During the coming planting season – farmers in four Midwestern states will participate in Monsanto’s Ground Breakers testing program for FieldScripts. FieldScripts is Monsanto’s first product from the Integrated Farming Systems platform and is designed to give farmers a new approach to boosting on-farm productivity while supporting more sustainable ag systems for the growing world. Monsanto’s IFS Commercial Lead John Raines says FieldScripts has been tested during the past two years – and Monsanto has seen consistent yield increases when farmers use the product. During the 2013 Ground Breakers trials – twice as many farmers will test the product. Monsanto anticipates launching the product in 2014 in the DEKALB corn brand in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Minnesota.
Category: Local News
(Update) Dozens Evacuated At MWSU Murphy Hall
Students at Missouri Western in their first week of classes at Murphy Hall were evacuated briefly Tuesday, after smoke from a burnt-out ventilator motor filled the first floor of the building.
The incident started at about 1:40 p.m. just as one class session was about to end and another was about to start. By about 2:15 pm the fire department had cleared the scene except for one unit that remained behind to ventilate the building.
University spokesman Kent Heier tells us that dozens of students, faculty and staff were evacuated from the building.
“At least one hundred people were evacuated, maybe more, it’s hard to tell,” Heier said. “It came as one class session was about to end and another was about to start. It’s difficult to say how many of the people milling around had evacuated and how many were trying to get in for the next class period.”
Heier says there were approximately 16 classes in session when the evacuation was ordered, and another, like number about to start. This was only the second day of classes of the new semester, and the first day on the Tuesday-Thursday schedule.
Murphy Hall is a general purpose classroom building. Several academic departments are housed there, including Nursing, Communication Studies, and Education.
There were no injuries.
Heier said the 3:00 and 3:30 p.m. classes were expected to take place as scheduled.
Saint Joseph Celebrates Major Expansion
Saint Joseph celebrated the expansion of a major employer in two ceremonies Tuesday. City, state, and company officials broke ground at Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc’s new warehouse in the Eastowne Business Park. Then they cut the ribbon for the new Vetmedica Administrative Building on Gene Field Road at Woodbine.
The 100,000 square-foot administrative building can house more than 300 employees and represents a $23-million capital investment by the company. The 260,000 square-foot warehouse is a $30-million investment that retains 60 jobs in Saint Joseph and creates 25 new logistics jobs. Governor Jay Nixon was among the state officials attending the ceremonies.
Specialists Recommend Selling Grain This Fall
Due to extreme drought – farmers are preparing to harvest corn and soybean crops in poorer conditions than expected – and Ag Economist Corinne Alexander says farmers have to decide whether to store their grain or sell it directly from the field – hoping for higher prices. In most cases – shesays farmers should take their grain straight to the elevator. The market is giving a strong signal to farmers to deliver early and at harvest – according to Alexander – because storage will not be profitable for corn or soybeans. USDA estimates along with declining crop conditions have increased prices for both crops – but prices are likely to come down during the first quarter of 2013 when South American farmers harvest their crops.
Alexander says there are only two reasons farmers should store grain in a short crop year – if they are livestock producers supplying their own feed or if they have contracts with food or ethanol processors specifying a later delivery date. This fall – unless farmers work fast to get grain dried down to appropriate levels – Grain Quality Specialist Richard Stroshine says their crop could spoil in the bin.
Missouri Crop Progress and Condition
Agricultural Summary
Western districts enjoyed some precipitation, but the rest of the state remained dry. There were 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork allowing harvest of nearly half a million corn acres. Topsoil moisture improved to 85 percent very short, 11 percent short, and 4 percent adequate but remaining significantly below the 5-year average of 15 percent very short, 27 percent short, 53 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supply was 88 percent very short, 11 percent short, and 1 percent adequate.
Field Crops Report
Corn dented was 93 percent, 8 days ahead of last year, and 3 weeks ahead of normal (5-year average). Corn mature was 67 percent, 15 days ahead of 2011 and 23 days ahead of normal. Corn harvested now at 32 percent, was 22 days ahead of last year, and 27 days ahead of normal. Corn moisture at harvest was 16.8 percent ranging from 18.9 percent in the north-central to 13.2 percent in the west-central district. Corn condition declined to 58 percent very poor, 27 percent poor, 11 percent fair, 3 percent good, and 1 percent excellent. Soybeans setting pods and beyond were 85 percent, 3 days ahead of last year, and 6 days ahead of normal. Soybeans turning color and beyond were 13 percent, 9 days ahead of last year, and 8 days ahead of normal. Soybeans dropping leaves and beyond were 3 percent, 9 days ahead of last year, and 6 days ahead of normal. Soybean condition declined to 46 percent very poor, 32 percent poor, 15 percent fair, 6 percent good, and 1 percent excellent. Cotton opening bolls was 32 percent, 8 days ahead of last year, and 6 days ahead of normal. Cotton condition was 10 percent very poor, 30 percent poor, 40 percent fair, 18 percent good, and 2 percent excellent. Rice headed was 95 percent, 16 days ahead of last year, and 12 days ahead of normal. Rice harvested was 6 percent, 12 days ahead of last year, and 6 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 92 percent, 2 days ahead of last year, and 5 days ahead of normal. Sorghum turning color and beyond was 51 percent, 8 days ahead of last year, and 6 days ahead of normal. Sorghum mature was 12 percent, 5 days ahead of last year, and 4 days ahead of normal. Sorghum harvest began, a week ahead of last year but on track with normal. Sorghum condition was 26 percent very poor, 37 percent poor, 27 percent fair, and 10 percent good. Alfalfa hay 3rd cutting was 66 percent, 2 weeks behind last year, and 1 week behind normal.
Pasture & Livestock
Pasture condition declined from last week to 89 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, and 1 percent fair. Supply of hay and other roughages declined to 63 percent very short, 27 percent short, and 10 percent adequate. Some producers continued to wean calves early and sell them for slaughter. Stock water supplies dropped to 70 percent very short, 24 percent short, and 6 percent adequate. Prolonged precipitation was needed to salvage pasture and replenish stock water supplies.
Weather Summary
Temperatures were 4 degrees below to 3 degrees above average. Precipitation averaged 0.56 of an inch statewide. The northwest district averaged 1.94 inches with Holt County receiving 5.69 inches.
Saint Joseph Voters to Decide Whether to Tax Internet Sales
Voters in Saint Joseph will decide whether the city should impose a use tax — a sales tax on Internet purchases. The City Council voted 7-1 yesterday to put the issue on the November ballot. If approved, the tax would amount to just under 2.4 percent, the same as the local sales tax. The Council decided to put the issue on the ballot without a sunset clause.
BIVI Moves Forward With Expansions
A lot of people are expected for two events today celebrating expansions at Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica in St Joseph. Governor Jay Nixon will join the Chamber of Commerce and company officials as they break ground on BIVI’s new Consolidated Packaging and Physical Distribution Waterhouse at the Eastowne Business Park.
After that, they’ll cut the ribbon for a grand-opening of the new Vetmedica Administrative Building at 3902 Gene Field Road.
Parking is very limited at both events. BIVI will supply shuttles to the groundbreaking and the ribbon cutting.
Parking is very limited at both events. BIVI will supply shuttles to the warehouse groundbreaking and the Vetmedica Administrative Building ribbon cutting. Two coaches will depart from Wyatt Park Baptist Church, 2902 N. Leonard Road, at 10 a.m. for Eastowne Business Park. These two coaches will then take passengers to the ceremony at the administrative building. A third coach will depart from Wyatt Park Baptist Church at 11:15 a.m. for the VAB ceremony.
Two coaches will depart BIVI at 12:15 p.m. for the church. The third will depart at 1:30 p.m. To reserve a spot on one of the shuttles, contact Stephanie Gabler at BIVI at (816) 383-8957.
Church Employee Charged With Stealing
A 49-year-old woman is being held pending arraignment on charges of embezzling money from her employer, the Wyatt Park Christian Church.
Police say Pamela Ann West was the business manager at the church.
She was arrested at her home and charged with one class-c felony count of stealing. Bond was set at $15 thousand. Arraignment is scheduled August 31.
According to court documents, officials believe West used a church account to pay her rent ten times and issued other checks to herself without permission from the church. The probable cause affidavit indicates she stole more than $26 thousand but owes the church more than $30 thousand.
Church officials say she also used a credit card account opened in her name without permission from the church, and used it for purchases at a number of local businesses.
VIDEO: Over-sized Load Damages Power line, Sparks Grass Fires
As many as four small grass fires were sparked when an oversized load clipped a power line at Interstate 29 and Frederick Monday afternoon.
A truck carrying a combine exiting southbound I-29 struck the line, causing some area businesses to briefly lose power.
The line sparked in several different areas and started four grass fires. One of the fires was in the median on interstate 29.
Witnesses saw the combine, which was loaded onto a semi trailer, hit the power line and spark the fires. A truck following was carrying a corn-head. Both vehicles drove off from the scene.
According to police, the incident would be considered a hit and run. No injuries were reported and the fires were quickly put out once firefighters arrived.
Midland Empire Chapter Responds To Isaac
The Red Cross is preparing for what could be a large disaster response across multiple states over the next several weeks as 15 million people are now under warnings from Tropical Storm Isaac.
The Red Cross is in action throughout the Gulf region, providing shelter and help in Florida, and preparing to open evacuation shelters in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
The Midland Empire Chapter continues to play a role in the response to the storm, by deploying disaster responders throughout the Gulf Coast. In a news release, officials said at present they have 12 members on assignment: eight in Florida, two in Alabama, one in Mississippi and one in Louisiana. In addition, eight members are on stand-by for deployment.
· In Florida, more than 560 people spent Sunday night in Red Cross shelters after Isaac brought heavy rain, power outages and flooding.
· Evacuations have been ordered in some areas along the Gulf and dozens of Red Cross shelters are on stand-by and were expected to open throughout the day
· Mobile kitchens and truckloads of relief supplies are on the way to Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. More than 50 pre-positioned support trailers are ready with supplies.
· More than 1500 disaster workers have been deployed across the Gulf Coast to help with Red Cross efforts.
Officials call this a major storm that is expected to cause widespread damage. People can call, click or text to donate by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.