(News release) – Farmers are being sought to participate in the 2017-2018 University of Missouri Extension Strip Trial Program, which helps farmers and crop advisers compare on-farm management decisions and practices.

The program uses on-farm, field-scale research to give growers farm-specific data to guide decisions that can protect or improve the bottom line, said MU Extension nutrient management specialist John Lory.

MU Extension conducts the Strip Trial Program in collaboration with the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council and their checkoffs.

Farmers work with an MU Extension specialist or crop consultant of their choice and use their own equipment. Trials are long strips of land laid out side by side in a field with different management practices or treatments. Participants receive a personalized report on the results on their farm. They also have access to the results of other trials.

A farmer panel sets trial priorities each year. This year, the farmer panel prioritized cover crop management trials and nitrogen management trials.

One cover crop trial allows farmers to test if winter wheat can be planted successfully instead of cereal rye without lowering yields of corn or soybean.

In a new trial for 2018, farmers can test a cover crop of their choice to plant after soybean and before corn. This will help farmers and MU Extension collect real-world data on cover crop systems that might provide sufficient cover without compromising corn management after soybean. Farmers choose the type of cover crop and whether to drill or broadcast.

A third cover crop trial lets farmers test alternative termination dates for an existing cover crop. This is a great option for farmers who already have a cover crop planted and have questions about the risks and rewards with different timings for killing the cover crop, Lory said.

Researchers in the Strip Trial Program are willing to work with any farmer interested in testing delayed nitrogen applications, such as side-dressing nitrogen, or any nitrogen decision-support tool in corn, milo or wheat fields. MU specialists will be matched to individual farmers in northeastern and central Missouri.

A fifth trial examines crop response to phosphorous fertilizer. Farmers will have strips with and without phosphorous fertilizer to see where in the field yield benefits are seen.

Finally, 2018 will be the second year to test the effectiveness of ILeVO seed treatment on yield and nematode numbers.

Those interested in having a trial on their farm can contact their local MU Extension center or one of the contacts below.

“Our goal is to have a local extension person work with you to lay out the trial,” said Lory. “In all trials, we need to get the yield map for the field after harvest. All fields are surveyed with aerial photography at least once during the growing season. And for specialized trials, such as the phosphorus trial, there may be soil sampling done by the program.”

Farmers prioritize which trials are important and volunteer to have tests on their fields.

“This program is a great collaboration between MU Extension, the corn and soybean organizations, and farmers,” Lory said. “MU brings expertise to help farmers implement the trial and bring scientific rigor to the tests and the reported results for each trial. Ultimately, Missourians all benefit from this collaboration as we integrate lessons learned about cover crops and nutrients across multiple trials and multiple years.”

Lory said farmers participated in 55 trials in both 2016 and 2017. In 2018, the goal is at least 60 strip trials across Missouri.

For more information, contact Lory at loryj@missouri.edu, Greg Luce at luceg@missouri.edu or Darrick Steen at dsteen@mosoy.org.

Northwest Missouri State University’s “Bearcats Around the World” Homecoming Week kicks off Sunday.  

Highlights of the week include the Homecoming parade, variety show and football game. 

Bob Machovsky is the director of alumni relations and annual giving at Northwest. Machovsky said alumni events during the week include the 50 year reunion of the class of 1967. 

“What’s so great about alumni and friends of Northwest is that they have this passion that is really unmatched for another university and to watch them come back and share their pride with each other about the university and all the things that are going on with Northwest is really something special,” Machovsky said. “Homecoming week is an opportunity for us to really just celebrate in the fact of how great Northwest is and the love that our alumni and friends have for this institution.” 

The week begins Sunday, Oct. 15, with the hanging of the banners at the J.W. Jones Student Union. 

The annual Homecoming parade begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, at the corner of Ray and College Avenue and travels east on Fourth Street. 

The Northwest football team will take on Lindenwood University Saturday. The game begins at 2 p.m. at Bearcat Stadium. The volleyball team will also be playing games during homecoming weekend. The Bearcats will face Washburn University Friday and then Emporia State on Saturday. Both games begin at 6 p.m. in Bearcat Arena. 

For more information on homecoming and a schedule, click here.

(News release) – More than 2,500 high school sophomores from 49 Northwest Missouri schools will learn about their possible careers at the ninth annual My Success Event Oct. 18 and 19 at Wyatt Park Baptist Church, 2902 N. Leonard Road.

St. Joseph and regional businesses depend on a skilled, educated and productive workforce. Growth opportunities for existing business and new potential companies looking to expand into the region place a high priority on the availability of a quality workforce. It’s also important to let students know what career options are available in our area.

The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce organizes the event, with participation from multiple local and regional partners. The event is presented by one of St. Joseph’s largest employers: Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.

More than 70 businesses and many university, college and technical centers will be available to talk with students about possible careers and the education needed to work in those fields. The event, which is filled with interactive displays and experiences, runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each day.

More than 50 volunteers are utilized to assist with the event. For more information visit this website: http://themysuccessevent.com/

Residents in northeast Kansas are being warned of scammers threatening to foreclosure on their property if they don’t pay back taxes.

Brown County Sheriff, John Merchant said he’s received several reports from residents who have received calls from individuals threatening to satisfy an order of foreclosure.

“We have had one person who then received a call from an individual following up on the automated call. The individual stated the resident owed back taxes on the property and unless
immediate payment was made, the property would no longer belong to them and they would be evicted immediately,” Merchant said. “The caller wanted bank account information to obtain a payment and also wanted a social security number for verification. At that point this resident knew it was a scam and hung up the phone.”

Merchant reminds residents never to give out any personal information over the phone or computer.

Senator Roy Blunt was in St. Joseph Thursday morning to discuss mental and behavioral health efforts as part of a statewide pilot program.

Blunt spoke at the Family Guidance Center during a press conference as part of a tour of Missouri to talk about the Excellence in Mental Health Act which he co-sponsored with Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. It was signed into law in 2014 and through it, pilot programs were established in eight states to expand access to community mental health services and more. 

Missouri is one of the eight pilot states chosen and Blunt is visiting the agencies in the state to see how the Act is being implemented.

“It’s great to see Missouri in the lead in this, it’s great to see right here in this facility a 107 year tradition of understanding that behavioral health problems need to be dealt with like all other health problems,” Blunt said. “So we’ve got a couple of years here to really create a record that shows the other 42 states how you really do this and how it matters.”

Amy Spaeth is the Vice President of Finance at the Family Guidance Center in St. Joseph. Spaeth said the pilot program started in July and things are going well so far. 

“We’ve added some new services which has been very exciting, we’ve been able to do some things that we haven’t been able to do before because it’s kind of a change in how we do business,” Spaeth said. “We’ve been able to add some services for kids with substance use disorders, we’ve been able to add some peer support specialists for adults with substance use disorders.” 

Spaeth said, with the program, there’s also been some changes with reimbursement methodology which could allow them to increase their workforce.

“One of the things we struggle with, and as a nation we struggle with, is a shortage of mental health professionals,” Spaeth said. “So hopefully by being able to pay a more competitive wage we’ll be able to decrease that shortage.” 

Blunt recently introduced legislation that would extend the time of the Excellence in Mental Health pilot program for states currently participating.

“I think what we’re going to see… is that actually you spend less money on health overall if you deal with behavioral health problems like all other health problems,” Blunt said. “We need to establish a culture here of no wrong door. Whatever healthcare door you open, leads you to health care solutions for all the problems you face, not just the physical health problems you face.”

(News release) – Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway announced her office has issued two subpoenas to compel the Smithville Fire Protection District and the Smithville fire chief to provide documents associated with an ongoing audit of the district.

“We have made numerous attempts to work with the district and its officials to get the information needed to conduct this audit, but they have failed to provide documents or sent incomplete records, slowing down our audit work,” Auditor Galloway said. “The citizens served by the Smithville Fire Protection District requested this audit and this lack of cooperation is a disservice to their efforts to pursue transparency in their local government.”

The subpoena includes a list of documents requested by the State Auditor that have not been provided. The district must send a representative to provide sworn testimony on these matters. In addition, the auditor’s office is requiring the fire chief provide sworn testimony.

The State Auditor is authorized by Missouri law to issue subpoenas to compel testimony and evidence as necessary to conduct an audit.

An event is planned for this weekend to remember Stormi Harbord and address issues surrounding domestic violence.

Family members are inviting the public to gather Saturday to celebrate Harbord’s life. Harbord was killed earlier this month in St. Joseph. The memorial gathering will take place at 1 p.m. at Evolution United Methodist Church located at 202 W. Hyde Park Ave. Terresa Parks, Harbord’s cousin said they plan to sing, share a potluck meal and release balloons. She said they are also trying to address the issue of domestic violence.

“We’re going to eat, we’re going to sing songs and we’re going to talk about some uncomfortable things,” Parks said. “We’re going to talk about some of Stormi’s favorite things and we’re going to talk about if you would like to help with her five children here are the ways you can help and then we’re going to do a balloon release. At that time if they want to stick around for awhile with the professionals and the ministers I will leave the doors open for awhile until the last one’s gone.”

Terrell Smith has been charged in Buchanan County with a felony of second-degree murder in connection with Harbord’s death. Parks said Smith and Harbord had been in a relationship prior to the shooting.

“I’m just really hoping that out of all of it when it’s time to leave this place, somebody if just by the loss of what Stormi went through can at least save one person,” Park said. “It’s just so hard to look at such a beautiful girl and think, ‘how did no one know?'”

Parks said the community is invited to attend Saturday’s event.  She is also inviting ministers and people who deal with domestic violence issues.  Parks said she hopes the gathering will bring the community together.

“The violence in our community has taken over,” Parks said. “We always say we want to fight back but nobody knows how to. So we just have to start taking things piece by piece and start picking stuff apart.”

For more information on the memorial gathering CLICK HERE.

NEW YORK (AP) — In a historic change, the Boy Scouts are announcing plans to admit girls into the Cub Scouts starting next year and to establish a new program for older girls using the same curriculum as the Boy Scouts.

Under the plan announced Wednesday, Cub Scout dens — the smallest unit — will be single-gender, either all-boys or all-girls. The larger Cub Scout packs will have the option to welcome both genders if they choose.

The program for older girls is expected to start in 2019 and will enable girls to earn the coveted rank of Eagle Scout.

Boy Scout leaders say the change is needed to provide more options for parents. The Girl Scouts organization has criticized the initiative, saying it strains the century-old bond between the two groups.