The USDA's Farm Service Agency recently reminded farmers 2008 Farm Bill extends through September of 2013 with the passage of the American Taxpayer Relief Act , which includes many commodity, disaster and conservation programs.
Extended programs for 2013 crops include, among others: -Direct and Counter-Cyclical Payment Program (DCP)-Sign up through Aug. 2 -Average Crop Revenue Election Program (ACRE)-Sign up through June 3
For more information about the programs, visit your local FSA office or go to www.fsa.usda.gov.
Pressure
continues to weigh heavy on the market for those cattle heading to corn
rations. Tight supplies and backgrounder’s plans for lush green
pastures in a few weeks did however push the stocker
market higher on some of the higher quality calves in the condition to gain
weight quickly.
Today is National Pi Day, which celebrates this mathematical equation. Our Facebook news feed is filled with pun-filled and corny jokes about the holiday, and we're happy to join the movement by introducing you to some of our favorite pies! AgriMissouri member C & J Baked Goods joined is at the 2012 Missouri State Fair selling their mini pies to fairgoers in flavors ranging from the traditional apple and pumpkin to gooseberry and stawberry rhubarb. And we'll tell you from experience, as well as our taste buds, the few dollars they charged per pie was a small price to pay for so much happiness!
Today is also National Potato Chip Day! Did you know that Potato Chips were actually created as a joke by Chef George Crum in Saratoga Springs, New York? A diner wasn't pleased with the thickness of the french fries on his plate, so Crum sarcastically sliced a new batch of fries so thinly they couldn't be picked up with a fork. However, this joke turned into the world's most popular snack and Crum opened his own restaurant centered around his invention Saratoga Chips.
AgriMissouri member Backer's was founded in 1931 in rural Callaway County on the bank of Hillers Creek. Back then, the couple behind the brand hand peeled potatoes, sliced them in a hand crank and distributed their finsihed product with the family truck. Today, Backer's produces more than 7,000 pounds of potato chips every hour and you can find their chip varieties on grocery shelves across the United States, Canada and Mexico!
Another of our favorite chip-making AgriMissouri members, Billy Goat Chip Company of St. Louis began as a restaurant & bar featuring their signature home-made potato chips, then moved into the manufacturing world in February 2009. After producing their chips by hand, from seasoning to packaging, they distribute their potato chips to more than 190 customers.
The company believes in "just in time" ordering, which means potato chips won't be in production until an order has been placed.
Check out this video showcasing their hard work and dedication!
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 our state has a
story to tell and this is a great way to capture those stories and to
share them with others. I look forward to seeing the outstanding work of
Missouri farm families and our rural communities come through in every
photo." ---Director of Agriculture Dr. Jon Hagler
The contest is open to Missouri's
amateur photographers of all ages. Participants may enter up to three
photos in each of the five categories. Categories include: The Beauty of
the Farm, Faces of the Farm, The Farming Life and The Pride of the
Farm. The Children's Barnyard a special category for budding
photographers ages 12 and under, is back for the 4th annual contest as
well.
Entries will be judged on visual impact, creativity, memorable content and image quality.
An AgriMissouri gift basket valued at $100 will be awarded to the First
Place winner in each of the four categories. The winner of the
Children's Barnyard category will receive a special gift basket filled
with $100-worth of child-friendly items from AgriMissouri. An
AgriMissouri gift basket valued at $250 will be awarded to the Best of
Show.
For a complete list of rules and guidelines, visit mda.mo.gov/focus.
Photos submitted to the contest will be placed on the contest website
and available on the Department's Flickr stream. Photos must be
submitted by July 1.
Nothing feels better than getting the message of Bee Awareness out there and watching it spread like wild fire! Last Friday NPR, followed by the Los Angeles Times, released articles discussing bees and the importance of pollination. NPR not only highlighted the effect bees have on our daily lives, but also reported on the vital role farmers play in the livelihood of the worlds premier pollinator.
The article specifically discussed the lives of wild honeybees, such as the carpenter and honeybee, and their need for diverse feeding and nesting grounds. Scientists believe that part of the reason many wild bee species populations are declining dramatically is due to monocultures that prevail in different regions of the country. Evidence supports the presence of bees tend to boost yields for farmers, but other sources of food such as flower varities planted nearby are also essential to a thriving hive. In order to provide a consistent supply of food, everyone from farmers to gardeners alike, should have different plants that flower in alternating intervals year round.
Last year, the Missouri Department of Agriculture launched "The Great Missouri Buzz Off" to promote bee awareness and help Missourians locate assistance to begin their own apiaries, large or small. In addition to helping Missourians connect with information and mentors, the Department has a number of programs available to assist those eager to participate.
And of course, let's not forget one of our biggest partners in the bee initiative, The Missouri State Beekeeper's Association http://mostatebeekeepers.org/, is an invaulable resource and an excellent avenue to getting plenty of information from the experts.
Spring is almost here and it's nearly time to start planting. So let the Missouri Department of Agriculture help you "Buzz Off."
The Missouri Department of
Agriculture touches the life of nearly every Missourian every day by ensuring
that the food, fuel and other products consumers buy for themselves and their
families are sold in a fair, equitable marketplace. This week, in honor of National Consumer
Protection Week, we’re highlighting the work of some of the Department’s
programs that directly impact consumers’ lives.
Ensuring the safety of Missouri’s agricultural products, from
grains to milk to fresh produce to meat, is a top priority. Each of the
Department’s five divisions works to ensure that consumers continue to enjoy a
safe, wholesome and affordable food supply, as a healthy food system begins on
the farm and ends with healthy communities. From the Animal Health Division to
Plant Industries to Agriculture Business Development, the Missouri Department
of Agriculture is focusing on the safety of our food, working to raise
awareness and strengthen food safety efforts among producers, processors and
consumers.
The Missouri Department of Agriculture uses many tools, from
outreach and training to inspections and regulations, to ensure that food is
safe and wholesome. To help consumers understand the steps in food safety
efforts, like raising awareness and strengthening education of producers,
processors and consumers, the Department put together a page of food safety
resources on our website.
Dairy Programs –
Missouri’s State Milk Board oversees more than 1500 milk producers and
processors within its authority to promulgate rules, permit, license and
certify milk and milk product handlers, test facilities, vehicles and products
and to condemn illegal dairy products.
Farmers’ Market Handbook – Farmers’ market managers, vendors
and visitors can use the Missouri Farmers’ Market Handbook to learn about local
and state food handling, safety and sale regulations.
Feed and Seed Inspection
Program – Through Missouri’s program, facilities producing livestock feed are
inspected in accordance with FDA Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)
guidelines. Facilities producing food for humans and livestock are also
reviewed in accordance with Good Management Practices (GMP) inspection
guidelines.
Fresh
Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Program – Through the Department’s Plant
Industries Division, producers and processors handling fresh produce can
participate in voluntary USDA Good Handling Practices and Good Agricultural
Practices (GHP/GAP) audits of their operations. To learn more about GHP/GAP, visit the program online at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/gapghp.
Missouri
Egg Law – Under
Missouri’s Egg Law, the Department provides rules for the proper packing,
storing and labeling eggs, including temperature requirements for
transportation. Missouri also adopts USDA standards for grading and selling
eggs, ensuring that producers and consumers can count on consistent marketing
and quality throughout the state.
Meat and Poultry Inspection
Program –
Missouri’s program provides inspections and compliance reviews at a level
equivalent to USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service reviews of processing
facilities selling meat products within the state. The Department also provides
assistance for facilities and individuals developing Hazard Analysis &
Critical Control Points (HACCP) plans to improve their operations.
Poultry
Health & Improvement Program – Missouri participates in the National
Poultry Improvement Program, providing inspections and guidance for producers
on biosecurity, animal health, sanitation and assisting with consumer education
efforts ranging from properly handling poultry at home to preventing disease on
the farm.
Training Opportunities – In cooperation with the Missouri
Department of Health and Senior Services and the Food and Drug Administration,
the Missouri Department of Agriculture is working to make more training
opportunities related to identifying and responding to food safety risks
available for producers, processors, inspectors and emergency responders.
Want
to know more? Visit the Department online at mda.mo.gov. The Missouri
Department of Agriculture works hard each day to protect all Missourians.
Consumer Protection is a top priority for MDA, and our team takes pride in helping
consumers continue to enjoy a safe, fair marketplace.
The Missouri Department of
Agriculture’s Division of Weights and Measures and Consumer Protection touches the life of nearly every Missourian every day by
ensuring that the food, fuel and other products consumers buy for themselves
and their families are sold in a fair, equitable marketplace. This week, in honor of National Consumer
Protection Week, we’re highlighting the work of some of the Department’s
programs that directly impact consumers’ lives.
The Missouri
Department of Agriculture’s emphasis on consumer protection doesn’t stop
at fuel quality or the scales at your local grocery store. Products sold in Missouri
must meet specific labeling guidelines, including providing adequate and accurate information so
consumers can make appropriate price and quantity comparisons.
Two of the labeling requirements the Department checks for that benefit consumers are the primary display
panel (PDP) and information panel—as explained by the graphic above. The PDP
is the portion of a package that you will most likely see when you see a
product on the shelf and it must identify the product and show the amount of
product in the package. That information must be printed in font that is easily
readable and in contrasting color to the remainder of the package. According to federal law, the information panel MUST be to the right of
the PDP. The information panel must contain information like
nutrition facts, ingredients and identify who manufactured the product.
Nearly all the packaged food products consumers purchase must meet those requirements. Staff from the Department work to ensure that products offered for sale in Missouri are compliant by checking products at grocery stores and other locations. The Department can also help Missouri business owners ensure that their product labels are compliant before they make products available for sale through the AgriMissouri program.
Want
to know more? Visit the Department online at mda.mo.gov. The Missouri
Department of Agriculture works hard each day to protect all Missourians.
Consumer Protection is a top priority for MDA, and our team takes pride in helping
consumers continue to enjoy a safe, fair marketplace.
The Missouri Department of
Agriculture touches the life of nearly every Missourian every day by ensuring
that the food, fuel and other products consumers buy for themselves and their
families are sold in a fair, equitable marketplace. This week, in honor of National Consumer
Protection Week, we’re highlighting the work of some of the Department’s
programs that directly impact consumers’ lives.
The
Department’s Meat and Poultry Inspection Program includes inspectors located throughout the state - working with agribusinesses by region. Staff inspect Missouri's custom processing facilities multiple times each year. During those inspections of operations processing meat for livestock owners and hunters, they're reviewing the facility's sanitation practices, checking coolers and cookers to ensure meat is kept at appropriate temperatures, and labeling - ensuring that consumers get the cut and amount paid for at the counter.
Missouri is also home to many inspected facilities that make meat and meat products, like jerky and sausage, available for sale to consumers. In those facilities, inspectors are present every day the business is processing meat to ensure that consumers can count on a safe, high-quality product.
Want
to know more? Visit the Department online at mda.mo.gov. The Missouri
Department of Agriculture works hard each day to protect all Missourians.
Consumer Protection is a top priority for MDA, and our team takes pride in helping
consumers continue to enjoy a safe, fair marketplace.
The Missouri Department of
Agriculture’s Division of Weights and Measures and Consumer Protection touches the life of nearly every Missourian every day by
ensuring that the food, fuel and other products consumers buy for themselves
and their families are sold in a fair, equitable marketplace. This week, in honor of National Consumer
Protection Week, we’re highlighting the work of some of the Department’s
programs that directly impact consumers’ lives.
In addition to inspecting fuel pumps and scales, the Department's staff also perform egg inspections. Eggs inspections help to
ensure consumers expectations of high quality eggs are met during each and every purchase.
Eggs are quality checked before they
hit grocery store shelves to confirm the grades you see—AA, A or B. Inspectors
use a technique called “candling” where a special light is used to illuminate
the insides of the egg to determine percentages of air, yolk and white.
But wait…what about “Jumbo” eggs
compared to their “Large” counterparts? It’s all in what they weigh: “Jumbo” eggs
sitting on refrigerator shelves must weigh 30 ounces per dozen and the grades
continue down the scale until you reach the smallest egg classification—peewee
weighing in at only 15 ounces per dozen.
Grade
Shell
Air Pockets
Yolk
White
AA
Normal
< 3/8 inch
Slightly Defined
Firm
A
Normal
< 3/8 inch
Well-Defined
Reasonably Firm
B
Abnormal
> 3/8 inch
Plainly Visible
Weak & Watery
Want
to know more? Visit the Department online at mda.mo.gov. The Missouri
Department of Agriculture works hard each day to protect all Missourians.
Consumer Protection is a top priority for MDA, and our team takes pride in helping
consumers continue to enjoy a safe, fair marketplace.
The Missouri Department of Agriculture
touches the life of nearly every Missourian every day by ensuring that the
food, fuel and other products consumers buy for themselves and their families
are sold in a fair, equitable marketplace.
This week, in honor of National Consumer Protection Week, we’re
highlighting the work of some of the Department’s programs that directly impact
consumers’ lives.
The Missouri Department of Agriculture’s
Plant Pest Team protects Missouri forest land throughout the state. One of
their primary responsibilities is preventing the spread of invasive forest
pests, like the Emerald Ash Borer. Pests like Emerald Ash Borer can
create major headaches for homeowners and outdoor lovers, killing the ash trees
in their path. In some cases, that can
mean 30 or 40 percent of the trees in a subdivision or park. It also means that the native ash trees in Missouri’s
forests are at risk.
To
protect the state’s tree population, the Missouri Department of Agriculture works
with the Missouri departments of Conservation and Natural Resources, as well as
USDA and the University of Missouri’s Cooperative Extension Service on the
Missouri Emerald Ash Borer Program. The educational program encourages
Missourians to be aware of both signs and symptoms of the pest, avoid moving
firewood and understand what to do if and when EAB is found in their area.
Prevent the spread of the Emerald Ash
Borer:
Don’t move firewood EAB travels in firewood. The easiest way to keep it from
spreading is to avoid buying “exotic” firewood and/or moving it from place to
place. What is exotic firewood? Any stick of wood that comes from more than 50
miles from the place it was cut. If you burn firewood in your home stove or use
it for camping, cut and burn your own or make sure the wood you buy was
harvested nearby.
Don't plant ash trees
EAB feeds exclusively on ash trees. If you’re replacing trees or
planting new ones, it is best to choose from any number of other suitable
hardwoods for shade, habitat and timber.
Learn to identify infestations Check out photos of the borers and their tell-tale signs, such
as “D-shaped” exit holes in a tree’s bark, online at eab.missouri.edu. If you think you may have seen EAB, call 866-716-9974.
So
far, the Emerald Ash Borer has only been found in southeastern Missouri near
Wappapello Lake and near Kansas City, in Platte County.
Want
to know more? Visit the Department online at mda.mo.gov.
The Missouri Department of Agriculture works hard each day to protect all
Missourians. Our team takes pride in helping consumers continue to enjoy a
safe, fair marketplace, whether they’re filling their tank, are at the grocery
store or are selecting landscaping materials for their homes and businesses.
