Magazine Issue: Spring 2016

Momentum Magazine >> Spring 2016

Articles

Membership Has Its Privileges

Have you ever seen an advertisement you thought sounded too good to be true? In most cases, you’d probably be right. There’s almost always a catch. Some people may feel similarly about cooperatives—and the patronage refunds you can earn as members—but trust me, they are legit! The fact is, the […]

Three firefighters in gear, including helmets and oxygen tanks, stand on a wet tarmac. They face a large flame and smoke in the background against a partly cloudy sky, preparing to extinguish the fire.

Training Prepares Firefighters for Propane Emergencies

Last fall, the Fire Fighters Association of Missouri and the Missouri State Fair Fire Department hosted a statewide, two-day training conference at the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia, Mo., on how to handle propane emergencies. Larry Eggen, an MFA Oil plant manager in the area, helped to plan the event. […]

A man in a light blue uniform stands confidently with arms crossed inside a garage. Behind him are two colorful fuel trucks. The garage setting includes tools and equipment, and the man wears a cap and glasses.

Keeping the Company Rolling

Sliding through the narrow spaces between bobtail propane trucks and 10-wheelers for refined fuels, Bob Powell makes his way around the MFA Oil Truck Services Shop to check on his team’s progress with the day’s work. His crew is working efficiently to get trucks in and out of the shop […]

A group of five people smiles in front of a red tractor during sunset. Bare tree branches frame the background, creating a warm, peaceful atmosphere.

In the Middle of Something Great

When Aaron Collett talks about the plot of land he farms outside Warrensburg, Mo., he does not talk about simply an operation of row crops and cattle. Nor does he talk about simply a means of living. He talks about his family. The land and his family are as intertwined […]

Corn plants growing in dry, cracked soil under a partly cloudy sky, with fields of green and yellow crops in the background.

Goodbye, El Niño; Hello, La Niña?

As one of the strongest El Niño weather cycles in the last 65 years begins to weaken, the question on the minds of many is what will come next? Will the Midwest have a return to weather more in line with a typical year, or will a new weather phenomenon […]

Silhouette of a tractor in a field during sunset, with a vibrant orange sky and sun setting behind it. Dust trails follow the tractor, and faint outlines of trees and a wind turbine are visible on the horizon.

Membership Pays

Every February, MFA Oil Company members have something to look forward to finding in their mailboxes: annual patronage checks. This year’s patronage was the largest in the history of the company at $23.7 million. These patronage refunds are one of the primary benefits of MFA Oil membership and an example […]

A large agricultural sprinkler system irrigates a lush green field under a dramatic sunset sky. The sun peeks through distant clouds, creating a calming rural landscape scene.

Mid-South Farmers Embrace Irrigation

Irrigation in the Mid-South has become increasingly popular with farmers who are looking to produce more reliable harvests. The 2012 U.S. Census of Agriculture, the most recent data available, shows farmers in Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky increased their irrigated acreage by 22 percent, 33 percent, 68 percent and 95 […]

Close-up of green plants growing in a field under bright sunlight, with a red tractor in the background. The tractor is equipped with a spraying arm, indicating agricultural activity. Blue sky overhead.

Are you ready for the weeds?

Benjamin Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” I think that statement is appropriate for where we are with weed management right now in Missouri—if we don’t plan accordingly, the problems experienced in 2015 could lead to even greater problems this year. Last year more […]

A truck with a propane tank is parked at a farm with large grain silos. A person walks nearby on a gravel path. In the background are blue skies, a field, and several farm buildings.

The Value of Tertiary Propane Storage

The propane capacity in customer tanks is an important part of the overall propane storage picture in the United States. In fact, customer storage, also known as tertiary storage, represents a larger portion of the national propane supply capacity than the industry’s primary storage, which is found mostly in underground […]

A green fuel pump nozzle dispensing kernels of corn, symbolizing biofuel. The background is a gradient of brown and orange.

EPA Finalizes Increases in Renewable Fuel Levels

Nov. 30, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced long-awaited blending requirements that will increase the amounts of ethanol, biodiesel and other renewable fuels in the nation’s fuel supply. The EPA mandate calls for 18.11 billion gallons of renewable fuels to be blended with gasoline and diesel in 2016, […]

Principled Leadership

A company’s guiding principles are like the ability of a gyro-compass to consistently signal the direction of the true north. No matter the circumstances, they always point out the correct course to follow. MFA Oil Company has a strong set of six principles the Board of Directors relies upon to […]

A mechanic wearing safety glasses and a cap is working underneath a vehicle, looking up with a focused expression. He is reaching up with red gloves, surrounded by industrial equipment in a workshop setting.

Jiffy Lube Adding Technology and Services to Benefit Customers

MFA Oil’s Jiffy Lube franchises have been providing fast and friendly service to mid-Missouri motorists since 1988. The company currently operates eight Jiffy Lube stores with four in Columbia, two in Jefferson City, and one each in Fulton and Sedalia. When customers visit any of the MFA Oil-owned Jiffy Lube […]