 Water Street in Steelville.
The pocket-sized record books, when completed by the producer, serve to meet requirements for source and age verification.  The booklet also contains information on a scoring system, gestation table, cow herd inventory record, pasture usage chart, SPA performance measures, [...]

Is it a nod to Valentine’s Day that trees offer us their own sweet treats during the month of February?  Nature’s valentine takes the form of sugar maple sap, which flows for about six weeks, from mid-January to the end of February. During this time, the sap can be tapped and transformed into delicious treats like maple sugar, syrup and even candy.
The annual Rockwoods Maple Sugar Festival will show visitors how to work this magic [...]

Beef herd owners can cut winter feed costs by not feeding unproductive cows.
“Culling is step one,” said Justin Sexten, University of Missouri Extension beef nutritionist. “Sell cows that are not going to produce a calf.”
A nonpregnant cow will take 488 days to return her first paycheck, Sexten told beef producers at the Kirksville Livestock Symposium on Dec. 5.
“Do the math before you decide to keep her. Think about how much feed she will eat before [...]