In what has become a familiar routine this year, government officials will be assessing damage in 15 Missouri counties from a recent wind and hail storm.

Gov. Jay Nixon has asked the federal Farm Service Agency to survey damage from storms between Aug. 18 and Aug. 22 in central, western and northwestern Missouri. The assessments are the first step in determining whether farmers in certain counties can qualify for emergency loans or other federal aid.

The August outbreak of high wind and hail was the latest in a series of storms, floods and tornadoes that have caused damage in Missouri, beginning this spring.

The 15 counties being assessed this time are Andrew, Atchison, Caldwell, Cooper, DeKalb, Gentry, Holt, Johnson, Lafayette, Moniteau, Nodaway, Pettis, Platte, Saline and Worth.

ELLSWORTH, Kan. (AP) – The days of the Old West will return to parts of Kansas in the next three weeks.

A 200-mile cattle drive starts Saturday near Caldwell and will end Sept. 24 in Ellsworth. The drive is part of the state’s 150^th Anniversary celebration.

About 200 cattle will be gathered Saturday in a pasture south of Caldwell. At least seven drovers will round up the herd Monday and drive them through Caldwell.

One of the event’s organizers, Dennis Katzenmeier, says more cattle will be added as the drive continues, with plans to end the in Ellsworth with 400 head of cattle.

From Caldwell, the cattle will be driven to Kingman on an old cattle trail. Several cow camps will be staged along the way.

(Sedalia, Mo.) — After an extensive and thoughtful search, the Missouri State Fair Foundation (MSFF) has selected Wendy Faulconer as it’s new executive director.

“Wendy Faulconer is the ideal person to lead the Foundation into the future,” said Marion Lucas, Foundation Chairman. “Faulconer’s leadership, expertise, and passion for the Missouri State Fair will enable the Foundation to succeed in it’s mission of preserving, improving and perpetuating the rich heritage of the Missouri State Fair.”

Faulconer has more than 15 years experience working with non-profit organizations and public agencies. She has administered and written grants for the Missouri Department of Education, Missouri Department of Transportation, private foundations, and public schools.

Faulconer has worked closely with the Resource Development staff at Children’s Mercy Hospital to raise thousands of dollars. She is currently Chair of the Children’s Mercy Regional Council, and a member of the Benton County 4-H Fair Board, Daughters of the American Revolution and the Benton County Historical Society. Faulconer is a long time resident of the area and resides in Warsaw with her family. The Fair has been a family tradition for four generations.

“I am honored to have been chosen as the new director of the Foundation, which has made so many important contributions to the Missouri State Fair; and to have the opportunity to take the Foundation to new levels that will have an even greater impact on those who participate in the Fair.”

MINNETONKA, MINN. — August 30, 2011 — Syngenta in North America has released 19 new NK brand soybean products for the 2012 growing season. The new varieties provide growers with increased options to maximize yield under a variety of growing conditions and soil types.

“Syngenta is excited to expand our portfolio of NK brand soybeans with proven genetics that consistently deliver excellent yield,” said Tracy Mader, head of soybeans at Syngenta. “For three years running, NK brand soybeans have delivered up to a 6 bu/A advantage twice as often as competitor products¹ – that’s the NK Advantage at work.”

Developed from the largest and most advanced germplasm pool in the soybean industry, the new products provide superior, bred-in insect and disease protection against pests such as Soybean Cyst Nematode and Root Knot Nematode and diseases ranging from Phytophthora Root Rot, Sudden Death Syndrome and Iron Deficiency Chlorosis to Frogeye Leaf Spot, Brown Stem Rot and Southern Stem Canker. The new varieties include selections for relative maturities ranging from very early 0.09 to very late 7.4

Syngenta’s AMS^TM (Aphid Management System^TM) technology is in two of the new products. AMS technology combines elite NK brand soybean genetics with resistance to soybean aphids, supported by CruiserMaxx^® Beans insecticide/fungicide seed treatment to protect against aphids. Research trials show that AMS technology has been proven to increase yields by up to 5.4 bu/A in sites with severe aphid infestation and reduce aphid populations by 86 percent.² These new AMS products have relative maturities of 1.2 and 1.7 and will expand the AMS offerings to the northern reaches of the aphid infestation area.

Research is underway in Western North Dakota to produce a sugarbeet fit for processing into an alternative fuel. Farmer Steve Knorr says the search is on for high value crops.

The groups working together on the sugarbeet research includes North Dakota State University. The groups hope to create an advanced biofuel using locally grown energy beets, which are sugar-type beets not produced for food.

Currently seven test plots are being utilized in the research. 

Farmer Steve Knorr says the cost of producing sugarbeets is similar to corn.

And what about equipment costs?  Ron Holth of the Green Vision Group says you can estimate spending about 1-thousand dollars per acre in capital costs but your revenue per acre could be higher.

When Congress returns from the August recess – there won’t be much time left for the committees to make their recommendations to the super committee tasked with developing a bill to make dramatic spending cuts and potentially dramatic policy changes.

House Ag Committee Chairman Frank Lucas notes October 14th is the target date for making recommendations to the super committee. He says his priority is working with Ranking Member Collin Peterson and the other Ag Committee members to get a grip on this budget process and how to handle the committee’s recommendations.

Based on rough estimations – Congressman Peterson suggested ahead of the August recess that agriculture might fare better under across-the-board cuts. Lucas is trying to determine if that’s the case – but wants hard numbers before a decision is made.

If the super committee were to target and eliminate direct payments – Lucas says the House Ag Committee would suddenly be faced with having to write a new farm bill.

Once the super committee makes its recommendations – Lucas says all committees will get a chance to discuss and make a recommendation to reject or accept the proposal. It will then go to a vote where the proposal must get the approval of 51 Senators, 218 Representatives and the President to become law.

If the super committee is not able to reach those thresholds – or if reasonable, rational recommendations are made and the framework of the farm bill is held together – Lucas says the Ag Committees can work towards a regular farm bill under regular order in the spring and summer of 2012. But if dramatic changes are recommended – Lucas says the Ag Committees might have to write a new farm bill this October or November.