Missouri Agriculture

A fight over hog housing standards is shaping up as one of the latest Farm Bill battles. A Missouri farmer is among those urging senators to reject the 'Save Our Bacon Act,' a proposal that would block state laws such as California's Proposition 12.

Missouri farmers say they're facing some of the toughest economic conditions in decades. Now, they're pressing lawmakers to make the next Farm Bill a lifeline for family farms instead of big agribusiness.

A southwest Missouri rural school district is turning seven acres of unused campus land into a working school farm, giving students hands-on agricultural experience as small family farms continue disappearing across rural America.

In 2025, the Southeast Missouri Food Bank faced unique challenges, including tornadoes and a government shutdown affecting SNAP. They distributed over 14 million pounds of food, equating to 12.3 million meals, and served an average of 80,000 individuals monthly. Despite a 30% increase in their food budget for 2026, they received 664,000 fewer pounds from the USDA's TEFAP program. The food bank operates 300 mobile food pantries annually, each serving 200 families, and relies heavily on 4,500 volunteers. They also source produce from local farmers and retail rescue programs. The food bank encourages volunteering, donations, and social media sharing to support their efforts.

In 2025, the Southeast Missouri Food Bank faced unique challenges, including tornadoes and a government shutdown affecting SNAP. They distributed over 14 million pounds of food, equating to 12.3 million meals, and served an average of 80,000 individuals monthly. Despite a 30% increase in their food budget for 2026, they received 664,000 fewer pounds from the USDA's TEFAP program. The food bank operates 300 mobile food pantries annually, each serving 200 families, and relies heavily on 4,500 volunteers. They also source produce from local farmers and retail rescue programs. The food bank encourages volunteering, donations, and social media sharing to support their efforts.

Missouri lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban the sale of lab-grown – or cell-cultured – meat in the state. They say the legislation is meant to address concerns about the health effects of lab-grown meat and protect farmers and the livestock industry, which contributes about $93 billion a year to Missouri’s economy.

Missouri farmers are feeling the strain after the U.S. Department of Agriculture abruptly pulled funding for the Heartland Regional Food Business Center, a program that helped small producers access markets and upgrade equipment. Local farm leaders warn the loss could stall growth and weaken Missouri’s local food networks.

In this episode of 'SEMO Spotlight', we speak with Lainey Canning, a senior at Southeast Missouri State University studying Agri-Business: Animal Science and Agricultural Communication. Lainey is also a member of the Marching Band, up for election as "Woman of the Year" for the 2025 Homecoming season.

In this episode of 'SEMO Spotlight', we speak with Lainey Canning, a senior at Southeast Missouri State University studying Agri-Business: Animal Science and Agricultural Communication. Lainey is also a member of the Marching Band, up for election as "Woman of the Year" for the 2025 Homecoming season.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released funds for farmer-driven agriculture research in Missouri and nationwide after a months-long delay. Farmers across the country launched a campaign to insist the government release the money, which it did in mid-September. The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program grants funds to farmers and ranchers for on-farm studies and helps distribute the results.