SIKESTON, Mo. (AP) – College students in southeast Missouri are learning that there’s nothing like hands-on experience.

The Sikeston Standard-Democrat (http://bit.ly/KocVr0 ) reports that 15 students at Southeast Missouri State University’s Sikeston campus planted 25 acres of soybeans on May 1. They will be adding varying levels of nutrients to the crops in an experiment to determine the value of the nutrients. They’re also learning how to manage for weeds, insects and disease.

The small-scale farm operation is part of a four-year agricultural program offered at the Sikeston campus.
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Information from: Standard Democrat, http://www.standard-democrat.com

 

President Obama says rural America is helping to lead the charge as the nation continues to fight back from the deepest economic crisis in generations and build an economy that lasts. On farms and ranches and in towns and communities across the country – the President says rural Americans know that we are stronger as a people when everybody gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share and everyone plays by the same rules. He says those are the values we need to return to – and his Administration will continue to give rural communities the support and investment they need to show us the way. On Monday – President Obama announced that more than 400-million dollars has been invested in rural businesses this year through the Small Business Investment Company program. He says nearly two-billion dollars in additional funding will be invested by the end of fiscal year 2016.

Also on Monday – the Council of Economic Advisers, the White House Rural Council and USDA released a joint report on the progress that has been made in the agricultural economy. It details steps the Obama Administration has taken to help strengthen the farm economy and support jobs and growth in rural America. The report highlights the areas of innovation, exports, clean energy, new industries and community investment.

The report – Strengthening Rural Communities: Lessons from a Growing Farm Economy – shows that innovation has kept America’s farms among the most productive in the world. It also highlights the trade surplus enjoyed by American agriculture. When it comes to clean energy – the report states that the pursuit of an all-of-the-above strategy saved Americans a projected 6.5-billion kilowatt hours. That’s enough energy to power over 590-thousand homes for a year. Also – the amount of installed wind energy generation has nearly doubled in the U.S. over the past three years to 47-thousand megawatts in 2011.

Missouri Crop Progress and Condition

Drought conditions persisted with 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork statewide.  Topsoil moisture supply continued to drop to 47 percent very short, 40 percent short, and 13 percent adequate.  Over half the state, or five districts, were over 90 percent short and very short for topsoil moisture.  Subsoil moisture was 34 percent very short, 42 percent short, and 24 percent adequate.  Five districts were over 70 percent short and very short for subsoil moisture.

 

Field Crops Report

Corn silked was 3 percent, 17 days ahead of last year, and 8 days ahead of normal (5-year average).  Corn condition was 5 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 39 percent fair, 39 percent good, and 4 percent excellent.  Poor growth was apparent for some corn fields due to lack of water.  Soybeans planted were 93 percent, 16 days ahead of last year, and 23 days ahead of normal.  Emergence now 75 percent, 9 days ahead of last year, and 15 days ahead of normal, was reported as uneven across the state.  Soybean condition was 6 percent very poor, 21 percent poor, 42 percent fair, 28 percent good, and 3 percent excellent.  Cotton squaring and beyond was 25 percent, 14 days ahead of last year, and 11 days ahead of normal.  Cotton condition was 6 percent very poor, 24 percent poor, 46 percent fair, 22 percent good, and 2 percent excellent.  Rice condition was 5 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 14 percent excellent.  Sorghum planted was 94 percent, 19 days ahead of last year, and 23 days ahead of normal.  Sorghum condition was 3 percent very poor, 15 percent poor, 48 percent fair, 33 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.  Winter wheat harvested was 65 percent, 17 days ahead of last year, and 20 days ahead of normal.  Wheat condition was 1 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 51 percent good, and 16 percent excellent.  Alfalfa hay 2^ndcutting was 39 percent, 21 days ahead of last year, and 24 days ahead of normal.  Other haycut was 80 percent, 28 days ahead of last year, and 31 days ahead of normal.  Reports of low yields and sparse regrowth persisted.

 

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition continued to decline to 19 percent very poor, 25 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 22 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.  Supply of hay and other roughages was 12 percent very short, 23 percent short, 62 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus.  Stock water supplies were 9 percent very short, 27 percent short, 62 percent adequate, and 2 percent excellent.

 

Weather Summary

Temperatures 2 to 5 degrees above average around the state except the southeast district experienced 1 to 2 degrees below average.  Precipitation averaged 0.07 of an inch, with the southeast at 0.53 of an inch.  Northern districts and the east central district received less than 0.80 of an inch during the last 4 weeks.

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. (AP) – Two horses who ran free for several days in southeast Missouri, running in and out of traffic and trampling recently planted crops, have been surrendered to a shelter.

The horses were captured last week in a farm field near Caruthersville after running free for several days.

Police and animal control officers spent hours on June 4 trying to capture the horses and keep them from running onto Interstate 55. After nearly 10 hours, the horses were secured and taken to their owner, who agreed to give them up.

Both horses have been receiving medical attention. It wasn’t immediately clear how they got free. An investigation continues.

 

REXFORD, Kan. (AP) – Dairy operations continue to prosper in western Kansas, boosting the state to 17th in national milk production rankings.

The state agriculture department says it expects Kansas to be in the top 15 after this year. That’s thanks largely to western Kansas, which produces nearly 70 percent of the milk in the state.

More than 300 dairies operate throughout Kansas, ranging in size from fewer than 250 cows to 12,000.

Wednesday, the McCarty Family Farms Dairy near Rexford in northwest Kansas will celebrate a direct marketing deal with yogurt maker Dannon.

The agriculture department says operations like the McCartys’ create jobs and help stabilize towns across western Kansas. The department says that, in general, every 80 to 150 cows require one dairy employee.