cattle

How much is organic certification worth?

Abbie Fentress Swanson — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:15:14 +0000

The organic farming industry is booming. Since the U.S. Department of Agriculture launched its federal organic certification program in 2002, the number of organic farms has more than doubled. U.S. organic food sales have also grown from $1 billion in 1990 to $31.5 billion in 2011, according to the Organic Trade Association.

Isaac rains help soybeans in Midwest

Associated Press — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 13:16:55 +0000

Several days of rain brought some relief to farmers in the nation's midsection as they contend with the worst drought in the U.S. in decades.

Keeping cows cool: serious stuff

Ryan Famuliner — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 22:42:34 +0000

It’s going to seem like this week’s show is all about keeping cows cool, and it kind of is, but keep in mind this is a serious threat to agriculture in Missouri, and thus, the overall economy in the state.

Heat stress? Now there's a cow app for that

Scott Pham — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 22:36:44 +0000

When a cow is stressed from the heat, it affects a producer’s bottom line. The animal eats less, meaning less mass in beef cattle. For dairy farmers, the hurt comes in the form of a 10 to 20 percent loss in milk. Researchers at the University of Missouri think we can change this trend by putting information in the hands of producers. They’ve built a tool that can detect the threat of heat stress in specific animals before it starts.

Hoop barns becoming more common in Midwest

Rick Fredericksen — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 22:15:50 +0000

Crops are not the only things wilting in the sweltering summer of 2012; cattle, the largest animals, on the farm are also under stress.

Big trucks on small roads

Jacob Fenston — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:31:05 +0000

Cattlemen in Missouri are backing a bill in the House that would increase weight limits for hauling livestock on the state's highways. But department of transportation engineers worry heavier trucks would damage already-strained rural roads.