Singer settles in as director of FSA (12/24/07) Jared Singer is starting to settle into his job as the new executive director of Saline County's Farm Service Agency (FSA), which he began on Nov. 13. "I'm still taking everything in and assessing what is going on and what we are working on," he said...

Record-setting corn, soybean farmer urges area farmers to try new ideas (12/18/07) Missouri farmer and soybean yield world record holder Kip Cullers has become enough of a celebrity that he has started a speaking tour. He's found it impossible to keep up with all the visitors to his large farming operation, K&K Farms, located in Newton and Barry counties...

Fletcher receives Distinguished Fellow of Agribusiness award (11/05/07) Standing behind, and in some cases, pushing up Missouri agribusinesses is something that sets apart this year's inaugural recipient of the Missouri Agribusiness Association (MO-AG) Distinguished Fellow of Agribusiness award. MO-AG members have honored Walker C. "Butch" Fletcher of Marshall for all he has given to the agribusiness community, according to a MO-AG news release...

The Houston E. Mull Memorial Cattle Drive/'The epitome of everything good in rural America' (11/05/07) The plan was for radio personality Trent Loos, his "pink" mule and a U.S. flag, that had recently been flown over the American embassy in Iraq, to lead the 55 Longhorn steers and over 300 riders into the corral north of Malta Bend, during the Fourth Annual Houston E. Mull Memorial FFA Scholarship Cattle Drive -- but "Sonny" had another idea...

Loos stands up to those who say agriculture 'stinks'/Annual Houston Mull Cattle Drive is a chance to honor a young man who wanted to make a career of farming (11/02/07) In 2000, Trent Loos, a sixth generation American farmer, heard a famous actor say he wanted to get rid of animal agriculture in the United States "because it stinks." "It was just the way that he said that, and me understanding that he is going to continue to say that unless somebody gets more aggressive standing up, telling the real story (of modern agriculture)."...

Officials play roles in agroterrorism exercise (12/14/05) By Mark Lile Staff Writer "What if?" That was the question of the day last Thursday during an agroterrorism awareness and planning meeting held in Marshall as part of a series of meetings around the state sponsored by the Missouri Department of Agriculture...

Family farms celebrated (11/11/05) Recognizing families that have kept farms for more than 100 years, the Saline County Commission and Saline County Extension Council hosted the annual Century Farm Celebration Thursday night at the Saline County Courthouse. This year, special recognition was given to the Clemens family (above) by officials including Presiding Commissioner Becky Plattner. The Clemens family has the oldest registered farm in Saline County...

Huskers from across Midwest gather for national competition (10/24/05) Although the weather was less than ideal, the 2005 weekend of corn husking championships got under way Friday morning near Van Meter State Park with several spirited contestants competing in the Missouri state championships. Contestants from all over the state arrived at the Hisle/Van Meter family-operated farm that lies just a stone's throw from Van Meter State Park...

Annual youth steer sale brings in $17,000+ (08/30/05) Paul Dehn's grand champion steer, selling for a premium, sold for $2,000 at the 2005 Saline County Steer Sale, held Aug 23, to a group of buyers including Central Missouri AgriServices, Wood and Huston Bank, attorney Jay Barton, Troy Maupin, American Family Insurance, KMMO, Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home, Jamie Ulbrich, M.D., John Rector Motors, Gencom, Evans Equipment, Coreslab, Farm Credit Services and Kelly Kelly...

Many hours, handed-down knowledge go into a grand champion steer (08/24/05) Paul Dehn, whose steer won the title of grand champion at this year's Saline County Fair and was first to go up for bids during Tuesday's annual steer sale, said raising a champion steer is a lot harder than most people who show up at the auction might think...

Annual steer sale also helps youth grow (08/24/05) When the annual Saline County Steer Sale rolls around in late August, buyers and residents who make their way to the county fairgrounds for the auction see the culmination of each youth's hard work in raising a steer from a calf to a market-ready animal...

Viets' grand champ barrow sets Sale of Champions record (08/22/05) Bling-Bling is one high-priced porker. Lowell Mohler Assembly Hall was packed with bidders as 9-year-old Kati Viets of Sweet Springs showed him at the Missouri State Fair Sale of Champions Saturday afternoon. It was only her second year showing at the state fair, "I've been showing since I was little, though."...

More than meats the eye (08/01/05) It was bright white and cold inside the meat processing plant. Twenty people huddled around a smoker as Jerry Bublitz explained how it fit into the process of turning a cut of swine into high-end, quality deli goods. Bublitz, manager and CEO of Alma Meats Inc., gave an inside look at the company's new facilities as part of a tour touting innovative businesses adding value to Missouri agricultural products...

MOre drought? Saline County farmers scored by recent heat and extended dry period (07/27/05) Baked earth, little rain and scorching heat; Missouri crops are taking a beating from uncooperative weather. Meager precipitation and soaring temperatures have reached a level that is putting a major crimp on farmers who, at the mercy of the weather, are struggling to fight back...

MME grand opening Friday (06/01/05) With this year's corn crop now emerging in fields throughout the area, Mid-Missouri Energy is ready to celebrate its own "home-grown" accomplishments with a grand opening and open house Friday, June 3, at the producer-owned ethanol plant just outside Malta Bend...

Registration open for century farms honor (05/31/05) Owners of century farms in Saline County, farms that have been in the same family for 100 years or more, are invited to register their farms with the University of Missouri Extension office. Farms must have been in the same family for 100 years as of Dec. 31, 2005, passed through a line of direct descendants such as spouses, children, siblings or nieces and nephews. At least 40 acres must be a part of the original farm and must make a financial contribution to the farm...

Experts share ag knowledge with beginning, women farmers (03/29/05) From those new to the field of agriculture to experienced farmers, Friday's Women and New Agricultural Landowners Conference at Malta Bend had something for everyone. Although the conference's title implied that it was centered around women and new agriculturists, it actually featured sessions for even the most seasoned ag producer...

Forester gives advice on tree selection (03/21/05) For those in Saline County wanting something tall, leafy and green sticking out of the ground in their yard, a qualified forester's advice may be of use. Those who attended a free workshop on Thursday, March 17, got just that as Missouri Department of Conservation resource forester Susan Troxel gave tips on which types of trees to plant and fielded questions...

Ethanol producer MME holds second annual meeting (02/28/05) Marvin Oerke proudly held up a small vial for a crowd of farmers to see on Saturday. Inside was a liquid with a powerful smell and powerful repercussions for the area. It was denatured ethanol. Oerke, a member of the Mid-Missouri Energy Inc.'s Board of Directors, showed off some of the substance now being produced just north of Malta Bend at the second annual meeting of MME. Around 200 people, most with a stake in the farmer-owned cooperative, filled the Malta Bend school gym for the meeting...

Australian farmers visit area, refresh friendships (02/28/05) Saline County has little in common with the Australian Outback, except for some bonds of friendship maintained over the years and refreshed last week. The quartet of Chris Kellock, John Ryan, Greg Holmes and Chris Dowling was introduced at a Saline County Commission meeting last week by Presiding Commissioner Becky Plattner after the Australians made a special visit to the area...

Soybean rust disease topic of March 3 meeting (02/28/05) A grower meeting to discuss the soybean rust fungal disease will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 3, at Santa Fe High School in Alma. This event is sponsored by the Santa Fe Agri-Leaders. The discussion is open to the public so all growers and interested persons are invited to attend. ...

Area cattlemen hear update about national concerns at annual banquet (02/09/05) Remember the highly popular Wendy's commercials that ran over a decade ago and featured an elderly woman whose famous line, "Where's the beef?" spurred the franchise into the national fast-food spotlight? Well, according to Brent Bryant, executive vice president for the Missouri Cattlemen's Association [MCA], "the beef" is all over the state of Missouri...

Family farms celebrated (11/10/04) Saline County may be able to boast the highest concentration of century farms in the state of Missouri. "You're at least at the top," David Baker, dean of agricultural outreach and extension for the University of Missouri, said Tuesday night as 11 new century farms -- farms that have been kept in the same family for at least 100 years -- were added to Saline County's tally...

Keep them dogies rollin' (11/08/04) A herd of about 100 exhausted black cow calf pairs plodded down dusty Saline County back roads Saturday, working their way from Marshall Junction to the Mull family farm near Malta Bend with about 130 cowboys and girls rallied behind them. For the cows, it was a 20 mile marathon that they weren't quite prepared for. For the cowpokes, it was a chance to honor the memory of young man in an ol' fashioned western way...

Program to honor area families with farm roots dating back 100 years (11/02/04) Tilling the land in Saline County is a tradition for many families. Many children have been born on or at least near the same ground that they in turn made a living from; passing the farms down to their own descendants. For more than 75 of these families, sowing and reaping the same soil is a legacy that dates back more than 100 years. ...

Child killed in harvest accident (10/25/04) Tragedy struck a Saline County farm family Sunday when a 10-year-old died after falling into a truck used for hauling grain. Saline County Sheriff Wally George said the accident was reported around 6:30 p.m., with officers and emergency medical personnel being called to a farm located at Route D and County Road 146. Upon their arrival, they discovered six men in a large dump grain trailer still trying to rescue Travis D. Lunn of rural Slater...

Wet, cold start doesn't slow annual state corn husking competition (10/04/04) It takes more than a little rain and chilly temperatures to dampen the Missouri State Corn Husking Champion-ships, as weather Friday and Saturday morning proved, though it still took its bite out of attendance at events. The 2004 weekend celebration and competition started off with a drizzle Friday, with a steadier and steadier downpour growing, soaking the parade route as the Marshall High School marching band, floats, teamsters and horses trooped through downtown Friday afternoon. ...

Field lesson (10/01/04) Students from Slater learn old-fashioned corn harvest techniques from Wayne McReynolds of Marshall, who shows them how machines (above) were used to rip corn from the husk in the process of shelling. McReynolds also showed students what corn looks like at different points of the harvest process (below)...

Scholarship effort receives major start from steer sale (08/30/04) While youth from across the county groomed steers and parents, businessmen and other residents settled into the bleachers of the livestock barn last Tuesday evening at the Saline County Fairground in Marshall, it wasn't just another youth steer show that attracted so much interest...

FSA disaster loans available (08/25/04) The Farm Service Agency has announced that 58 counties in Missouri, including Saline, Lafayette and Johnson counties, will have FSA disaster loans for damage done by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding which occurred from May 18 through May 31. Loans for physical losses are available to be used to replace or repair damage to buildings, fences or to compensate the farmer for losses of livestock, stored crops, equipment, etc., that was lost due to the disaster. ...

Skelton presents $500,000 grant to MME (08/16/04) With an oversized, fake check to the tune of $500,000, U.S. Rep. "Ike" Skelton of Lexington looked a bit like the Publisher's Clearinghouse Prize Patrol as he posed for pictures with the officers, board and representiaves of Mid-Missouri Energy Inc...

Youth steer sale set for Aug. 24 (08/12/04) The 2004 Saline County Fair Steer Sale will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24, at the Saline County Fairground in Marshall. 4-H and FFA members from the county will sell this year's project animals to the public. Businesses, community leaders, civic clubs and individuals are asked to support the youth by purchasing an animal or contributing to the premium...

Duct tape, soda and fun at Junior Barnyard Olympics (07/19/04) From first-timers like Bryce Allison to veterans like Paige Fifer, this year's Junior Barnyard Olympics featured tough competition. The contest, which took place Thursday, is a staple of the Saline County Fair and includes several unique events such as the egg toss, the sack race, the calf suck and more. Participants completed all events to score points and show their prowess in barnyard skills; with their ultimate goal winning a $15 first prize...

No-till field day set for July 1 (06/29/04) Those interesting in learning more about no-till farming can attend a free seminar Thursday, July 1, at a demonstration farm east of Miami. Mendell Elson of Miami will talk about his no-till farm on location, and Slater farmer Jim Klasing will join him...

Van Meter garden growing the past (06/10/04) An unusual-looking garden is growing on a plot of land at Van Meter State Park near Marshall, bearing fruits and vegetables and serving as a glance into the past. Copying the Hidatsa Indians' agricultural methods, a group of Saline County Master Gardeners volunteered to plant, cultivate and harvest an American Indian interpretive garden presenting corn, beans and squash, known by Indians as the life-giving spirits they called the three sisters...

Extension accepting applications for Century Farms Program recognizing families' history and heritage (03/23/04) A century of farming covers a lot of history and the Saline County University Outreach and Extension office plans to recognize some of that heritage through the 2004 Missouri Century Farms program. Cynthia Crawford, a specialist at the Extension office, said the office has been honoring Century Farms since 1985, and the statewide program has done so since 1976...

Men, lots of women from across Missouri attend landowners conference (03/22/04) Agriculture landowners from across Missouri attended the Women Agricultural Landowners and New Ag Landowner Partners workshop in Malta Bend Friday. Among those attending was Patty Edwards of Kearney, who took part in sessions on estate planning and negotiating leases. An owner of 163 acres in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Conservation Reserve Program, she wanted to learn of any changes in the rules for her Carroll County land...

Master Gardeners ready to answer calls for help (03/19/04) Questions about gardening? The Saline County Master Gardeners are ready to answer. A Master Gardeners hot line will be operational starting Monday, March 22, at the Saline County University Outreach and Extension center in Marshall. Using the office's regular business number, (660) 886-6908, volunteer master gardeners will be available from 9 a.m. to noon each Monday to answer all types of gardening questions...

Plant a Row for the Hungry program to begin in county (03/16/04) Members of the Saline County University Outreach and Extension's Master Gardeners group are looking forward to adding rows and plants to their gardens this year. Some members have already planted a few seeds and are waiting until the weather warms up so they can transplant the seedlings in their outdoor gardens. But what the gardeners are looking forward to most is giving away part of the produce through the Plant a Row for the Hungry program...

Conference to cover landowner planning, legal issues (03/16/04) For those who have recently acquired agricultural land, who lease land they own in another state or who want to make sure their farm will continue operating through another generation, University Outreach and Extension has organized an informative workshop in Malta Bend Friday...

FFA alumni set second banquet (03/09/04) The Marshall FFA Alumni Chapter will hold its second annual banquet and silent auction Saturday, March 13, in the Saline County Fairground multipurpose building. The silent auction will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. The menu for the meal will include pork loin, scalloped potatoes, green beans, corn and dessert. Donations for tickets are suggested at $8 for adults and $5 for children 8 and younger...

Alma Meats to renovate instead of building new facility (03/02/04) Alma Farm Fresh Meats has changed its immediate plan from building a new facility to renovating its current one to allow for in-house slaughtering, processing and marketing. Investors wanting to join the producer-owned cooperative must act by April 1, when the co-op will close membership and start accessing the money collected...

Monsanto rep says responsibility comes with biotech development (02/20/04) Biotechnology focus of speaker during annual farmer appreciation luncheon

Ag specialists to speak at Soils and Crops Conference next week (01/07/04) Trent Loos to be keynote speaker; focus on how media, public perceive farmers

Missouri agriculture director addresses young farmers in Alma (01/07/04) Missouri Director of Agriculture Peter Hofherr addressed a crowd of about 60 in Alma Tuesday night during the joint annual meeting of the Santa Fe Agri-Leaders and Central District Young Farmers and Young Farm Wives. Hofherr covered a variety of agriculture topics during his 40-minute speech and said he has three goals for Missouri agriculture: creating entrepreneurial opportunities for producers, changing how people perceive agriculture and creating regulations that don't hinder producers...