agriculture

An Illinois researcher specializing in rural affairs is urging lawmakers to expand the 2026 Farm Bill to support not just agriculture, but the rural non-farm economy at large, highlighting how both are deeply interconnected. He says rural communities face challenges like population decline, economic shifts, and limited access to housing and health care, making broader investment in rural development essential for long-term sustainability.

Family farming is tough business in Missouri and across the nation. But advocacy groups such as Farm Aid and the Missouri Rural Crisis Center are working to help Missouri farmers keep their businesses growing and their heritage intact.

Food insecurity is on the increase in Missouri, according to the University of Missouri's new 2025 Missouri Hunger Atlas. Released every two to three years, the report maps where need is rising and helps guide efforts to get food to those who need it most.

Chemical runoff from Midwest farms pollutes waterways and poisons communities, according to environmental advocates. One Illinois farmer is speaking out about the dilemma he and others face when trying to implement more climate-friendly farming practices.

A bipartisan push in Congress could bring new hope to young farmers in Missouri and beyond. A newly introduced bill would launch a U.S. Department of Agriculture pilot program to help the next generation of producers overcome key barriers such as affording land, accessing capital, and reaching markets.

A new report reveals the challenges and risks of the nation's oldest government-sponsored enterprise, the Farm Credit System. The "Credit Worth and Soil Wealth" report by the Croatan Institute and Self-Help Credit Union makes recommendations for more transparency and fairness within the system.

On Thurs. Oct. 7, the Missouri Department of Agriculture announced grants of up to $200,000 for the expansion of industrial Hemp fiber processing capacity…

The issue affects how can fix an iPhone, or whether farmers can tinker with their high-tech agricultural machinery.

On Thursday, May 27, the Missouri Department of Agriculture announced the federal approval of the state’s amendment to the Industrial Hemp Plan. Missouri…

Bonus payments from the federal government because of the coronavirus were the difference in total farm income going up instead of dropping.