Momentum

Missouri Forests Are at a Crossroads

The dense forest at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park outside of Columbia, Mo., is peaceful and beautiful. The woods are filled with sights of awe-inducing natural wonder. One thing about the forest is a bit worrisome, though, and it’s a shared concern for more than 60% of Missouri forests—it’s getting […]

Clock is Ticking on Farm Bill Reauthorization

The prospects of a new farm bill passing in 2023 appeared increasingly slim as Congress returned for a potentially chaotic fall session. Following a monthlong summer recess, legislators faced a long to-do list, including preventing a government shutdown, reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration, replenishing disaster relief funds, deciding how […]

Understanding Cow Inventory to Build a Marketing Strategy

For many, investing in the stock market is a long-term retirement strategy that takes discipline to avoid reacting to changes in the market. In much the same way, making a profit in the cattle business requires a long-term approach, said the Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute experts on a […]

Q&A with Randy Pace of the MFA Oil Board of Directors

Randy Pace co-owns a diversified family farming operation in West Plains, Mo. He is an MFA Oil delegate and was elected to the MFA Oil Board of Directors in 2023. Q: How would you describe yourself and your farming operation? A: I was raised on a 167-acre beef cattle operation […]

Break Time to Open Truck Stop in Jefferson City

Construction is underway on a Break Time truck stop in Jefferson City, Mo. The convenience store and travel plaza will be located at 207 Militia Drive, just off Highway 50 on the city’s east side. The new location is expected to open in November. The 6,500-square-foot store will be Break […]

Three people smiling and holding framed photographs and certificates proudly represent Boonville FFA. The person on the left wears a black vest, the middle one dons a blue suit, and the person on the right sports a denim jacket, all standing against a plain wall.

Setting an Example: Boonville FFA

Not every student gets to take classes with the president. President of the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE), that is, a role Deanna Schnuck, agricultural education instructor and FFA advisor for the Boonslick Technical Education Center, recently added to an already impressive resume. The center is part of the […]

Diversification Drives Success of Feemster Farms

Under the sweltering heat of a late-August morning, Jordan Feemster and his wife, Courtney, are preparing the newest addition to their farming operation. Feemster’s Twisted Corn Maze, located on the northern outskirts of Springfield, Mo., is set to provide family fun and a new source of revenue for the Feemsters. […]

Illustration of a roller coaster with businesspeople riding along a graph, symbolizing financial volatility. As the graph falls and rises sharply, it captures the ups and downs. Bars in blue are paired with a foreground line that transitions from green to red to orange.

Volatility Can and Will Surprise Us

Crude oil is the essential starting point for all energy products. It also accounts for the most significant percentage of energy product prices. Over the last 10 years, crude oil has made up roughly 53.93% of retail gasoline prices and 47.3% of retail diesel prices, according to the U.S. Energy […]

A person in a gray suit smiles confidently with arms crossed, standing outdoors in front of a large truck. The sky is clear and the trees show autumn foliage. The truck is white and blue with red accents.

Liquid Fuels Still Matter

If you thought efforts to reduce carbon emissions in transportation were limited to electric vehicles, that would be understandable given the press coverage EVs have received in recent years. The reality is that a broad mix of sustainable energy, including liquid fuels, will play a pivotal role in curbing greenhouse […]

A blue and white propane delivery truck labeled MFA Oil, driven by a professional with Federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT), travels down a rural gravel road surrounded by grassy fields and large trees.

Training for the Road

New Federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements went into effect on Feb. 7, 2022, establishing a single national standard for obtaining a commercial driver’s license. The regulations set a baseline for training requirements for drivers seeking to:• obtain a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time;• upgrade […]

A smiling couple stands in a lush garden at Long Row Lavender, in front of a white, barn-like building. The man wears a light shirt and jeans while the woman, wearing a striped dress, gazes at him affectionately. Vibrant purple flowers bloom in the foreground.

Scented Splendor

Long Row Lavender Allows Guests to Relax with an Ancient Herb On a brilliant May morning, Tracy Smith led a group of 10 ladies through rows of lavender—her farm’s signature crop in rural Warren County, Mo. While she discussed the do’s and don’ts of growing the fragrant shrub, she encouraged […]

A close-up of a black vulture showcases its textured dark feathers and sharp curved beak, capturing the focused expression against a moody dark background. The essence of black vultures is embodied in this striking portrait.

Vulture Vexation

Six years after Charlie Besher’s first experience with black vultures, the memory of the encounter remains vivid. He and his wife, Donnia, were checking on their cattle in Perry County, Mo., when they came upon a grisly scene. At least 20 vultures were ravaging the corpse of a newborn calf […]