The Department of Energy has released a report on the expansion of wind energy in the U.S. and the U.S. manufacturing that is supporting the surge. The nation was one of the world’s largest and fastest growing wind markets in the world in 2011. Wind power represented 32-percent of all new electric capacity added in the U.S. last year. The states of Texas, Iowa, California, Illinois, Minnesota, Washington, Oregon, Oklahoma, Colorado and North Dakota were leading the way with the most installed wind capacity at the end of 2011 and account for almost 75-percent of U.S. wind capacity. Overall – the U.S. has now installed 50 gigawatts of wind energy. The turbines power the equivalent of nearly 13-million American homes. It’s estimated the wind energy industry supports 75-thousand full-time jobs at more than 400 facilities across 43 states.

The Energy Department says the percentage of wind equipment made in the United States has also expanded dramatically. In fact – nearly 70-percent of the equipment installed at U.S. wind farms last year – including wind turbines and components like towers, blades, gears and generators – was made in the U.S. That’s up from just 35-percent in 2005.

The growth in domestic wind energy deployment could dramatically slow in 2013 – according to the Department of Energy report. This is due in part to the possible expiration of federal renewable energy tax incentives. The Production Tax Credit is set to expire at the end of the year. This credit has helped drive the industry’s growth and the wind industry projects 37-thousand jobs could be lost if the credit is allowed to expire. President Obama has called on Congress to pass legislation that extends the credit.

Sedalia, MO – Sara Gillum, daughter of Bradley Gillum and Lori O’Reilly from Unionville, is the exhibitor of the 2012 Grand Champion Meat Goat at the Missouri State Fair. Her goat weighed 84 pounds. She is a member of the Unionville FFA Chapter.

The Reserve Grand Champion Meat Goat honor went to Gage Porter, son of Gary and Lori Porter of Mercer. His goat weighed 83 pounds. He is a member of the Princeton FFA Chapter.

On Aug. 18, both meat goats will be two of 12 lots offered in the Youth in Agriculture Sale of Champions. Proceeds from the annual sale benefit both the winning exhibitors and the Missouri State Fair Youth in Agriculture Scholarship Program.

 

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Looking for local competitor’s and how they did at this years state fair?

You can find photo’s of all competitors online at mostatefair.com.

Here’s just a few competitors from Northwest Missouri.

Agricultural Summary from the USDA

Cooler temperatures offered a reprieve from the oppressive heat, but conditions remained dry.  There were 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork.  Topsoil moisture supply was 89 percent very short, 10 percent short, and 1 percent adequate.  Subsoil moisture supplywas 88 percent very short, 11 percent short, and 1 percent adequate.  The 1 percent adequate for topsoil and subsoil was due to irrigation in the southeast district.

Field Crops Report

Corn dough stage and beyond was 94 percent, 2 weeks ahead of last year, and 3 weeks ahead of normal; southern districts were complete.  Corn dented was 75 percent, 12 days ahead of last year, and 19 days ahead of normal.  Corn mature was 35 percent, 17 days ahead of last year, and 3 weeks ahead of normal.  Corn harvested for grain was 10 percent, 21 days ahead of last year, and 23 days ahead of normal.  Corn condition, similar to last week, was 57 percent very poor, 27 percent poor, 12 percent fair, 3 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.  High winds damaged some corn in the central district.  Soybeans blooming and beyond were 92 percent, 1 week ahead of last year, and 12 days ahead of normal.  Soybeans setting pods and beyond was 61 percent, 4 days ahead of last year, and 1 week ahead of normal.  Soybeans began to turn color.  Soybean condition was 39 percent very poor, 36 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 5 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.  Cotton setting bolls and beyond was 81 percent, 10 days behind last year, and 12 days behind normal.  Cotton opening bolls was 9 percent, 12 days ahead of last year, and 9 days ahead of normal.  Cotton condition was 12 percent very poor, 31 percent poor, 42 percent fair, 13 percent good, and 2 percent excellent.  Rice headed was 77 percent, 16 days ahead of last year, and 9 days ahead of normal.  Rice condition was 5 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 20 percent excellent.  Sorghum headed and beyond was 77 percent, 8 days ahead of last year, and 6 days ahead of normal.  Sorghum turning color and beyond was 26 percent, 8 days ahead of 2011, and 4 days ahead of normal.  Sorghum mature was 2 percent with south-central district 75 percent mature.  Sorghum condition was 23 percent very poor, 38 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 9 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.  Alfalfa hay 3^rd cutting was 59 percent, 2 days behind last year, but 5 days ahead of normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition at 85 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, and 2 percent fair, was similar to last week.  Supply of hay and other roughages, also similar, was 57 percent very short, 32 percent short, and 11 percent adequate.  Stock water supplies were 67 percent very short, 24 percent short, and 9 percent adequate.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were 2 degrees below to 1 degree above average.  Precipitation averaged 0.24 of an inch.  Greene County received 1.73 inches.

Corn dough stage and beyond was 94 percent, 2 weeks ahead of last year, and 3 weeks ahead of normal; southern districts were complete.  Corn dented was 75 percent, 12 days ahead of last year, and 19 days ahead of normal.  Corn mature was 35 percent, 17 days ahead of last year, and 3 weeks ahead of normal.  Corn harvested for grain was 10 percent, 21 days ahead of last year, and 23 days ahead of normal.  Corn condition, similar to last week, was 57 percent very poor, 27 percent poor, 12 percent fair, 3 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.  High winds damaged some corn in the central district.  Soybeans blooming and beyond were 92 percent, 1 week ahead of last year, and 12 days ahead of normal.  Soybeans setting pods and beyond was 61 percent, 4 days ahead of last year, and 1 week ahead of normal.  Soybeans began to turn color.  Soybean condition was 39 percent very poor, 36 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 5 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.  Cotton setting bolls and beyond was 81 percent, 10 days behind last year, and 12 days behind normal.  Cotton opening bolls was 9 percent, 12 days ahead of last year, and 9 days ahead of normal.  Cotton condition was 12 percent very poor, 31 percent poor, 42 percent fair, 13 percent good, and 2 percent excellent.  Rice headed was 77 percent, 16 days ahead of last year, and 9 days ahead of normal.  Rice condition was 5 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 20 percent excellent.  Sorghum headed and beyond was 77 percent, 8 days ahead of last year, and 6 days ahead of normal.  Sorghum turning color and beyond was 26 percent, 8 days ahead of 2011, and 4 days ahead of normal.  Sorghum mature was 2 percent with south-central district 75 percent mature.  Sorghum condition was 23 percent very poor, 38 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 9 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.  Alfalfa hay 3^rd cutting was 59 percent, 2 days behind last year, but 5 days ahead of normal.

 

 

August 11, 2012, Sedalia, MO – Award-winning entries in Fine Arts were recognized at a reception held Wednesday on the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia. Winners were named in the open, photography and porcelain art categories, as well as those who placed in the Missouri Top 50 and Missouri Junior Top 50 categories.

Receiving Missouri Top 50 first-money awards, $800 cash each, were Brooke Cameron of Columbia, Norleen Nosri of Columbia, Matt Rahner of Columbia and Joshua Martin of Windsor. Recipients of honorable mentions, in the same category, were Ashlee Embry of Versailles, Dennis Murphy of Columbia, Lloyd Grotjan of California and Peggy Wyman of Macomb.

Receiving Missouri Junior Top 50 first-money awards, $80 cash each, were Ethan Helkey of Louisiana, Deaven Kaiser of Sedalia, and Cheyenne Foster of Clarksville. Recipients of honorable mentions, in the same category, were Mickayla Nilges of Lawson, William Haines of Louisiana, Savannah Boehlein of Louisiana, and Leevi Walker of Devier.

A complete list of competition results is available at www.mostatefair.com.

State Fair Community College of Sedalia also made an art purchase at the reception. SFCC’s President Dr. Marsha Drennon presented Charles Denton with $550 for “EC #30”.

The winning art will be on display in the Fine Arts Building during the Missouri State Fair. Visitors to the Fine Arts Building will also have an opportunity to watch photography, sculpture and pottery demonstrations.