Year: 2020

No matter what industry you’re in, whether it be agriculture, construction, industrial, mining, forestry or transportation, you’ve undoubtedly had to deal with equipment failure. When equipment fails, it not only prevents you from completing your tasks but also comes with serious costs. When we think about the costs of equipment […]

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, has declared it will pay more than $10 million in cash to its members in exchange for doing business with the company. The announcement was made during the cooperative’s 91st Annual Delegate Meeting on December 14, which was held virtually for the first […]

Since the day Lester Rufenacht first got his hands in the dirt on his family’s farm in southern Henry County, Mo., he’s found himself drawn to working the land. “I guess it’s in my blood at this point,” Lester says with a laugh. With the exception of a two-year deployment […]

As I write this latest market commentary article in mid-January, we have just gone through some serious geopolitical events in the Middle East. On Jan. 3, the United States launched an attack near the Baghdad International Airport that killed Major General Qassem Soleimani, who was the commander of Iran’s secretive […]

The Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture and Harry S. Truman Veterans’ Hospital have entered into a three-year agreement to use CCUA’s urban farm site at 1209 Smith St. in Columbia to develop a new community space for mid-Missouri veterans. Beginning in the spring of 2020, the two organizations will work […]

Lesley Newsom, ag instructor and FFA advisor for Senath-Hornersville High School in Senath, Mo., keeps busy with lesson planning, teaching topics ranging from plant science to animal husbandry to biotechnology, and even welding and construction. And that’s not counting the fundraising, bus driving, early mornings, after-hours work and weekends she […]

Farmers know that well-maintained equipment is key to success. Yet they often do not listen to the “check engine” warning signs of stress, says Sean Brotherson, family science specialist for North Dakota State University. Brotherson was the keynote speaker at the recent University of Missouri Crop Management Conference. “Ag has […]

In spite of tight profit margins and challenging market conditions, farmland values are up. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2019 Land Values report revealed the average value of agricultural cropland was $4,100 per acre in 2019, up $50 per acre or 1.2% from 2018. The average value of pastureland was […]

It’s late January, and a thick blanket of newly fallen snow covers the rolling farm ground of north Missouri. While it’s been months since Matt and Madison Larkin finished combining corn and soybeans, their harvest continues. Just down the road from the farm in the town of Hamilton, tucked inside […]

For centuries, the barn was the space for celebrating. No matter the occasion — whether it be a birthday, wedding, holiday or even the raising of the barn itself — this place for housing crops and livestock would transform for communal gathering, making way for dancing and merriment. Somewhere along […]

The start of the new year and new decade is here. It’s now 2020, but are we seeing 20/20? Seeing 20/20 from a co-op perspective is all about our ability to see our businesses clearly in both the near-term and on a long term basis. For MFA Oil, our ideal […]

If you leave your equipment in storage without proper winterization, you are asking for trouble. Just as extreme heat and humidity can damage equipment parts in the summer, sharp drops in temperature can take a toll on machinery. To protect your investment and ensure you’re ready to roll in warmer […]

The holidays are quickly approaching. We would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family good health and good cheer. All MFA Oil offices will be closing in observance of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. This gives our employees an opportunity to enjoy this special time […]

Now is the time to prepare for upcoming winter weather. Here are five winter propane safety tips to keep in mind as we enter the season for snow and ice. Be Prepared If you are a will-call customer, the first thing you need to do in advance of a storm […]

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, announces the opening of its newest Petro-Card 24 unattended fueling station at 2368 W. Aldrich Road in Bolivar, Mo. The location is open to the public and offers red diesel, clear diesel and unleaded gasoline. All major credit and fleet cards are accepted. […]

Market Commentary – Fall 2020 After the coronavirus caused a precipitous decline in WTI crude prices that saw oil futures take an unprecedented dip into negative territory, it’s fair to wonder what we can expect moving forward. Will there be a so-called new normal for energy prices, or can we […]

Since 1985, the logo for Break Time convenience stores has become instantly recognizable to many Missourians. With its bold lettering and fluid typeface, the logo has long complemented the brand’s reputation for delivering friendly service. However, the opening of the newest Break Time store in Columbia symbolizes a new era […]

Since 2018, Orscheln Farm and Home has participated in a coordinated volunteer effort led by nonprofit Wreaths Across America to deliver Christmas wreaths to military veteran cemeteries. Each holiday season, an honor fleet of volunteer drivers and trucks carrying millions of ceremonial wreaths fan out across the country to deliver […]