farming

Times are tough for many. That's as evident as ever in a notice that Smithfield Foods is closing 35 Missouri hog production sites which will mean 92 jobs will be lost by October.

I've dealt with these vicious birds off and on throughout my life and I'm not even a farmer. What has been declared as the most dangerous bird in Missouri truly is a cold-blooded killer.

If you have ever thought about trying to get away from society and living off-the-grid, you would be wise to take heed to a Missouri homesteader who warns of a current crisis with hay that's progressively getting worse and he's not alone with his warnings.

Parts of Missouri especially in the central parts of the state were already suffering from extreme drought conditions, but now that's expanded to the northeast officially according to meteorologists at the National Weather Service in St. Louis.

If you're a farmer in Missouri, it's not news that black vultures can be a problem for your livestock and your business. It's also true that black vultures are a protected species. There is a way you can legally shoot black vultures, but you need to do something first.

We live in an era of extremes. While parts of Missouri and Illinois are flooding, others remain parched. It's so bad in the middle of Missouri that a new forecast now says the middle of the Show Me State can expect "extreme drought".

If the words of a sow farm employee are accurate, there could be devastating closings in the Missouri pork industry. Multiple reports claim that the world's largest pork producer may be closing as many as 37 Missouri farms.

While I think the concern isn't really relevant, I understand that there are some Missouri ranchers who are increasingly becoming concerned about wolves returning to Missouri. If that is even a fleeting thought in your head, you really should consider getting attack donkeys and I'm being serious.

The good news? It was a mild winter for many parts of Missouri. The bad news? Drought conditions now reported in both Marion and Ralls County according to new government data.

I always thought that the reason my grandma's barn and others were painted red was because of tradition. That's partially true, but I've learned that there really is some science behind farm structures being painted bright crimson.