MFA Oil News

The donation of a three-acre parcel of land in Tebbetts, Mo. may help preserve a part of the community’s cultural heritage. On May 5, MFA Oil Company transferred the deed to a strip of property along Missouri Highway 94 to African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. The land donated by MFA […]

Glen Cope, a fourth-generation cattle rancher from Aurora, Mo., has served on the MFA Oil Board of Directors since December 2018 and was elected chairman on December 16, 2020. How would you describe yourself and your farming operation? I grew up on my family’s cattle operation in Barry County, which […]

Beginning in May, MFA Oil customers will have the opportunity to lock in prices with propane contracts for next winter. The MFA Oil Pre-Buy Program allows individuals and businesses to contract a predetermined volume of propane at a set price. Spring and summer are traditionally great times to contract propane. […]

Surveys show half of equipment operators are unaware of how choosing the right grease can positively impact the performance of their machinery. Proper greasing is a crucial maintenance practice and one of the keys to extending the longevity of your equipment. While there are many factors like a grease’s grade, […]

Donating resources to youth and education are two of the primary ways the MFA Oil Foundation seeks to support the communities where MFA Oil does business. MFA Oil recognizes the important role of public education in building and maintaining healthy communities in the towns and cities it serves. The stronger […]

Chad Murphy is the ag education instructor for Versailles High School, Morgan County R-II, and sponsors the local FFA chapter, which he humbly characterizes as “a well-rounded program, a good average chapter.” He teaches Agriculture Science I for freshmen, Agriculture Science II for sophomores, Agriculture Construction (shop work, welding), a […]

Finding the right MFA Oil lubricant product for vehicles and equipment can now be accomplished within seconds on the MFA Oil website. Lube Advisor, a digital oil and lubricant recommendation tool, is now available to help customers match the right MFA Oil product to their engine based on the year, […]

Milas Mainord has done his fair share of traveling. He’s visited vast oceans and breathtaking mountains, sprawling cities and quaint resorts, towering forests and picturesque prairies. For him, however, none compare to East Prairie, Mo. “My wife, Barbara, and I once took a trip to Monterey, California,” he says. “We […]

On Jan. 20, Joe Biden was inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States of America. While the coronavirus pandemic and the country’s economic situation will dominate much of his early days in office, there are many climate and energy issues Biden addressed through executive actions on day one […]

The MFA Oil lineup of passenger car motor oil (PCMO) products is receiving a new name and look. Moving forward, these products will be sold under the Excede® brand with the tagline “Give it everything.” “Rebranding gives us a more marketable product and helps to set us apart from our […]

If it’s a weed, spray it. That’s the mindset that most in the agriculture industry held for years. That thinking no longer works as more weeds become resistant to herbicides, says Kevin Bradley, University of Missouri Extension weed scientist. Bradley uses waterhemp as an example. Waterhemp is one of 14 […]

The tree dominates the Boone County river bottom, almost 100 feet tall with a canopy even wider and a nearly 24-foot-wide trunk.  This is the U.S. co-champion bur oak, aka the Big Tree. It has survived earthquakes, lightning strikes, floods and droughts in its nearly four centuries. It seems impossible […]

In August 2020, we made a couple of big decisions at MFA Oil. The first was to move forward with a new point-of-sale system called Energy-Force in our bulk fuel and propane division. We chose to go with Energy-Force because of its ease of use; its ability to provide daily […]

MFA Oil Announces $10 Million in Cash Returns to Owners In a year often described as unprecedented and bizarre, it was perhaps fitting that MFA Oil Company reported an extraordinary 2020 during its 91st Annual Delegate Meeting, which was held virtually for the first time in the company’s history due […]

MFA Oil is exploring non-traditional business opportunities that could benefit its members in the future. The Earth is indisputably round. But standing on its surface, the curvature is imperceptible. Just as it’s difficult to recognize the planet’s rounded nature, it can be easy to miss gradual changes that lead to […]

Farmer-owned Peanut-shelling Facility Gives Growers More Control of Their Future Most people wouldn’t be satisfied working for peanuts. Tommy Jumper came out of retirement to do just that. After years of planning and development, Jumper and a group of farmer-investors opened Delta Peanut, the first peanut-shelling cooperative in Arkansas, in […]

Regularly sampling your used motor oil for analysis is a great way to extend the life of your equipment. Oil analysis is like getting “bloodwork” for your machines. It provides valuable information about what’s going on inside the equipment that can be used to identify proper drain intervals and potential issues before […]

When your fuel has gelled or fuel filters have frozen, RED ALERT, an emergency fuel treatment, can quickly remedy the problem and restore fuel flow to the engine. Overnight RED ALERT Strategy                                    If your fuel appears gelled prior to operation, follow these steps: Spin fuel filter and saturate the filter with contents […]

Whether you own a single tractor for farming, 20 pieces of construction equipment, or a fleet of 100 trucks, you likely depend on our equipment to get the job done. And how well your equipment performs is dependent on you. Machinery needs lubrication to function safely, properly, and when you […]

No matter what industry you’re in, whether it be agriculture, construction, industrial, mining, forestry or transportation, you’ve undoubtably 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 […]

MFA Oil has owned and operated its Jiffy Lube franchise through its subsidiary MFA Petroleum Company since 1990.

At the outset of the pandemic, many people bunkered down in their homes and self-isolated for safety. Nursing homes and long-term care facilities, where many occupants are elderly and have chronic medical conditions, banned visitors to protect the health of their residents. While the seclusion helped keep the virus out […]

Dean Reichel, ag teacher and FFA advisor at New Bloomfield R-III, goes above and beyond to make a difference. That’s a cliché in today’s cynical age, but it’s true in his case. He’s making lesson plans for eighth to 12th grade ag education classes that, thanks to COVID-19, he knows […]

The 2020 MFA Oil Annual Delegate Meeting is going to look a little different this year. Rather than hosting a centralized meeting with hundreds of attendees at a conference center in December, this year’s meeting is coming to an office near you and will be unlike any we have held […]

Pandemic Puts Pressure on Local Processors As a boy, Mike Cloud anxiously anticipated the flip of the calendar page from June to July, and it wasn’t just because of the ensuing Fourth of July holiday. While the parades and picnics, festivals and fireworks meant lots of fun for Mike and […]

When it came to picking a profession, Joe Kleeman of Braymer couldn’t settle on just one. “I always had a love for veterinary medicine but also for farming in general — from livestock to row crops,” he says. “So, I did both.” A half-century ago, Joe hung out his shingle […]

Microgreens Fuel Growth at Farmboy Garden Richard Leiweke was staring at a bag of pea seeds that was past its prime, and he was tempted to throw it out with the garbage because he had serious concerns about its ability to germinate. Years earlier he had read stories of people […]

Have you ever walked into an auto parts store and felt overwhelmed by the incredible number of engine oil product choices? There are more than 50 different brands of engine oil and they can come in a variety of colored bottles. Each brand has its own claims as to why […]

The Sixth Annual MFA Oil Charity Golf Scramble raised $175,000 for Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization that provides emergency and financial assistance to the families of U.S. military service members and veterans. The event was held September 8 at The Club at Old Hawthorne in Columbia and featured 43 […]

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, acquired Simmons Energy Solutions, the propane business of Simmons Foods Inc. on September 1. The acquisition includes locations in Decatur, Arkansas and Jay, Oklahoma. “The Simmons Energy acquisition fits well with the core geography we serve,” said Kenny Steeves, senior vice president […]

Extreme temperatures can cause a multitude of issues with your equipment. These issues can lead to inconvenient downtime, costly repairs, and in some instances, jeopardize your health and wellbeing. Traditionally, when we are talking about extreme temperatures in association with equipment, we tend to think about the winter months. But […]

MFA Oil Company, a Big O Tires franchisee based in Columbia, Mo., officially opened its newest Big O Tires store at 4106 W Broadway Blvd. in Sedalia Mo., on August 17. Local residents are invited to visit the store for a grand opening celebration on Friday, August 28, where free […]

Just north of Harrisburg, Mo., there’s a home that serves as a refuge for children who have been mistreated or neglected. Coyote Hill Christian Children’s Home offers children a safe, loving home environment and an opportunity for stability. “The kids we serve have been removed from their homes for some […]

K-State beef cattle specialists discuss factors that influence the most efficient cow size Genetics, feed resources and calf marketing windows are just some of the influencing factors that determine the optimum size for cows to grow, according to the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute’s team of experts. Defining the […]

Tom Cushing climbs out of a propane bobtail truck, unfurls its heavy hose and stretches it toward a customer’s nearby tank. The way he moves it’s hard to tell the man once sustained a back-breaking injury that would lead to the eventual replacement of both of his hips. Cushing’s job […]

Ag Educators Series Life changed in spring 2020. People stopped going to work, the movies and restaurants. They even stopped hanging out together. It was literally a matter of life and death. But ag workers kept working. You don’t get days off on a farm. That includes school farms, like […]

The Erickson family has filled a farming niche in northwest Missouri Most of the year, an Erickson family cornfield looks like any other around the small town of Tarkio, Mo., practically a stone’s throw from the Iowa border. In the spring, row after row of newly emerged petite plants line […]

Last spring’s floods along the Missouri River and its tributaries ravaged dozens of levee systems, and many have yet to be repaired. As of May 1, at least 28 levees that are managed by the Kansas City District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers remain breached, leaving surrounding communities […]

A ‘happy accident’ 50 years ago launched a legacy Few foods are as synonymous with a season as the lauded caramel apple. For a handful of weeks each autumn, this timeless treat — with its classic combination of tart apple, sweet caramel and salty chopped peanuts — adorns countless grocery […]

On April 20, the energy market did something we’ve never seen before. Futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange for May contracts of West Texas intermediate crude oil, or WTI, traded to a low of -$40.32 per barrel and settled at -$37.63 per barrel on the same day they were […]

The protein production pipeline is backed up and the repercussions are already being felt by farmers and consumers. Grocery store meat cases are emptier, some fast food restaurants are unable to offer standard menu items, and food prices are up across the board. In April, the overall price of meats, […]

By MFA Oil President and CEO Jon Ihler What an interesting spring it’s been. While the coronavirus outbreak shut down large portions of the country and the economy, MFA Oil remained open as an essential business so that we could continue to meet your needs. We took action in the […]

MFA Oil Company, a Big O Tires franchisee based in Columbia, Mo., opened its newest Big O Tires store in at 1701 W Elm St. in Lebanon, Mo., on May 4. “Our new store in Lebanon is another exciting addition to our franchise and we are looking forward to serving […]

The U.S. crude oil market ventured into unprecedented territory on Monday, April 20, when prices turned negative. Futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange for soon-to-expire May contracts of West Texas intermediate crude oil, or WTI, fell to -$37.63 a barrel by the time the market closed. WTI serves as […]

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, recently declared $11 million in patronage will be distributed to its members as part of the benefits of membership in the cooperative. The announcement was made at the 90th Annual MFA Oil Delegate Meeting which was held in Branson, Mo., on December […]

By MFA Oil President and CEO Jon Ihler – Published in the Fall 2019 issue of Momentum magazine. Slogans are great for quickly stating or reinforcing the character of a company or brand. They also help to align our team and differentiate us from our competitors. MFA Oil Company recently reintroduced […]

If you look back at the seasonal cycle of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) over the last 10 years, you can see trends that have historically led to great buying opportunities. Now, keep in mind that each year’s performance will always be unique […]

Western St. Louis County might not seem like the ideal spot for a ski resort, but that’s exactly what it’s been since 1982. At Hidden Valley Ski Resort in Wildwood, Mo., fans flock to ski, snowboard and tube each year from around mid-December to mid-March. “One of the things that […]

After journeying from Romania to the United States, the Gradinariu family has put down deep roots in the Ozarks Radu Gradinariu was only 4 years old when his father, Cornelius, made a decision that would change the course of his family’s life forever. Living in Soviet-occupied Romania in the late […]

Commodity Outlook for 2019 is Clouded by Missing Government Data, Trade Concerns As the partial government shutdown stretches to historic length, farmers, ranchers, agricultural economists and agribusinesses remain cut off from key reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA was scheduled to release a collection of crop reports […]

U.S. crude oil production hit new heights in October with output of more than 11.5 million barrels per day according to the latest data released from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Dec. 31. The United States has become the world’s new crude oil kingpin, surpassing Russia and Saudi […]

K-State Researchers Find Vitamin Compound that Boosts Growth A form of a vitamin associated with healthy aging in humans has been used by Kansas State University researchers to build muscle in chickens, a sign that could help the poultry industry meet future demand for its product. Muscle biologist and meat […]

Brothers Embrace Shrimp, Aquaculture to Differentiate Their Midwest Farm Pacific white leg shrimp suddenly find themselves plunged into darkness, they panic. The translucent crustaceans start jumping in their tanks, rumbling like thunder; some even launch themselves out onto the concrete floor of the tank room in a desperate attempt to […]

How a Community Came Together to Bring in a Farmer’s Final Crop Small communities, especially rural ones, are known to naturally come together when faced with misfortune. One northeast Missouri community recently demonstrated this phenomenon when volunteers pitched in to complete a farmer’s last piece of labor following his unexpected […]

With four new faces on the MFA Oil Board of Directors since this time last year, what opportunities do you see as we enter 2019? The recent election results from our annual delegate meeting have introduced several new people to the board who bring their own perspectives and fresh ideas. […]

MFA Oil employees pledged to give $51,606 to four nonprofit organizations during the company’s annual Week of Giving campaign. More than 170 employees contributed to the fundraising effort which ran from Oct. 29 through Nov. 2 in support of Central Missouri Foster Care and Adoption Association, Children’s Miracle Network at […]

Foresters with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) have confirmed the presence of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in six more counties across Missouri. New detections have been confirmed in Caldwell, Gasconade, Harrison, Hickory, Webster and Wright counties. Since EAB was first detected in Missouri in July 2008, the exotic, tree-killing […]

Marion Kertz, a farmer from Ste. Genevieve, Mo., has been elected chairman of the MFA Oil Company Board of Directors. Kertz was elected to his new role during the company’s December board meeting and will succeed Benny Farrell of Maryville, Mo. Kertz farms in both Missouri and Illinois with his […]

A number of high-profile data breaches compromised the private data of hundreds of millions of people in 2018. In what seemed like a weekly occurrence, company after company sent notifications to customers that their personal data may have been exposed to cyberthieves. From hotel giant Marriott to telecom provider T-Mobile […]

The leaves are changing colors, temperatures are dropping, and harvest has begun. Autumn has arrived and so too has the time of year when it pays to be thinking of your fuel needs. If you look back at the seasonal cycle of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) futures on the New […]

In October, MFA Oil delegate Mart Thaxton wrapped up his 42nd harvest on his farm in central Arkansas. Not bad for a guy who began his farming career without any agricultural experience. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I got out of school and jumped in without […]

Like many Missourians, Phillip Martin, agricultural education instructor at Meadville R-I High School in north-central Missouri, grew up on a farm. Unlike most Missourians, he went on to teach in several mid- and northern Missouri high schools after graduating from the University of Missouri, first with a bachelor’s degree in […]

Turkeys have starred as the main attraction of traditional Thanksgiving feasts for hundreds of years and their prominent place on the day’s menu precedes President Abraham Lincoln’s nationalization of the holiday in 1863. The birds have become so closely associated with Thanksgiving that the holiday is sometimes referred to as […]

As legal hemp production produces headlines, hurdles exist for Missouri growers Kelly Nelson has grown his share of cash crops during 20 growing seasons at the University of Missouri’s Greenley Research Center just outside of Novelty, Mo. The research agronomist has raised everything in northeast Missouri from the traditional commodity […]

Cover Crops Aid Arkansas Farmer in Sustaining His Land Standing in a field of his soon-to-be-harvested soybeans about a half-hour’s drive east of Little Rock, Ark., Robby Bevis plunges a steel soil probe into the ground. As the morning sun crests the horizon, he dumps the collected dirt into his […]

Centralia couple’s innovative solution helps kids around the world Headlines and awards weren’t on Taylor Moreland’s mind that night in August 2018 when he flipped on the lights in his Centralia garage, sat down and began to work. All he was thinking about was how he could help his son, […]

Slogans are great for quickly stating or reinforcing the character of a company or brand. They also help to align our team and differentiate us from our competitors. MFA Oil Company recently reintroduced the slogan “We Live Where You Do.” The decision to update our slogan may seem minor, but […]

Maintaining the vast number of assets of a company like MFA Oil is a multifaceted operation. From computers and office buildings to fuel trucks and tanks, the list of assets is extensive. Managing all of these resources requires a dedicated team to keep track of the assortment of company-owned property. […]

As summer begins to wind down, there are a number of things I am closely watching that could sway the direction of the fuel and propane market. I would advise you to consider these factors in preparation for your energy needs for the fall and winter. Deal or No Deal? […]

Whether it’s running his 500-acre farm outside Alma, Mo., conducting business as a seedsman or volunteering his time in the service of various farmer-led organizations, agriculture is an ever-present aspect of David Lueck’s life. In late June, the Lafayette County farmer and MFA Oil delegate was busy cutting hay for […]

Farmers should regularly inspect their combines’ machinery, fuel lines and electrical systems prior to and during harvest season to prevent fires. Harvest season brings a unique combination of risk factors that increases the risk of combine fires, says Bill Field, professor of agricultural and biological engineering at Purdue University. Dust […]

Beggs Family Celebrates 125 Seasons of Raising Watermelons Whether seeded or seedless, weighing 3 pounds or 30, few foods are as synonymous with summer as the venerable watermelon. The sweet, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth fruit is the ultimate accompaniment to hot dogs, hamburgers and corn on the cob at family picnics and […]

MFA Oil Company today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Jon Ihler as president and chief executive officer effective July 31, 2019. Ihler, who had been serving as interim CEO since April 25, 2019, is the fifth CEO in the cooperative’s 90-year history.

MFA Oil Company announces the appointment of Jeff Raetz as its chief financial officer effective July 30, 2019. Raetz will lead the company’s finance strategy and oversee the company’s accounting, finance and information technology operations.

The Kenny Rogers Children’s Center in Sikeston, Mo., which provides a wide array of developmental and therapeutic services to children with special needs, has a new tool to design and create intricate prosthetics. In December 2018, the MFA Oil Foundation presented a $2,000 grant to the center to aid in […]

Since its founding in 1929, MFA Oil has always taken pride in providing a reliable supply of quality petroleum products to meet its members’ needs. The company has sold a variety of premium fuels and oils in its 90-year history, and that legacy will continue with a new line of […]

For Gary Morris, the rewards of being an agricultural educator are all about the connections he forges with his students. Whether it is discussing how to balance a feed ration in an animal science class, working together to grow plants in the greenhouse, or training FFA members for competition, the […]

County and state fairs, the ephemeral experiences that bring scores of people together for parades, livestock shows, carnivals, pageants and more, are a highlight of the summer for many rural residents. The draw of blue-ribbon competitions, Tilt-a-Whirl rides, funnel cakes and rodeos entices fairgoers out for fun and camaraderie despite […]

Raising Grass-Fed Beef on Perennial Pastures Rip, rip, rip. The sound fills the summer morning air as red cattle indulgently chomp through a lush pasture on rolling verdant hills ringed with timber. Moving nonchalantly through the herd, rancher Greg Judy sports a broad grin. “That’s music to a grazier’s ear,” […]

Cover crops have many benefits including protecting soil surfaces from wind and water erosion, weed suppression, and improving soil health. This year many Missouri acres intended to be planted to corn and soybean were either flooded or too wet to be planted in a timely manner. Leaving these fields fallow […]

At 47 years old, Will Dobkins still remembers an age when things were built to last. Whether it was a television set, a vacuum or some other household convenience, there was an expectation that products would stand the test of time and regular use. And, should something go awry, there […]

An overcast and foggy morning couldn’t dim the enthusiasm of thousands of shoppers who showed up at Clary-Shy Park on July 6 for the grand opening of Columbia’s new agriculture park. Nearly 100 vendors offering farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, baked goods and flowers were present for the unveiling of the […]

In June, MFA Oil Company celebrated the 90th anniversary of its founding. If you look back on the history of the cooperative, you will see that the company has evolved over time with a purpose to return the most value to our farmer-owners. Some highlights include: 1929 – Initial bulk […]

The Fifth Annual MFA Oil Charity Golf Scramble and Concert raised $140,000 for Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization that provides emergency and financial assistance to the families of U.S. military service members and veterans. The event was held June 3 at The Club at Old Hawthorne in Columbia and […]

MFA Oil Company, a Big O Tires franchisee based in Columbia, Mo., has acquired the Big O Tires store in Warrensburg, Mo., on May 31.

The MFA Oil Company Board of Directors has named Jon Ihler interim chief executive officer effective April 25, 2019. Ihler will be responsible for overseeing the company’s day-to-day operations of the refined fuel, propane, Petro-Card 24, Break Time, Big O Tires and Jiffy Lube operations across an eight-state region. Ihler […]

At the MFA Oil Company Board of Directors meeting on April 24, a decision was made to take the leadership of the cooperative in a new direction, and Mark Fenner was relieved of his duties as president and CEO. Jon Ihler, MFA Oil vice president of sales and marketing, has […]

There’s something almost magical in the way dogs can bring smiles and joy to people, young and old alike. Just ask Diane Hudson, a veteran MFA Oil dispatcher who has worked in the company’s corporate office in Columbia since 1981. In her spare time, Hudson trains her beloved pooches to […]

As Barb Shatto strolls through the freestall barn where dozens of her family’s dairy herd are busy feeding, she occasionally pauses to greet friendly cattle. “How are you doing this morning?” she asks while bending down to affectionately scratch behind the ears of a curious Holstein. This ritual plays out […]

Flooding and Questionable River Management Priorities Put Farmers in a Tough Spot Doug Shepherd made a final attempt to harvest his stranded soybeans in mid-April, but he was forced to concede the remnants of last year’s crop were a lost cause. Shepherd’s fieldwork has been bogged down by seeping water […]

Suppose the “Green New Deal”—endorsed by several presidential contenders—becomes the law of the land. How would a law that bans fossil fuels touch the lives of real people in Missouri? To take just one example, how would it affect Missouri farmers? Under this plan, the federal government would commit to […]

Each spring, infernos blaze across large swaths of the Flint Hills, consuming everything in their path. While fire would be cause for concern in most areas, on the nearly 10,000 square miles of rocky, unplowed prairie that stretch from eastern Kansas to northern Oklahoma, the flames are a necessity. The […]

Raising Heritage Breed Hogs Outdoors Links Past and Present for Norton Farms For the Norton family, tradition runs five generations deep in the rolling hills just outside Plattsburg in northwest Missouri’s Clinton County. Since 1884, the family has followed the same farming formula for success. “You need to be diversified,” […]

Data from MU researchers shows soybean cyst nematode (SCN) field populations are becoming more virulent on commercial soybean cultivars, says University of Missouri Extension plant pathologist Kaitlyn Bissonnette. Testing fields for SCN is typically conducted once harvest is completed; however, spring is not too late to send soil samples for […]

When Scott Stone began his career as an ag teacher at Centralia High School in rural Centralia, Mo., 21 years ago, three out of every four students came from a farming family. Now, only 15 percent of his students come from the farm. As the demographics of his students have […]

Farmers are looking for any advantage they can find to improve their balance sheets as the agricultural economy remains mired in a five-year rut. In the quest to control costs and maximize efficiency, irrigators are increasingly turning to propane to power their pumps. Robert Compton, an MFA Oil member and […]

It’s not uncommon for Jay Collins to put in 13-hour days on his diversified farm in Lentner, Mo. There’s so much to be done—raising row crops, running a cow/calf operation and managing contracted swine facilities—that it takes a full family effort to keep the operation going on a daily basis. […]

The International Maritime Organization (IMO), which regulates global shipping, is set to roll out new regulations at the start of next year to reduce sulfur content in fuels used by shipping vessels. You may be wondering what bearing oceanic cargo ships have on a farm cooperative here in the Midwest […]

On any given Tuesday, a jovial group of women can be found sewing blankets, infant clothing and accessories in a Hartville, Mo. church. The women share two passions—sewing and giving back to their local community. These ladies make up the Southwestern Missouri Chapter of Newborns in Need, an organization devoted […]

Joey Massey, who represents the Mid-South (District 8) on the MFA Oil Board of Directors, was recently awarded certification recognizing his completion of the Advanced Governance Series training program for cooperative board members. The series, which is offered by FCC Services, provides training on the complexity of co-op governance and […]

MFA Oil Company congratulates Benny Farrell, former chairman of the company’s Board of Directors for his induction into the Missouri Institute of Cooperatives’ Hall of Fame in March. Farrell served on the MFA Oil board for 27 years, including 21 as its chairman. He played a fundamental role in guiding […]

Since its founding in 1929, MFA Oil Company has consistently focused its efforts on fulfilling the needs of its farmer-owners. The cooperative serves its more than 40,000 farmer-members in a variety of ways, such as ensuring a reliable supply of quality petroleum products at a fair price. One important benefit […]

Farm machinery transportation can create dangers for farmers and rural residents. Tractors and other farm implements will soon be on the move from one field to another on backroads and highways across the Midwest. Planting season is one of the most hazardous times for driving in rural areas, notes Karen […]

Spring is nearly here. That means it’s time to start getting fields ready for planting. To ensure your equipment is ready to run without issue, you need to perform preventative maintenance on your bulk fuel tank. If left unchecked, your tank will begin to collect water, rust, dirt and bacteria. […]

Enhancements are coming to MFA Oil’s fuel contracting program. Contracting is a valuable tool you can use to lock in fixed or maximum pricing on a set number of gallons. This provides clarity for budgeting your fuel expenses. These benefits are hallmarks of our contracting program, and they will remain […]

MFA Oil recently completed the sale of its propane operations in Vernal, Utah, and Craig, Colo., to Mountain West Propane, Inc., on Friday, February 1. The company had acquired Basin Propane Systems in Vernal on Feb. 3, 2015. Jon Ihler, MFA Oil vice president of sales and marketing, says the geographic […]

How often have you thanked the good Lord above for the challenges you face daily? I’ll be the first to admit that it may seem counterintuitive to be thankful for our challenges. Challenges can cause stress, high blood pressure and other issues. They really are no fun at all. But […]

All MFA Oil offices will be closed on the following dates to allow our employees to enjoy time with their families: Thanksgiving – November 22, 2018 The day after Thanksgiving – November 23, 2018 Christmas Eve – December 24, 2018 Christmas – December 25, 2018 New Year’s Day – January […]

The following column is written by Mark Fenner, president and CEO, and was originally published in the Fall 2018 issue of Momentum magazine. Choices. Don’t you love them? Whether it’s an ice cream flavor, a pair of jeans or the vehicle we drive, most of us like to have options. […]

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative, announces it will pay a patronage dividend of $8.4 million to its membership.

Since 2002, the Shryock family has carved fields of corn into imaginative mazes. Located conveniently on Interstate 70 just outside of Columbia, Mo., the rustic labyrinths have firmly established the Shryock’s Callaway Farms as an annual agritourism destination that draws thousands of visitors to the family’s fields each fall. The […]

Leffler Farms Inc. Focuses on Efficiency On the fringes of the Flint Hills of Kansas, Bill and Jacquelyne Leffler are five years into an unexpected partnership. The father and daughter duo raise corn, soybean, wheat and cattle near Americus, Kan., but Jacquelyne’s return to the farm was more happenstance than […]

Every autumn, millions of vibrantly colored monarch butterflies embark on an incredible mass migration. The remarkable trip takes the butterflies up to 3,000 miles, traveling as far south as central Mexico before that generation’s offspring return to the upper Midwest and Canada in the spring. The wonder of this natural […]

Barry Oden knows his customers count on MFA Oil for high-quality fuel. The challenge he sees is helping them maintain that quality once it’s been delivered. “I see the analysis of every fuel sample that customers in my district send in to our lab for testing and too many have […]

Farmers hoping for a quick resolution to the trade war between the United States and China may be kept waiting for the foreseeable future. The commercial conflict escalated when President Donald Trump instructed his administration to enact $200 billion of new tariffs on a wide array of Chinese goods by […]

Most corn grown in fields these days is selected chiefly for its yield potential, but other factors such as disease tolerance, standability and maturity are important considerations. While a focus on these traits has led to bin-bursting harvests through the Heartland, it leaves something to be desired for whiskey makers […]

For decades, the fight against weeds in Arkansas agriculture—barnyardgrass and Palmer amaranth, in particular—has been an ongoing war of attrition as weed populations gradually acquire resistance to one herbicidal chemistry after another. During this time, weed scientists and other experts with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture have […]

How would you describe your farming operation? My father got into farming in 1934 when he purchased a small parcel of land during the Great Depression. Our family has been farming the same area near Ste. Genevieve, Mo., ever since, and we now also farm across the river in Illinois. […]

The energy market is full of questions these days. What is the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) up to and has the cartel reestablished its relevance? How much of a factor is Russia playing? Where does the United States stand with its abundant shale oil production and new […]

Tony Dameron of Vandalia, Mo., was elected to represent the East Central district on the MFA Oil Company board of directors through a special election held on Sept. 21 in Mexico, Mo. The special election was held to fill the seat that became vacant due to the untimely death of […]

Every day after school, about 50 children from Chillicothe, Mo., arrive at the North Missouri Center for Youth and Families. The kids range from kindergarteners to eighth graders, but they all take part in the center’s PowerUP! Afterschool program, which provides a nurturing environment for tutoring, help with homework, enrichment […]

Throughout the spring and summer, MFA Oil has been hard at work upgrading its phone systems, enterprise content management system and server infrastructure to better care for customers. These efforts have been handled by the company’s Network Operations department, which has worked diligently to replace outdated technology and install solutions […]

MFA Oil Company announces Tony Dameron of Vandalia, Mo., has been elected to its board of directors. He was elected to represent the East Central district on the company’s eight-member board by MFA Oil delegates through a special election held on Sept. 21 in Mexico, Mo.

It is with great sadness that the MFA Oil executive team and Board of Directors announces the death of board member Floyd Buckman who was tragically killed on August 27 in a single-vehicle accident.

As Labor Day approaches, the unofficial end of summer nears and that means cooler temperatures are just around the corner. While it’s easy to understand wanting to put off purchasing propane during the heat of summer, doing so runs the risk of missing out on favorable contracting rates. MFA Oil […]

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, has acquired the refined fuel operations of Rock Port Oil Company, an independent retailer based in Rock Port, Mo. The acquisition closed on August 8.

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, has acquired the propane and farm fuel operations of Frazier Oil & LP Gas Company, Inc., an independent retailer based in Gower, Mo. The acquisition became official on August 2.

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, has purchased the propane operations of farm input supply cooperative Rolla Farmer’s Exchange of Rolla, Mo.

I was recently asked by an employee what I think MFA Oil Company will look like in the future and whether I feel we are still prospering. Both are great questions and probably something I don’t talk about enough. I feel the company will be much larger in the future […]

After producing award-winning goat cheese for more than a decade, Baetje Farms is poised to begin a new chapter With the pull of a rope, a trap door at the end of the milking parlor rises. Eight Saanen dairy goats enter, moving in unison like choreographed dancers taking the stage. […]

Frank Yiannas walked into his staff meeting with a package of sliced mangoes. As he set it down on the table, he looked at his team of Walmart colleagues and said, “The traceback study starts right now. Hit the clock.” Yiannas wanted to know from which country the mangoes came […]

When Missouri soybean farmers began investing their checkoff dollars into biodiesel research in 1991, they set the wheels in motion for the development of a renewable fuel that would drive demand for their crop and provide a clean-burning alternative to petroleum diesel. “Biodiesel started out as an idea—an opportunity to […]

As the summer temperatures rise, the crisp winds of fall and winter can seem impossibly far away. In the heat of the summer, it can be easy to put winter to-do’s, such as filling up your propane tank, on the back burner. But filling tanks now, rather than waiting until […]

Finding Farmworkers is a Challenge When Dannie Daughhetee reached out to his local unemployment office in West Memphis, Ark., last fall looking for help in filling four positions on his 5,000-acre rice, soybean, corn and cotton farm, he received 18 applications. Only four people bothered to show up to the […]

In dry weather with short pastures, Missouri cow-herd owners face tough culling decisions. One way to match cows’ needs to available grass is to sell cows. Give careful thought to which grass eaters go first, says Eric Bailey, University of Missouri Extension beef nutritionist. Under drought stress, identifying those cows […]

Oliver Farms While most family farms have a long history, the Oliver family is breaking ground with their first-generation farm, Oliver Farms. Bill Oliver started farming in the 1990s, during his high school agricultural education courses. Fifteen years ago, Laura came on board, turning the farming project into a family […]

Missouri Bans Misrepresentation of Meat Missouri has become the first state to ban alternative-meat products from being marketed as meat. The state’s lawmakers approved legislation outlawing foods originating from sources other than livestock or poultry from using the term “meat” on product labels. The surge of interlopers vying to compete […]

Fields of corn and soybean are common sights on the short drive from Interstate 29 to Jowler Creek Road in rural Platte County, Mo. A different kind of crop grown in rows soon comes into view as tires crunch the gravel of the road. An unpaved driveway leads the way […]

How would you describe yourself and your farming operation? I was born and raised in northwest Missouri and have been farming here my entire life. I represent the fifth generation of my family to do so. My wife, Nancy, and I raise corn, soybeans and cattle with our two sons […]

Summer is here, and it is officially barbecue season. Propane fuels grills across the country, but the pursuit of a perfectly grilled pork chop isn’t the only reason to purchase propane this summer. It is never too early to start getting ready for winter. As we came out of last […]

On June 5, Mark Fenner, president and CEO of MFA Oil, was awarded the Outstanding CEO Communicator award by the Cooperative Communicators Association (CCA) in Fort Worth, Texas. Fenner was presented the award at the CCA annual institute. A panel of judges from the association reviewed each nominee and their […]

MFA Oil congratulates Richard Fordyce, a longtime member of the cooperative, for his appointment to serve as the administrator of USDA’s Farm Services Agency by the Trump administration. Fordyce will oversee the agency’s effort to support agricultural production across the country through a network of 2,100 county and 50 state […]

Youth sports are as American as apple pie. Participation in activities such as youth sports has proven time and time again to be a positive outlet for kids to develop healthy lifestyles and learn the importance of setting goals, working as a team and how to win and lose with […]

For nearly 90 years, MFA Oil has built a reputation of conducting its business with steadfast financial integrity. The foundation of this commitment is rooted in the cooperative’s principles, which calls for fiscal responsibility and to do the right thing, ethically and morally, at all times. These sentiments, which have […]

The Fourth Annual MFA Oil Charity Golf Scramble and Concert raised $135,000 for Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization that provides emergency and financial assistance to the families of U.S. military service members and veterans. The event was held June 4 at The Club at Old Hawthorne in Columbia and […]

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, has acquired George’s Gas Co., Inc., with operations in Berryville, Ark., Harrison Ark., and Springdale, Ark., effective April 30.

It wasn’t long after my last Momentum article titled “No Pain, No Gain” that we came to the realization perhaps we (I) underestimated the severity of some of the pain. You see, when you implement a new accounting system for the first time in 27 years, you expect to have […]

From pasture to plate, Gourley Land & Cattle Co. offers premium beef When Billy Gourley Jr. says he manages from the ground up, he couldn’t be more literal. At Gourley Land & Cattle Co. based in Ozark, Mo., success starts in the soil. “If you have good soil, you’ll have […]

Lack of Access to High-Speed Internet Hampers Rural Communities The digital divide separating rural Americans from their urban neighbors has left the far-flung communities across the country cut off from the economic, educational and social opportunities high-speed Internet provides. While recent advancements in Internet technology have transformed the ways people […]

I recently had the difficult task of sitting by the hospital bed of a farmer in his early 80s to discuss his estate plan. This man, who was suffering from the late stages of cancer, had two children. One child had farmed with his father all his life and one […]

For the first time in 35 years, soybeans are expected to be within reach of claiming the crown as the nation’s top crop. A poll of 21 trading firms and analysts conducted by Bloomberg predicts 2018 will be the year soybeans unseat corn as the top U.S. crop. The survey […]

Researchers Accuse Russia of Spreading Anti-GMO Propaganda Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election has been confirmed by the Trump Administration and U.S. intelligence agencies, but politics is far from the only arena where Russia has sought to shape international opinion. A recent review of Russian-funded media outlets conducted […]

Graves-Chapple Research Center Demonstrates Benefits of No-Till Systems Landowners across Missouri use numerous tillage systems, including plow, chisel, disk or strip-till. Tillage is the preparation of soil for growing crops using equipment to mechanically agitate and mix the soil. Eliminating tillage is also an option—simply called no-till. The University of […]

Driving along the grassy levees separating a half-dozen goldfish ponds in central Arkansas, Landon Pool points out the paths too dangerous to traverse by pickup truck. Pool, a 30-year-old fish farmer, is surveying the land he purchased last year, making note of the eroding earthen walls and the work it […]

At first, Dustin Stanton thought the phone call was fake. Why would Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook, want to come to rural Missouri to learn about selling chicken eggs? The call was real, however. Zuckerberg truly wanted to meet Dustin and his brother, Austin, the two young men […]

Spring is a good time to look forward to your fuel needs for the fall harvest. So far this year, there’s been plenty of news about the energy industry, but overall, the market’s reaction to said news has been uneventful. Almost two years ago, Tom Kloza, global head of energy […]

How would you describe yourself and your farming operation? I grew up on my family’s farm near Brashear, Mo., and my family has been farming the ground there for about 80 years. I worked for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) for 31 years before becoming a full-time farmer in […]

A federal judge has ruled in favor of a group of 372 farmers, landowners and businesses who filed suit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for damages caused by repeated Missouri River flooding in recent years. Senior Judge Nancy Firestone of the United States Court of Federal Claims found […]

Every 24 seconds, a fire department responds to an alarm somewhere in the United States. In most cases, it’s volunteer firefighters who show up to battle the flames or render emergency services. These volunteers save not only lives but also money—more than $139.8 billion annually for local governments, according to […]

Sifting through mountains of data sounds dull, but as MFA Oil and other businesses have learned “there’s gold in them thar hills.” As the amount and variety of data available has skyrocketed, new opportunities have surfaced. That’s where MFA Oil’s business intelligence team comes into play. They analyze data to […]

Skimming fraud is growing in popularity among criminals. During the first six months of 2017, the number of compromised ATMs and point-of-sale devices jumped 21 percent, compared to the first six months of 2016, according to data from FICO. Meanwhile, the number of compromised cards soared 39 percent. Approximately 39 […]

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, announces it has acquired Raines Oil Company, an independent refined fuel retailer based in Senath, Mo. Raines Oil Company has been a trusted fuel provider for farmers, cotton gins and local civic organizations since 1972.

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, announces it has acquired the propane and refined fuel operations of independent retailer Cardie Oil, Inc. of Tampa, Kan. effective January 22, 2018.

“No pain, no gain!” I remember as a young athlete seeing this saying for the first time. It was posted in the tiny weight room of my high school to remind us that without hard work, future success is in doubt. The same rings true today, regardless of the situation. […]

Not many cities can lay claim to the largest pecan in the world. This unique tourist attraction isn’t the only hidden gem in Brunswick, Mo., the state-proclaimed “Pecan Capital of Missouri.” Nestled in the hills bordering the rich soils of the Missouri River bottoms along Highway 24 is King Hill […]

Elizabeth Brooks wasn’t interested in opening the typical equestrian barn when she started the Springfield Riding Club in Rogersville, Mo. During her time traveling the globe as a professional horse trainer and riding instructor, she saw plenty of new possibilities. “At most barns, there’s one or two instructors who specialize […]

Drift concerns remain as dicamba-resistant seed sales are set to double The 2017 soybean harvest is likely to set a new record for total production, but for many farmers, the year was marred by the finger-pointing, lawsuits and acrimony associated with off-target movement of dicamba herbicide. The hotly debated weedkiller […]

Razor-thin profit margins and depleted capital reserves have forced many farmers to re-evaluate the way they manage their machinery. Low prices for corn, soybeans and other commodities have producers looking to cut costs wherever possible. The belt tightening has prompted many farmers to forego replacing much of the farm equipment […]

Farmers looking for a reprieve from low commodity prices may have to continue waiting for market conditions to improve before they see any relief. Record harvests and increasing foreign competition have flooded global commodity markets with an oversupply of corn, soybeans and wheat. Until the surplus disappears, economists say it […]

Survey Shows Massive Impact in Farm Country The results of a survey recently published by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and the National Farmers Union (NFU) shows farmers and ranchers have been hit significantly harder by the opioid crisis than rural populations overall. While just under half of rural […]

Census Tells the True Story About the State of U.S. Agriculture The 2017 Census of Agriculture, which provides detailed data covering nearly every facet of U.S. agriculture, is underway and millions of agricultural operators across the United States are encouraged to promptly complete the survey to fully demonstrate the value […]

Diesel prices have gone up roughly 55 cents per gallon from the mid-year low, and this is the kind of price rally that we are all trying to protect against by contracting our fuel. This is why putting in a little effort now to determine your fuel budget and target […]

What motivated you to get involved with the cooperative and serve on the board? It seems like most people these days are too content to sit back and watch things happen. I prefer to get involved in the organizations I’m a part of because I want to help make a […]

Have you ever believed in anything so strongly that you would want anyone who sees you to know it instantly? Would you go so far as to shave it into the hair on the sides of your head? That’s the kind of dedication Marvin VanLeer had for MFA Oil during […]

MFA Oil’s farmer-owners will soon receive their patronage checks in the mail, and there’s one department members can thank. The company’s Records Services department is responsible for not only mailing equity and patronage checks, but also keeping membership information up-to-date and maintaining other customer-related paperwork. Any customer who is involved […]

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, announces it has acquired full ownership of Callaway Propane LLC in Fulton, Mo., effective Jan. 2. Callaway Propane was formed in 1998 as a partnership between MFA Oil and Callaway Electric Cooperative.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) has barred the sale of tractor hydraulic fluid (THF) labeled as “John Deere 303” effectively immediately. The ban was announced by MDA’s Weights, Measures & Consumer Protection Division which called John Deere 303 fluids misbranded “because they fail to meet any current tractor manufacturer’s […]

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, recently held its 88th Annual Delegate Meeting in Branson, Mo., where the co-op’s elected representatives approved a return of $5.2 million in patronage to the membership. The patronage disbursement, which was recommended by the MFA Oil Board of Directors, represents 80 percent […]

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, recently held its 88th Annual Delegate Meeting in Branson, Mo., where the co-op’s elected representatives approved a return of $5.2 million in patronage to the membership.

In a recent sermon, my pastor focused on the idea of ensuring the church understands and sticks to its mission of serving God. This notion, keeping the main thing the main thing, originated from famous self-improvement guru Stephen Covey. It’s a strong point, and it made me reflect upon the […]

For the past 11 years, Mid-America Biofuels, a biodiesel production plant in Mexico, Mo., has become a large contributor to the growing renewable fuels industry. The plant, which became Missouri’s first large-scale biodiesel production facility when it opened in 2006, has grown from its original production capacity of 30 million […]

With limited funds designated for facility upkeep, universities around the country are facing a mounting backlog of maintenance needs, and farmers could soon feel the effect. The widespread problem of deferred maintenance has the potential to limit agriculture research findings, and ultimately halt future innovations the United States may make […]

No easy answer to herbicide controversy Uncertainty is swirling in the Midwest, where millions of acres of crops may have been damaged by a controversial herbicide. An estimated 3.1 million acres of soybeans have been affected by off-target movement of dicamba across the country, and that figure doesn’t include other […]

Break Time unveiled its first truck stop in Moberly, Mo., in September. Located at the southern edge of the city where U.S. Highway 63 and State Highway M intersect, the store features many amenities for truck drivers, including: parking space for 25 tractor-trailers, a lounge, showers, laundry machines, free WiFi […]

3 Tips for Propane Preparedness Fall is here and heating season is just around the corner. If you haven’t planned for your propane needs yet, now is the time. MFA Oil is committed to keeping your home, farm or commercial business adequately supplied with propane all winter long. The price […]

Fruit and vegetable farms, gardens and other agricultural sectors rely on pollinators to ensure abundant production, but wild pollinator populations are in decline, says Dirk Philipp, associate professor of animal science for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “The original prairies that covered much of the United States […]

Thirty years ago, agricultural cooperative leaders from across the country gathered for a series of focus panels to discuss the future of farmer-owned cooperatives. The panelists’ discussions were summarized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the report “Positioning Farmer Cooperatives for the Future,” which concluded cooperatives must continually adapt […]

A change is coming to the cattle seedstock industry. Breed associations have long been interested in finding the genetic basis for feed efficiency, with the aim of breeding more efficient animals. But the first step—accurately measuring how much cattle eat across different life stages and diet types—has been a missing […]

Whether it’s the thrill of competition, the fun of building custom machinery or the comradery found at the track, something about tractor pulling has captivated the Dohrman family for generations. “The feeling you get when the tractor ignites and the wheels are spinning 70 miles per hour is sort of […]

A hint of a chill has returned to remind us fall has arrived and will soon be followed by winter. What does Mother Nature have in store for us this year? It is hard to predict the weather, but that doesn’t stop people from making predictions. Meteorologists have already begun […]

There is no gray area when it comes to MFA Oil’s stance on ethics and corporate citizenship in the company’s guiding principles: “When in doubt, do the right thing, ethically and morally.” Those words set forth an unequivocal directive for the cooperative to operate with integrity, fairness and respect in […]

The construction department at MFA Oil Company may not have many employees, but what it lacks in manpower it more than makes up with its productivity. The department is primarily staffed by Brian Arnold, senior construction specialist, who works directly with architects, engineers and contractors on the company’s projects. “I […]

Kent Kunkel got his first taste of disaster relief when he traveled with volunteers from his church to help the victims of the catastrophic tornado that ripped through the city of Joplin, Mo., in 2011. “That type of experience makes you appreciate what’s really important in life,” Kunkel says. “It […]

Fuel tank maintenance is an indispensable part of ensuring the quality of diesel fuel. Incorporating a preventative tank care plan protects stored fuel and maximizes the service life of diesel-powered equipment. Don North, MFA Oil director of product development and quality control, offers four important tips for proper tank maintenance. […]

Winter is just around the corner and its frigid temperatures can be hard on diesel equipment and fuel systems. Performing routine maintenance now can help you prevent the most common cold-weather problems and avoid costly repairs and downtime. Before the cold weather strikes, prepare your equipment for the season by […]

Break Time, the convenience store division of MFA Oil Company, announces the opening of its newest store, a truck stop near the intersection of U.S. Highway 63 and State Highway M in Moberly, Mo.

The deadline to lock in propane pricing for the winter through contracting is quickly approaching. Are you ready for winter? MFA Oil customers have until Sept. 30 to contract propane for the winter. Contracting provides you with an opportunity to secure a set price on your propane for a specified […]

As Hurricane Harvey battered Texas this past week, dropping more than four feet of rain in some areas, gasoline prices shot up across the country. According to AAA, the national price of gas has risen to $2.519 as of September 1, the highest it’s been in two years. The price spike […]

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, announces it has acquired Chanute LP Gas Inc., based in Chanute, Kan., and Tri-Star Propane Inc., based in Severy, Kan. The purchase of the two propane retailers aligns with MFA Oil’s efforts to grow its business in the eastern Kansas region.

Predicting prices in the fuel and propane industry is a lot like a night at the casino. Uncertain factors and inconsistent circumstances are both elements that go into winning the jackpot and determining the exact future price of fuel and propane. For Tim Danze, senior pricing analyst, recognizable factors are […]

This summer, MFA Oil is giving aspiring students real world experience in their desired fields. Nine interns have recently joined the MFA Oil team as part of the company’s third annual internship program. The interns, a mix of undergraduate and graduate students, are scattered in various departments across the home […]

What’s in a name? Well, in our case it describes our business and why we are here. For decades, MFA Oil has been known as a dependable supplier of fuels and propane with a deep appreciation of our farmer-owners. But what about oil? While we do sell a significant volume […]

For four generations, the family-owned Independent Stave Company has produced high-quality oak barrels and other cooperage products for the wine and spirits industries. What began as one Missouri man’s business has grown into an industry leader with an international presence. In 1912, T.W. Boswell founded a stave milling business to […]

The only thing tougher than rice is the farmer who grows it. What would be the worst conditions for other crops makes the best environment for rice production. Rice thrives in heavy clay soils that retain water—the type of fields most growers try to avoid. “An old farmer once told […]

Agriculture Embraces EPA Administrator Ask farmers for their views on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and you may hear a few choice words. Generally speaking, farmers fear and mistrust the EPA, an agency they say doesn’t understand agriculture and too often oversteps its authority when it comes to regulating […]

Traditionally, wholesale suppliers of fertilizer, grain and feed rely on two modes of freight transportation: rail and truck. However, suppliers like AGRIServices of Brunswick (ASB) in north central Missouri have found a third option is highly valuable: river barges. The Mississippi River watershed, which comprises the Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi and […]

First Generation Rancher Blazes His Own Trail Lincoln Hough was a seventh-grade student when he made the fateful purchase that would help shape his future. A $450 loan from his parents bought Hough three Hereford heifers, which he bred to a neighbor’s bull. Three calves later, he had $1,000 in […]

The agricultural input supply landscape could see some big changes in 2017. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently issued a report assessing the potential impacts of pending mergers and acquisitions involving the world’s “Big Six” agricultural chemical and seed companies. Though the deals are all still awaiting regulatory approval, the […]

A Kansas State University swine scientist says advances in how pigs are raised have led to enormous improvements in pork production over the last 20 years. Mike Tokach, professor of animal science, says research has allowed the swine industry to safely increase litter sizes and growth rates of finishing pigs. […]

Beware Phishing Scams Think twice before clicking suspicious emails that land in your inbox. Phishing scams have grown in popularity and continue to trick people into a host of problems. As cybercriminals use increasingly sophisticated scams, it has never been more important to protect yourself. Phishing scams aim to collect […]

When the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) announced on Nov. 30, 2016, it would cut crude oil production in an effort to drain record global inventories, the oil market quickly responded. Crude prices immediately shot up 9 percent from $45.24 to a high of $49.44. The agreement, which notably […]

When a tractor or combine breaks down during planting or harvest, farmers lose valuable time in the field, which can end up costing them hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. As a farmer-owned cooperative, MFA Oil is keenly aware of the importance of avoiding equipment downtime. That’s why providing excellent […]

The University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) has named Christopher R. Daubert its new vice chancellor and dean. Daubert is currently a professor and department head of Food, Bioprocessing & Nutrition Sciences and system co-chair of Food, Biochemical & Engineered Systems at North Carolina State […]

Missouri Farmers Care (MFC) has launched a new summer service program to fight childhood hunger. The Drive to Feed Kids program will leverage existing food banks and in-school food pantries to deliver kid-friendly meals to underfed youth. The food is delivered through backpack programs and in-school pantries. “Hunger isn’t an […]

Nearly two decades ago, David Reed and his wife, Brenda, received a phone call from a fellow horse lover. She asked if they would take over as coordinators for a charity trail ride benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The Reeds’ “yes” took them down a trail they never expected. […]

Much responsibility comes with jobs dedicated to reducing risks, protecting people and being a trustworthy steward of our environment, but it’s all in a day’s work for MFA Oil’s Department of Environmental, Health and Safety (EH&S). The department manages the company’s 260 petroleum storage tank sites, and its primary objective […]

Diesel engines have come a long way since Rudolf Diesel first introduced his invention to the world in the late 19th century. Though it’s been more than 100 years since Diesel demonstrated his single-cylinder engine in 1897, many of the most significant advancements in diesel engine technology have occurred within […]

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, announces it has acquired DeClerk LP Gas, Inc. in Pocahontas, Ark., effective June 21. DeClerk LP Gas has been in operation since 1938.

Farmers, industry representatives and media got their first glance inside the new MFA Hamilton Rail Facility with a two-day open house June 20 and 21.Under construction for the past year, the Rail Facility is MFA’s largest single investment in real dollars in any geographic region.

MFA Oil raised $160,000 for Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization that provides emergency and other financial assistance to the families of U.S. military service members and veterans. Mark Fenner, MFA Oil president and CEO, presented a check to representatives from Operation Homefront during the company’s Third Annual Charity Golf […]

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative announces it has acquired the propane operations of Spring Hill Oil Company, an independent retailer based in Spring Hill, Kan., effective June 16. “This acquisition represents another major step into the Kansas market for our company,” says Jon Ihler, MFA Oil vice […]

MFA Oil Company announces it has donated $160,000 to Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization that provides emergency and other financial assistance to the families of U.S. military service members and veterans.

The American Petroleum Institute (API) recently released a new heavy-duty engine oil specification to replace API CJ-4. The new API CK-4 service category for diesel engine oil has been in development for about a decade and will deliver improved fuel economy performance and reduce emissions. Known as PC-11A during its […]

Did you know that more than three quarters of the land in the continental U.S. is privately owned? The farmers, ranchers and foresters who own and manage the vast majority of private land in this nation hold the key to environmental improvement. Without their voluntary stewardship, our biggest conservation challenges […]

Break Time, the convenience store division of MFA Oil Company, announces it has reopened its store at 1416 Old Highway 63 S in Columbia with more pumps and amenities for customers.

In early March, wildfires ravaged more than a million acres of land in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. MFA Oil is working with the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association to help the farmers and ranchers who were devastated by the fires by donating $5,000 in gift cards to reimburse fuel expenses for […]

Farmers, truckers and other users of heavy equipment can maximize the performance and reliability of their equipment through regular analysis of engine, hydraulic and transmission oils. Establishing an oil analysis regimen can help determine contamination levels, wear rates and the overall condition of equipment. Routine testing can identify minor problems […]

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, announces it has acquired Ford Oil Company, an independent retailer of propane and refined fuels with offices in Hornersville and Kennett, Mo.

Winter storms can sometimes cause power outages, pipes to burst and other problems in your home. Make sure you’re prepared to handle any upcoming storms by reviewing our winter propane safety tips. Maintain an adequate supply in your tank. Winter storms can hinder propane deliveries, so it’s a good idea […]

Break Time recently unveiled a redesigned logo and accompanying graphics on its new store in Lee’s Summit, MO.

MFA Oil Company, the seventh largest propane retailer in the United States, announces it has acquired the propane operations of Keiser Oil & LP Gas Co., an independent propane retailer based in Keiser, Arkansas.

The 24th Annual MFA Oil-Break Time Shootout, benefiting the Show-Me STATE GAMES, is scheduled to tip off at noon on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017 at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. The event features top high school basketball teams and some of the best athletes from around the state of Missouri. […]

By the time you read this column, you may have heard the news about OPEC’s recent decision to cut crude oil production. I have to give OPEC credit; I did not think it would be able to pull off this historic agreement to limit its members crude output. The details […]

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative, recently declared it will pay $11.8 million in cash to its members in exchange for doing business with the company.

The current fundamentals and realities of the energy market are bearish, in my opinion. The question is whether there are longer-term bullish implications we need to consider. A quick look at supply and demand as of late August shows crude oil stocks in the United States are sitting at 521 million barrels – […]

After a wetter than normal summer, construction is well underway on the new shuttle-loader just outside Hamilton, Mo. The grain-handling facility, a joint venture between MFA Incorporated and MFA Oil Company, will consist of 2 million bushels of permanent storage and 1.5 million bushels of temporary storage. The site will be connected to the Union […]

MFA Oil Company has acquired Ozark County LP Gas Company, Inc., a propane retailer with offices in Gainesville, Mo. and Mountain Home, Ark.

MFA Oil Company has acquired select assets of Fuels & Supplies and Jim Woods Marketing, Inc. The sale includes propane operations in northeast Oklahoma and refined fuel/ tank wagon operations in northwest Arkansas and northeast Oklahoma.

MFA Oil takes great pride in providing our farmer-owners and customers with the energy solutions needed to keep their operations growing. We know that meeting our customers’ needs goes beyond simply delivering fuel. The MFA Oil Service Division was established to ensure our customers receive the care they deserve. In […]

For the more than 70% of Americans that own a grill, summer time is prime grilling season. One thing you don’t want to happen is for your next grilled meal to be memorable for the wrong reasons. According to the National Fire Protection Association, July is the peak month for […]

Established in recent months to meet the needs of large-volume customers, the MFA Oil Wholesale Fuels Division is now servicing a wide variety of businesses and government organizations. Our goal is to provide a quick and easy way to arrange for the delivery of transport-sized fuel loads. The Wholesale Fuels […]

MFA Oil is excited to announce we will now accept EFS, TCH and T-CHEK credit cards at all of our Petro-Card 24 locations.  In addition to these new options, you can pay for your Petro-Card 24 purchases using any of the following: MFA Oil Petro-Card 24 Card MFA Oil Preferred […]

Break Time, the convenience store division of MFA Oil Company, announces it will build a new 4,000-square-foot convenience store at 1805 N. Bishop Ave. in Rolla, Mo.

MFA Oil Company, a Big O Tires franchisee based in Columbia, Mo., announces it will open a new Big O Tires store in Enid, Okla., on July 5. MFA Oil has owned and managed Big O Tires stores since 1998; and currently operates 13 stores in Missouri, three stores in northwest Arkansas, and the Enid store is its first in Oklahoma.

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Columbia, Mo., announces it has raised $165,000 to support Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization that provides emergency and other financial assistance to thousands of military troops and their families.

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, based in Columbia, Mo., today celebrates the grand opening of its 33-acre Business Support Campus in Moberly, Mo.

MFA Oil Company, the seventh largest propane retailer in the United States, has acquired Terry’s Propane, Inc., a propane supplier based in Washington, Okla. The acquisition is the latest in a series of purchases MFA Oil has made to expand its operating footprint.

MFA Incorporated, a grain marketing and farm supply cooperative based in Columbia, Mo., recently announced a joint venture with MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, to build a shuttle-loader facility on the Union Pacific Railroad approximately 5 miles east of Hamilton, Mo.

MFA Oil Company announces it has acquired Brownfield Oil Company, a refined fuels and lubricants supplier based in Moberly, Mo. The purchase includes a Sinclair gas station in Shelbina, Mo. and a Sinclair cardlock fueling facility in Kirksville, Mo. “This acquisition made a lot of sense for our company,” says […]

MFA Oil Company, the seventh largest propane retailer in the United States, announces it has acquired S&S Oil and Propane Company, Inc. (S&S), a propane, refined fuels and lubricants retailer based in Emporia, Kan. The deal includes 17 propane storage facilities, five bulk fuel storage facilities, five card refueling locations […]

MFA Oil Company, the seventh largest propane retailer in the United States, announces it has acquired R&S Propane, Inc., a propane supplier based in Dibble, Okla. The acquisition strengthens MFA Oil’s position in central Oklahoma.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company has named Edward Harper vice president of retail automotive. Harper will oversee MFA Oil’s Big O Tires and Jiffy Lube operations in addition to the company’s construction and maintenance departments.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, the seventh largest propane retailer in the United States, announces it has acquired Elaine Petroleum Distribution, Inc., a refined fuels supplier based in Elaine, Arkansas. The purchase strength ens MFA Oil’s position in eastern Arkansas as the company expands its operating territory.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, the seventh largest propane retailer in the United States, announces it has acquired Lybarger Oil, Inc. a propane, refined fuels and lubricants retailer based in Garnett, Kan. This acquisition expands MFA Oil’s footprint, establishing a substantial presence in the east-central Kansas market. “We are excited […]

Columbia, Missouri – BORE/MPC LLC, the joint venture between MFA Oil Company and Big O Tires, recently announced that MFA Oil has purchased Big O Tires’ interest in the partnership. Formed in 1998, BORE/MPC is the Big O Tires franchisee that owns and operates 14 Big O Tires stores in […]

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Columbia, MO, today announced that it has raised more than $76,000 to support Operation Homefront. The money was raised through the company’s first Annual Charity Golf Scramble & Concert, which was held June 1 at The Club at Old Hawthorne in Columbia, MO.

Columbia, Missouri –  MFA Oil Company has purchased, through its subsidiary American Petroleum Marketers LLC (APM), a portion of the dealer fuel supply agreementsowned by Sunshine Fuels LLC and Sunshine Energy LLC.   The purchase includes 30 supplier contracts of dealers in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.  These stores will continue to […]

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Columbia, MO, has named Don Smith director of mergers and acquisitions. Smith is responsible for deal sourcing, business valuations, negotiations and post-sale integration of business acquisitions.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, the seventh largest propane retailer in the United States, announced that it has acquired Cunningham Propane, a family-owned propane retailer based in West Helena, Arkansas.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, the seventh largest propane retailer in the United States, announced that it has acquired Basin Propane Systems, an independently owned propane retailer based in Vernal, Utah. Basin Propane services customers in the northeast region of the state.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil President and CEO Mark Fenner recently announced the hiring of Janice Serpico as vice president, human resources. Serpico joins MFA Oil with 30 years of human resources experience, most recently serving as the vice president of corporate human resources at Scientific Games Corporation in Chicago.  Her […]

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company opened a new Break Time Neighborhood Market on Grindstone Parkway this week. This is Break Time’s 16th store in the Columbia market and 77th store overall. The new store is in the Red Oak development across from Super Walmart.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company has donated $50,000 each to the Marshfield, MO Senior Center and Cameron, MO Regional YMCA capital campaigns. The senior center campaign was started to raise money for the construction of a new 10,000-square-foot facility located at West Washington Street in Marshfield.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil has named Jon Ihler vice president of sales and marketing. Ihler is responsible for overseeing sales, marketing, quality control and oil distribution warehouses as well as APM LLC, the dealer/wholesale company MFA Oil acquired in 2013.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil has hired Amanda Farmer as district supervisor for Break Time. Farmer will be responsible for the eight Break Time convenience stores in southeast Missouri. “Amanda brings a strong retail record and a lot of energy to our team,” says Break Time Regional Manager Cathy Geotz. […]

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Columbia, MO, has hired Curtis Chaney as senior vice president of retail. Chaney will be responsible for the Break Time convenience stores as well as MFA Oil’s Jiffy Lube franchise locations.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Columbia, MO, has begun construction on the 33-acre commercial site that will house its Business Support Campus in Moberly, MO. The site was purchased early in 2014.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil recently held the company’s 85th annual meeting in Osage Beach, MO. Nearly 550 delegates, guests and employees were in attendance as the company reviewed operations, approved distribution of patronage and conducted Board of Director elections.

Columbia, Missouri – Wayne Wright of Cincinnati, IA has been elected to the board of directors of MFA Oil Company at the company’s annual meeting in Osage Beach, MO. Wright was elected to serve a three-year term and will represent Northeast Missouri and Southeast Iowa on MFA Oil’s eight-member board.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Columbia, MO, made the first acquisition of its fiscal year by purchasing New Hampton Implement and Propane from Rick and Serena Naylor.  Based in New Hampton, Missouri, the acquisition covers the propane customers in northwest Missouri.  MFA Oil will […]

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Columbia, MO, continues its expansion mode with the purchases of Home Service Oil Company, Home Service Propane Gas, LLC and All Propane. Based in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, the Home Service acquisition covers the refined fuels and propane customers in […]

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Columbia, MO, has acquired Brown Propane based in Neosho, Missouri. Brown Propane was owned and operated by Mike and Roberta Brown. “Brown Propane provides MFA Oil with additional customers to serve more efficiently.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Columbia, MO, has  acquired Alexander Propane based in Sullivan, Missouri. Alexander Propane was owned and operated by Cris and Marjean Alexander. “Alexander Propane is a quality acquisition in our existing market territory,” says Mark Fenner, chief operating officer of MFA Oil. […]

Columbia, Missouri  – Two AgFuel Energy Systems biomass furnaces have been  purchased by the Climate Foundation, one of several research groups  commissioned by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to  participate in its Reinvent the Toilet Challenge.  The systems will  be used to convert human waste to heat and energy and […]

Columbia, Missouri –AgFuel Energy Systems announced that it has partnered with ClearStak, LLC to form AgFuel Northeast, LLC. The company will be based in Woodstock, CT, and will recruit dealers to distribute AgFuel Energy Systems throughout the northeast region of the U.S. “Partnering with ClearStak to promote furnace sales in the […]

Fenner to assume CEO role on September 1, 2014; Taylor will continue with MFA Oil Biomass Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil today announced that Jerry Taylor, president and chief executive officer, will retire effective August 31, 2014. Taylor will remain with the company to lead MFA Oil’s investments in MFA […]

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Columbia, MO, has acquired Smoky Mountain Propane based in Sylva, North Carolina. Smoky Mountain Propane has been in operation for 12 years and was owned and operated by Darrell and Lisa Pruett. Smoky Mountain Propane is a quality acquisition in a new market territory,”

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Columbia, MO, has acquired American Petroleum Marketers (APM), based in Bonner Springs, Kansas. APM has been in operation since 2008 and distributes fuel to over 60 Cenex branded sites, along with unbranded fuel, in six states. “We are looking […]

Columbia, Missouri – MFA  Petroleum, a wholly owned subsidiary of MFA Oil Company,  broke ground on its newest Break Time convenience store in Lebanon,  Missouri in October. The 5,300 square-foot, large format store, located at the intersection of Highways 5 and 64, will utilize the Break Time Neighborhood Market concept, which […]

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Columbia, MO, has acquired the assets of Henderson Oil Company. Henderson Oil, owned by Doug and Alicia Henderson, has been in operation in central Missouri for 36 years with bulk fuel plants in Columbia, Boonville and Harrisburg, MO. “We […]

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company has named Robert Condron Chief Financial Officer effective January 28, 2013. Condron will be responsible for the IT, finance and corporate services departments. He will also evaluate strategic and financial planning as the company seeks growth in new regions of the country. Condron brings […]

The donation of a three-acre parcel of land in Tebbetts, Mo. may help preserve a part of the community’s cultural heritage. On May 5, MFA Oil Company transferred the deed to a strip of property along Missouri Highway 94 to African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. The land donated by MFA […]

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 […]

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. […]

MFA Oil has owned and operated its Jiffy Lube franchise through its subsidiary MFA Petroleum Company since 1990.

The Sixth Annual MFA Oil Charity Golf Scramble raised $175,000 for Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization that provides emergency and financial assistance to the families of U.S. military service members and veterans. The event was held September 8 at The Club at Old Hawthorne in Columbia and featured 43 […]

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, acquired Simmons Energy Solutions, the propane business of Simmons Foods Inc. on September 1. The acquisition includes locations in Decatur, Arkansas and Jay, Oklahoma. “The Simmons Energy acquisition fits well with the core geography we serve,” said Kenny Steeves, senior vice president […]

MFA Oil Company, a Big O Tires franchisee based in Columbia, Mo., opened its newest Big O Tires store in at 1701 W Elm St. in Lebanon, Mo., on May 4. “Our new store in Lebanon is another exciting addition to our franchise and we are looking forward to serving […]

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, recently declared $11 million in patronage will be distributed to its members as part of the benefits of membership in the cooperative. The announcement was made at the 90th Annual MFA Oil Delegate Meeting which was held in Branson, Mo., on December […]

MFA Oil Company today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Jon Ihler as president and chief executive officer effective July 31, 2019. Ihler, who had been serving as interim CEO since April 25, 2019, is the fifth CEO in the cooperative’s 90-year history.

MFA Oil Company announces the appointment of Jeff Raetz as its chief financial officer effective July 30, 2019. Raetz will lead the company’s finance strategy and oversee the company’s accounting, finance and information technology operations.

The Fifth Annual MFA Oil Charity Golf Scramble and Concert raised $140,000 for Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization that provides emergency and financial assistance to the families of U.S. military service members and veterans. The event was held June 3 at The Club at Old Hawthorne in Columbia and […]

The MFA Oil Company Board of Directors has named Jon Ihler interim chief executive officer effective April 25, 2019. Ihler will be responsible for overseeing the company’s day-to-day operations of the refined fuel, propane, Petro-Card 24, Break Time, Big O Tires and Jiffy Lube operations across an eight-state region. Ihler […]

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative, announces it will pay a patronage dividend of $8.4 million to its membership.

MFA Oil Company announces Tony Dameron of Vandalia, Mo., has been elected to its board of directors. He was elected to represent the East Central district on the company’s eight-member board by MFA Oil delegates through a special election held on Sept. 21 in Mexico, Mo.

It is with great sadness that the MFA Oil executive team and Board of Directors announces the death of board member Floyd Buckman who was tragically killed on August 27 in a single-vehicle accident.

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, has acquired the refined fuel operations of Rock Port Oil Company, an independent retailer based in Rock Port, Mo. The acquisition closed on August 8.

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, has acquired the propane and farm fuel operations of Frazier Oil & LP Gas Company, Inc., an independent retailer based in Gower, Mo. The acquisition became official on August 2.

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, has purchased the propane operations of farm input supply cooperative Rolla Farmer’s Exchange of Rolla, Mo.

The Fourth Annual MFA Oil Charity Golf Scramble and Concert raised $135,000 for Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization that provides emergency and financial assistance to the families of U.S. military service members and veterans. The event was held June 4 at The Club at Old Hawthorne in Columbia and […]

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, has acquired George’s Gas Co., Inc., with operations in Berryville, Ark., Harrison Ark., and Springdale, Ark., effective April 30.

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, announces it has acquired Raines Oil Company, an independent refined fuel retailer based in Senath, Mo. Raines Oil Company has been a trusted fuel provider for farmers, cotton gins and local civic organizations since 1972.

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, announces it has acquired the propane and refined fuel operations of independent retailer Cardie Oil, Inc. of Tampa, Kan. effective January 22, 2018.

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, announces it has acquired full ownership of Callaway Propane LLC in Fulton, Mo., effective Jan. 2. Callaway Propane was formed in 1998 as a partnership between MFA Oil and Callaway Electric Cooperative.

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, recently held its 88th Annual Delegate Meeting in Branson, Mo., where the co-op’s elected representatives approved a return of $5.2 million in patronage to the membership.

Break Time, the convenience store division of MFA Oil Company, announces the opening of its newest store, a truck stop near the intersection of U.S. Highway 63 and State Highway M in Moberly, Mo.

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, announces it has acquired Chanute LP Gas Inc., based in Chanute, Kan., and Tri-Star Propane Inc., based in Severy, Kan. The purchase of the two propane retailers aligns with MFA Oil’s efforts to grow its business in the eastern Kansas region.

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, announces it has acquired DeClerk LP Gas, Inc. in Pocahontas, Ark., effective June 21. DeClerk LP Gas has been in operation since 1938.

Farmers, industry representatives and media got their first glance inside the new MFA Hamilton Rail Facility with a two-day open house June 20 and 21.Under construction for the past year, the Rail Facility is MFA’s largest single investment in real dollars in any geographic region.

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative announces it has acquired the propane operations of Spring Hill Oil Company, an independent retailer based in Spring Hill, Kan., effective June 16. “This acquisition represents another major step into the Kansas market for our company,” says Jon Ihler, MFA Oil vice […]

MFA Oil Company announces it has donated $160,000 to Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization that provides emergency and other financial assistance to the families of U.S. military service members and veterans.

Break Time, the convenience store division of MFA Oil Company, announces it has reopened its store at 1416 Old Highway 63 S in Columbia with more pumps and amenities for customers.

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, announces it has acquired Ford Oil Company, an independent retailer of propane and refined fuels with offices in Hornersville and Kennett, Mo.

Break Time recently unveiled a redesigned logo and accompanying graphics on its new store in Lee’s Summit, MO.

MFA Oil Company, the seventh largest propane retailer in the United States, announces it has acquired the propane operations of Keiser Oil & LP Gas Co., an independent propane retailer based in Keiser, Arkansas.

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative, recently declared it will pay $11.8 million in cash to its members in exchange for doing business with the company.

MFA Oil Company has acquired Ozark County LP Gas Company, Inc., a propane retailer with offices in Gainesville, Mo. and Mountain Home, Ark.

MFA Oil Company has acquired select assets of Fuels & Supplies and Jim Woods Marketing, Inc. The sale includes propane operations in northeast Oklahoma and refined fuel/ tank wagon operations in northwest Arkansas and northeast Oklahoma.

Break Time, the convenience store division of MFA Oil Company, announces it will build a new 4,000-square-foot convenience store at 1805 N. Bishop Ave. in Rolla, Mo.

MFA Oil Company, a Big O Tires franchisee based in Columbia, Mo., announces it will open a new Big O Tires store in Enid, Okla., on July 5. MFA Oil has owned and managed Big O Tires stores since 1998; and currently operates 13 stores in Missouri, three stores in northwest Arkansas, and the Enid store is its first in Oklahoma.

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Columbia, Mo., announces it has raised $165,000 to support Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization that provides emergency and other financial assistance to thousands of military troops and their families.

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, based in Columbia, Mo., today celebrates the grand opening of its 33-acre Business Support Campus in Moberly, Mo.

MFA Oil Company, the seventh largest propane retailer in the United States, has acquired Terry’s Propane, Inc., a propane supplier based in Washington, Okla. The acquisition is the latest in a series of purchases MFA Oil has made to expand its operating footprint.

MFA Incorporated, a grain marketing and farm supply cooperative based in Columbia, Mo., recently announced a joint venture with MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, to build a shuttle-loader facility on the Union Pacific Railroad approximately 5 miles east of Hamilton, Mo.

MFA Oil Company announces it has acquired Brownfield Oil Company, a refined fuels and lubricants supplier based in Moberly, Mo. The purchase includes a Sinclair gas station in Shelbina, Mo. and a Sinclair cardlock fueling facility in Kirksville, Mo. “This acquisition made a lot of sense for our company,” says […]

MFA Oil Company, the seventh largest propane retailer in the United States, announces it has acquired S&S Oil and Propane Company, Inc. (S&S), a propane, refined fuels and lubricants retailer based in Emporia, Kan. The deal includes 17 propane storage facilities, five bulk fuel storage facilities, five card refueling locations […]

MFA Oil Company, the seventh largest propane retailer in the United States, announces it has acquired R&S Propane, Inc., a propane supplier based in Dibble, Okla. The acquisition strengthens MFA Oil’s position in central Oklahoma.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company has named Edward Harper vice president of retail automotive. Harper will oversee MFA Oil’s Big O Tires and Jiffy Lube operations in addition to the company’s construction and maintenance departments.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, the seventh largest propane retailer in the United States, announces it has acquired Elaine Petroleum Distribution, Inc., a refined fuels supplier based in Elaine, Arkansas. The purchase strength ens MFA Oil’s position in eastern Arkansas as the company expands its operating territory.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, the seventh largest propane retailer in the United States, announces it has acquired Lybarger Oil, Inc. a propane, refined fuels and lubricants retailer based in Garnett, Kan. This acquisition expands MFA Oil’s footprint, establishing a substantial presence in the east-central Kansas market. “We are excited […]

Columbia, Missouri – BORE/MPC LLC, the joint venture between MFA Oil Company and Big O Tires, recently announced that MFA Oil has purchased Big O Tires’ interest in the partnership. Formed in 1998, BORE/MPC is the Big O Tires franchisee that owns and operates 14 Big O Tires stores in […]

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Columbia, MO, today announced that it has raised more than $76,000 to support Operation Homefront. The money was raised through the company’s first Annual Charity Golf Scramble & Concert, which was held June 1 at The Club at Old Hawthorne in Columbia, MO.

Columbia, Missouri –  MFA Oil Company has purchased, through its subsidiary American Petroleum Marketers LLC (APM), a portion of the dealer fuel supply agreementsowned by Sunshine Fuels LLC and Sunshine Energy LLC.   The purchase includes 30 supplier contracts of dealers in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.  These stores will continue to […]

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Columbia, MO, has named Don Smith director of mergers and acquisitions. Smith is responsible for deal sourcing, business valuations, negotiations and post-sale integration of business acquisitions.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, the seventh largest propane retailer in the United States, announced that it has acquired Cunningham Propane, a family-owned propane retailer based in West Helena, Arkansas.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, the seventh largest propane retailer in the United States, announced that it has acquired Basin Propane Systems, an independently owned propane retailer based in Vernal, Utah. Basin Propane services customers in the northeast region of the state.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil President and CEO Mark Fenner recently announced the hiring of Janice Serpico as vice president, human resources. Serpico joins MFA Oil with 30 years of human resources experience, most recently serving as the vice president of corporate human resources at Scientific Games Corporation in Chicago.  Her […]

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company opened a new Break Time Neighborhood Market on Grindstone Parkway this week. This is Break Time’s 16th store in the Columbia market and 77th store overall. The new store is in the Red Oak development across from Super Walmart.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company has donated $50,000 each to the Marshfield, MO Senior Center and Cameron, MO Regional YMCA capital campaigns. The senior center campaign was started to raise money for the construction of a new 10,000-square-foot facility located at West Washington Street in Marshfield.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil has named Jon Ihler vice president of sales and marketing. Ihler is responsible for overseeing sales, marketing, quality control and oil distribution warehouses as well as APM LLC, the dealer/wholesale company MFA Oil acquired in 2013.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil has hired Amanda Farmer as district supervisor for Break Time. Farmer will be responsible for the eight Break Time convenience stores in southeast Missouri. “Amanda brings a strong retail record and a lot of energy to our team,” says Break Time Regional Manager Cathy Geotz. […]

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Columbia, MO, has hired Curtis Chaney as senior vice president of retail. Chaney will be responsible for the Break Time convenience stores as well as MFA Oil’s Jiffy Lube franchise locations.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Columbia, MO, has begun construction on the 33-acre commercial site that will house its Business Support Campus in Moberly, MO. The site was purchased early in 2014.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil recently held the company’s 85th annual meeting in Osage Beach, MO. Nearly 550 delegates, guests and employees were in attendance as the company reviewed operations, approved distribution of patronage and conducted Board of Director elections.

Columbia, Missouri – Wayne Wright of Cincinnati, IA has been elected to the board of directors of MFA Oil Company at the company’s annual meeting in Osage Beach, MO. Wright was elected to serve a three-year term and will represent Northeast Missouri and Southeast Iowa on MFA Oil’s eight-member board.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Columbia, MO, made the first acquisition of its fiscal year by purchasing New Hampton Implement and Propane from Rick and Serena Naylor.  Based in New Hampton, Missouri, the acquisition covers the propane customers in northwest Missouri.  MFA Oil will […]

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Columbia, MO, continues its expansion mode with the purchases of Home Service Oil Company, Home Service Propane Gas, LLC and All Propane. Based in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, the Home Service acquisition covers the refined fuels and propane customers in […]

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Columbia, MO, has acquired Brown Propane based in Neosho, Missouri. Brown Propane was owned and operated by Mike and Roberta Brown. “Brown Propane provides MFA Oil with additional customers to serve more efficiently.

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Columbia, MO, has  acquired Alexander Propane based in Sullivan, Missouri. Alexander Propane was owned and operated by Cris and Marjean Alexander. “Alexander Propane is a quality acquisition in our existing market territory,” says Mark Fenner, chief operating officer of MFA Oil. […]

Columbia, Missouri  – Two AgFuel Energy Systems biomass furnaces have been  purchased by the Climate Foundation, one of several research groups  commissioned by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to  participate in its Reinvent the Toilet Challenge.  The systems will  be used to convert human waste to heat and energy and […]

Columbia, Missouri –AgFuel Energy Systems announced that it has partnered with ClearStak, LLC to form AgFuel Northeast, LLC. The company will be based in Woodstock, CT, and will recruit dealers to distribute AgFuel Energy Systems throughout the northeast region of the U.S. “Partnering with ClearStak to promote furnace sales in the […]

Fenner to assume CEO role on September 1, 2014; Taylor will continue with MFA Oil Biomass Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil today announced that Jerry Taylor, president and chief executive officer, will retire effective August 31, 2014. Taylor will remain with the company to lead MFA Oil’s investments in MFA […]

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Columbia, MO, has acquired Smoky Mountain Propane based in Sylva, North Carolina. Smoky Mountain Propane has been in operation for 12 years and was owned and operated by Darrell and Lisa Pruett. Smoky Mountain Propane is a quality acquisition in a new market territory,”

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Columbia, MO, has acquired American Petroleum Marketers (APM), based in Bonner Springs, Kansas. APM has been in operation since 2008 and distributes fuel to over 60 Cenex branded sites, along with unbranded fuel, in six states. “We are looking […]

Columbia, Missouri – MFA  Petroleum, a wholly owned subsidiary of MFA Oil Company,  broke ground on its newest Break Time convenience store in Lebanon,  Missouri in October. The 5,300 square-foot, large format store, located at the intersection of Highways 5 and 64, will utilize the Break Time Neighborhood Market concept, which […]

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Columbia, MO, has acquired the assets of Henderson Oil Company. Henderson Oil, owned by Doug and Alicia Henderson, has been in operation in central Missouri for 36 years with bulk fuel plants in Columbia, Boonville and Harrisburg, MO. “We […]

Columbia, Missouri – MFA Oil Company has named Robert Condron Chief Financial Officer effective January 28, 2013. Condron will be responsible for the IT, finance and corporate services departments. He will also evaluate strategic and financial planning as the company seeks growth in new regions of the country. Condron brings […]

Glen Cope, a fourth-generation cattle rancher from Aurora, Mo., has served on the MFA Oil Board of Directors since December 2018 and was elected chairman on December 16, 2020. How would you describe yourself and your farming operation? I grew up on my family’s cattle operation in Barry County, which […]

Donating resources to youth and education are two of the primary ways the MFA Oil Foundation seeks to support the communities where MFA Oil does business. MFA Oil recognizes the important role of public education in building and maintaining healthy communities in the towns and cities it serves. The stronger […]

Chad Murphy is the ag education instructor for Versailles High School, Morgan County R-II, and sponsors the local FFA chapter, which he humbly characterizes as “a well-rounded program, a good average chapter.” He teaches Agriculture Science I for freshmen, Agriculture Science II for sophomores, Agriculture Construction (shop work, welding), a […]

Finding the right MFA Oil lubricant product for vehicles and equipment can now be accomplished within seconds on the MFA Oil website. Lube Advisor, a digital oil and lubricant recommendation tool, is now available to help customers match the right MFA Oil product to their engine based on the year, […]

Milas Mainord has done his fair share of traveling. He’s visited vast oceans and breathtaking mountains, sprawling cities and quaint resorts, towering forests and picturesque prairies. For him, however, none compare to East Prairie, Mo. “My wife, Barbara, and I once took a trip to Monterey, California,” he says. “We […]

On Jan. 20, Joe Biden was inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States of America. While the coronavirus pandemic and the country’s economic situation will dominate much of his early days in office, there are many climate and energy issues Biden addressed through executive actions on day one […]

The MFA Oil lineup of passenger car motor oil (PCMO) products is receiving a new name and look. Moving forward, these products will be sold under the Excede® brand with the tagline “Give it everything.” “Rebranding gives us a more marketable product and helps to set us apart from our […]

If it’s a weed, spray it. That’s the mindset that most in the agriculture industry held for years. That thinking no longer works as more weeds become resistant to herbicides, says Kevin Bradley, University of Missouri Extension weed scientist. Bradley uses waterhemp as an example. Waterhemp is one of 14 […]

The tree dominates the Boone County river bottom, almost 100 feet tall with a canopy even wider and a nearly 24-foot-wide trunk.  This is the U.S. co-champion bur oak, aka the Big Tree. It has survived earthquakes, lightning strikes, floods and droughts in its nearly four centuries. It seems impossible […]

In August 2020, we made a couple of big decisions at MFA Oil. The first was to move forward with a new point-of-sale system called Energy-Force in our bulk fuel and propane division. We chose to go with Energy-Force because of its ease of use; its ability to provide daily […]

MFA Oil Announces $10 Million in Cash Returns to Owners In a year often described as unprecedented and bizarre, it was perhaps fitting that MFA Oil Company reported an extraordinary 2020 during its 91st Annual Delegate Meeting, which was held virtually for the first time in the company’s history due […]

MFA Oil is exploring non-traditional business opportunities that could benefit its members in the future. The Earth is indisputably round. But standing on its surface, the curvature is imperceptible. Just as it’s difficult to recognize the planet’s rounded nature, it can be easy to miss gradual changes that lead to […]

Farmer-owned Peanut-shelling Facility Gives Growers More Control of Their Future Most people wouldn’t be satisfied working for peanuts. Tommy Jumper came out of retirement to do just that. After years of planning and development, Jumper and a group of farmer-investors opened Delta Peanut, the first peanut-shelling cooperative in Arkansas, in […]

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 […]

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 […]

At the outset of the pandemic, many people bunkered down in their homes and self-isolated for safety. Nursing homes and long-term care facilities, where many occupants are elderly and have chronic medical conditions, banned visitors to protect the health of their residents. While the seclusion helped keep the virus out […]

Dean Reichel, ag teacher and FFA advisor at New Bloomfield R-III, goes above and beyond to make a difference. That’s a cliché in today’s cynical age, but it’s true in his case. He’s making lesson plans for eighth to 12th grade ag education classes that, thanks to COVID-19, he knows […]

The 2020 MFA Oil Annual Delegate Meeting is going to look a little different this year. Rather than hosting a centralized meeting with hundreds of attendees at a conference center in December, this year’s meeting is coming to an office near you and will be unlike any we have held […]

Pandemic Puts Pressure on Local Processors As a boy, Mike Cloud anxiously anticipated the flip of the calendar page from June to July, and it wasn’t just because of the ensuing Fourth of July holiday. While the parades and picnics, festivals and fireworks meant lots of fun for Mike and […]

When it came to picking a profession, Joe Kleeman of Braymer couldn’t settle on just one. “I always had a love for veterinary medicine but also for farming in general — from livestock to row crops,” he says. “So, I did both.” A half-century ago, Joe hung out his shingle […]

Microgreens Fuel Growth at Farmboy Garden Richard Leiweke was staring at a bag of pea seeds that was past its prime, and he was tempted to throw it out with the garbage because he had serious concerns about its ability to germinate. Years earlier he had read stories of people […]

MFA Oil Company, a Big O Tires franchisee based in Columbia, Mo., officially opened its newest Big O Tires store at 4106 W Broadway Blvd. in Sedalia Mo., on August 17. Local residents are invited to visit the store for a grand opening celebration on Friday, August 28, where free […]

Just north of Harrisburg, Mo., there’s a home that serves as a refuge for children who have been mistreated or neglected. Coyote Hill Christian Children’s Home offers children a safe, loving home environment and an opportunity for stability. “The kids we serve have been removed from their homes for some […]

K-State beef cattle specialists discuss factors that influence the most efficient cow size Genetics, feed resources and calf marketing windows are just some of the influencing factors that determine the optimum size for cows to grow, according to the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute’s team of experts. Defining the […]

Tom Cushing climbs out of a propane bobtail truck, unfurls its heavy hose and stretches it toward a customer’s nearby tank. The way he moves it’s hard to tell the man once sustained a back-breaking injury that would lead to the eventual replacement of both of his hips. Cushing’s job […]

Ag Educators Series Life changed in spring 2020. People stopped going to work, the movies and restaurants. They even stopped hanging out together. It was literally a matter of life and death. But ag workers kept working. You don’t get days off on a farm. That includes school farms, like […]

The Erickson family has filled a farming niche in northwest Missouri Most of the year, an Erickson family cornfield looks like any other around the small town of Tarkio, Mo., practically a stone’s throw from the Iowa border. In the spring, row after row of newly emerged petite plants line […]

Last spring’s floods along the Missouri River and its tributaries ravaged dozens of levee systems, and many have yet to be repaired. As of May 1, at least 28 levees that are managed by the Kansas City District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers remain breached, leaving surrounding communities […]

A ‘happy accident’ 50 years ago launched a legacy Few foods are as synonymous with a season as the lauded caramel apple. For a handful of weeks each autumn, this timeless treat — with its classic combination of tart apple, sweet caramel and salty chopped peanuts — adorns countless grocery […]

On April 20, the energy market did something we’ve never seen before. Futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange for May contracts of West Texas intermediate crude oil, or WTI, traded to a low of -$40.32 per barrel and settled at -$37.63 per barrel on the same day they were […]

The protein production pipeline is backed up and the repercussions are already being felt by farmers and consumers. Grocery store meat cases are emptier, some fast food restaurants are unable to offer standard menu items, and food prices are up across the board. In April, the overall price of meats, […]

By MFA Oil President and CEO Jon Ihler What an interesting spring it’s been. While the coronavirus outbreak shut down large portions of the country and the economy, MFA Oil remained open as an essential business so that we could continue to meet your needs. We took action in the […]

By MFA Oil President and CEO Jon Ihler – Published in the Fall 2019 issue of Momentum magazine. Slogans are great for quickly stating or reinforcing the character of a company or brand. They also help to align our team and differentiate us from our competitors. MFA Oil Company recently reintroduced […]

Western St. Louis County might not seem like the ideal spot for a ski resort, but that’s exactly what it’s been since 1982. At Hidden Valley Ski Resort in Wildwood, Mo., fans flock to ski, snowboard and tube each year from around mid-December to mid-March. “One of the things that […]

After journeying from Romania to the United States, the Gradinariu family has put down deep roots in the Ozarks Radu Gradinariu was only 4 years old when his father, Cornelius, made a decision that would change the course of his family’s life forever. Living in Soviet-occupied Romania in the late […]

Commodity Outlook for 2019 is Clouded by Missing Government Data, Trade Concerns As the partial government shutdown stretches to historic length, farmers, ranchers, agricultural economists and agribusinesses remain cut off from key reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA was scheduled to release a collection of crop reports […]

U.S. crude oil production hit new heights in October with output of more than 11.5 million barrels per day according to the latest data released from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Dec. 31. The United States has become the world’s new crude oil kingpin, surpassing Russia and Saudi […]

K-State Researchers Find Vitamin Compound that Boosts Growth A form of a vitamin associated with healthy aging in humans has been used by Kansas State University researchers to build muscle in chickens, a sign that could help the poultry industry meet future demand for its product. Muscle biologist and meat […]

Brothers Embrace Shrimp, Aquaculture to Differentiate Their Midwest Farm Pacific white leg shrimp suddenly find themselves plunged into darkness, they panic. The translucent crustaceans start jumping in their tanks, rumbling like thunder; some even launch themselves out onto the concrete floor of the tank room in a desperate attempt to […]

How a Community Came Together to Bring in a Farmer’s Final Crop Small communities, especially rural ones, are known to naturally come together when faced with misfortune. One northeast Missouri community recently demonstrated this phenomenon when volunteers pitched in to complete a farmer’s last piece of labor following his unexpected […]

With four new faces on the MFA Oil Board of Directors since this time last year, what opportunities do you see as we enter 2019? The recent election results from our annual delegate meeting have introduced several new people to the board who bring their own perspectives and fresh ideas. […]

MFA Oil employees pledged to give $51,606 to four nonprofit organizations during the company’s annual Week of Giving campaign. More than 170 employees contributed to the fundraising effort which ran from Oct. 29 through Nov. 2 in support of Central Missouri Foster Care and Adoption Association, Children’s Miracle Network at […]

Foresters with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) have confirmed the presence of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in six more counties across Missouri. New detections have been confirmed in Caldwell, Gasconade, Harrison, Hickory, Webster and Wright counties. Since EAB was first detected in Missouri in July 2008, the exotic, tree-killing […]

Marion Kertz, a farmer from Ste. Genevieve, Mo., has been elected chairman of the MFA Oil Company Board of Directors. Kertz was elected to his new role during the company’s December board meeting and will succeed Benny Farrell of Maryville, Mo. Kertz farms in both Missouri and Illinois with his […]

A number of high-profile data breaches compromised the private data of hundreds of millions of people in 2018. In what seemed like a weekly occurrence, company after company sent notifications to customers that their personal data may have been exposed to cyberthieves. From hotel giant Marriott to telecom provider T-Mobile […]

The leaves are changing colors, temperatures are dropping, and harvest has begun. Autumn has arrived and so too has the time of year when it pays to be thinking of your fuel needs. If you look back at the seasonal cycle of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) futures on the New […]

In October, MFA Oil delegate Mart Thaxton wrapped up his 42nd harvest on his farm in central Arkansas. Not bad for a guy who began his farming career without any agricultural experience. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I got out of school and jumped in without […]

Like many Missourians, Phillip Martin, agricultural education instructor at Meadville R-I High School in north-central Missouri, grew up on a farm. Unlike most Missourians, he went on to teach in several mid- and northern Missouri high schools after graduating from the University of Missouri, first with a bachelor’s degree in […]

Turkeys have starred as the main attraction of traditional Thanksgiving feasts for hundreds of years and their prominent place on the day’s menu precedes President Abraham Lincoln’s nationalization of the holiday in 1863. The birds have become so closely associated with Thanksgiving that the holiday is sometimes referred to as […]

As legal hemp production produces headlines, hurdles exist for Missouri growers Kelly Nelson has grown his share of cash crops during 20 growing seasons at the University of Missouri’s Greenley Research Center just outside of Novelty, Mo. The research agronomist has raised everything in northeast Missouri from the traditional commodity […]

Cover Crops Aid Arkansas Farmer in Sustaining His Land Standing in a field of his soon-to-be-harvested soybeans about a half-hour’s drive east of Little Rock, Ark., Robby Bevis plunges a steel soil probe into the ground. As the morning sun crests the horizon, he dumps the collected dirt into his […]

Centralia couple’s innovative solution helps kids around the world Headlines and awards weren’t on Taylor Moreland’s mind that night in August 2018 when he flipped on the lights in his Centralia garage, sat down and began to work. All he was thinking about was how he could help his son, […]

Slogans are great for quickly stating or reinforcing the character of a company or brand. They also help to align our team and differentiate us from our competitors. MFA Oil Company recently reintroduced the slogan “We Live Where You Do.” The decision to update our slogan may seem minor, but […]

Maintaining the vast number of assets of a company like MFA Oil is a multifaceted operation. From computers and office buildings to fuel trucks and tanks, the list of assets is extensive. Managing all of these resources requires a dedicated team to keep track of the assortment of company-owned property. […]

As summer begins to wind down, there are a number of things I am closely watching that could sway the direction of the fuel and propane market. I would advise you to consider these factors in preparation for your energy needs for the fall and winter. Deal or No Deal? […]

Whether it’s running his 500-acre farm outside Alma, Mo., conducting business as a seedsman or volunteering his time in the service of various farmer-led organizations, agriculture is an ever-present aspect of David Lueck’s life. In late June, the Lafayette County farmer and MFA Oil delegate was busy cutting hay for […]

Farmers should regularly inspect their combines’ machinery, fuel lines and electrical systems prior to and during harvest season to prevent fires. Harvest season brings a unique combination of risk factors that increases the risk of combine fires, says Bill Field, professor of agricultural and biological engineering at Purdue University. Dust […]

Beggs Family Celebrates 125 Seasons of Raising Watermelons Whether seeded or seedless, weighing 3 pounds or 30, few foods are as synonymous with summer as the venerable watermelon. The sweet, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth fruit is the ultimate accompaniment to hot dogs, hamburgers and corn on the cob at family picnics and […]

The Kenny Rogers Children’s Center in Sikeston, Mo., which provides a wide array of developmental and therapeutic services to children with special needs, has a new tool to design and create intricate prosthetics. In December 2018, the MFA Oil Foundation presented a $2,000 grant to the center to aid in […]

Since its founding in 1929, MFA Oil has always taken pride in providing a reliable supply of quality petroleum products to meet its members’ needs. The company has sold a variety of premium fuels and oils in its 90-year history, and that legacy will continue with a new line of […]

For Gary Morris, the rewards of being an agricultural educator are all about the connections he forges with his students. Whether it is discussing how to balance a feed ration in an animal science class, working together to grow plants in the greenhouse, or training FFA members for competition, the […]

County and state fairs, the ephemeral experiences that bring scores of people together for parades, livestock shows, carnivals, pageants and more, are a highlight of the summer for many rural residents. The draw of blue-ribbon competitions, Tilt-a-Whirl rides, funnel cakes and rodeos entices fairgoers out for fun and camaraderie despite […]

Raising Grass-Fed Beef on Perennial Pastures Rip, rip, rip. The sound fills the summer morning air as red cattle indulgently chomp through a lush pasture on rolling verdant hills ringed with timber. Moving nonchalantly through the herd, rancher Greg Judy sports a broad grin. “That’s music to a grazier’s ear,” […]

Cover crops have many benefits including protecting soil surfaces from wind and water erosion, weed suppression, and improving soil health. This year many Missouri acres intended to be planted to corn and soybean were either flooded or too wet to be planted in a timely manner. Leaving these fields fallow […]

At 47 years old, Will Dobkins still remembers an age when things were built to last. Whether it was a television set, a vacuum or some other household convenience, there was an expectation that products would stand the test of time and regular use. And, should something go awry, there […]

An overcast and foggy morning couldn’t dim the enthusiasm of thousands of shoppers who showed up at Clary-Shy Park on July 6 for the grand opening of Columbia’s new agriculture park. Nearly 100 vendors offering farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, baked goods and flowers were present for the unveiling of the […]

In June, MFA Oil Company celebrated the 90th anniversary of its founding. If you look back on the history of the cooperative, you will see that the company has evolved over time with a purpose to return the most value to our farmer-owners. Some highlights include: 1929 – Initial bulk […]

MFA Oil Company, a Big O Tires franchisee based in Columbia, Mo., has acquired the Big O Tires store in Warrensburg, Mo., on May 31.

At the MFA Oil Company Board of Directors meeting on April 24, a decision was made to take the leadership of the cooperative in a new direction, and Mark Fenner was relieved of his duties as president and CEO. Jon Ihler, MFA Oil vice president of sales and marketing, has […]

There’s something almost magical in the way dogs can bring smiles and joy to people, young and old alike. Just ask Diane Hudson, a veteran MFA Oil dispatcher who has worked in the company’s corporate office in Columbia since 1981. In her spare time, Hudson trains her beloved pooches to […]

As Barb Shatto strolls through the freestall barn where dozens of her family’s dairy herd are busy feeding, she occasionally pauses to greet friendly cattle. “How are you doing this morning?” she asks while bending down to affectionately scratch behind the ears of a curious Holstein. This ritual plays out […]

Flooding and Questionable River Management Priorities Put Farmers in a Tough Spot Doug Shepherd made a final attempt to harvest his stranded soybeans in mid-April, but he was forced to concede the remnants of last year’s crop were a lost cause. Shepherd’s fieldwork has been bogged down by seeping water […]

Suppose the “Green New Deal”—endorsed by several presidential contenders—becomes the law of the land. How would a law that bans fossil fuels touch the lives of real people in Missouri? To take just one example, how would it affect Missouri farmers? Under this plan, the federal government would commit to […]

Each spring, infernos blaze across large swaths of the Flint Hills, consuming everything in their path. While fire would be cause for concern in most areas, on the nearly 10,000 square miles of rocky, unplowed prairie that stretch from eastern Kansas to northern Oklahoma, the flames are a necessity. The […]

Raising Heritage Breed Hogs Outdoors Links Past and Present for Norton Farms For the Norton family, tradition runs five generations deep in the rolling hills just outside Plattsburg in northwest Missouri’s Clinton County. Since 1884, the family has followed the same farming formula for success. “You need to be diversified,” […]

Data from MU researchers shows soybean cyst nematode (SCN) field populations are becoming more virulent on commercial soybean cultivars, says University of Missouri Extension plant pathologist Kaitlyn Bissonnette. Testing fields for SCN is typically conducted once harvest is completed; however, spring is not too late to send soil samples for […]

When Scott Stone began his career as an ag teacher at Centralia High School in rural Centralia, Mo., 21 years ago, three out of every four students came from a farming family. Now, only 15 percent of his students come from the farm. As the demographics of his students have […]

Farmers are looking for any advantage they can find to improve their balance sheets as the agricultural economy remains mired in a five-year rut. In the quest to control costs and maximize efficiency, irrigators are increasingly turning to propane to power their pumps. Robert Compton, an MFA Oil member and […]

It’s not uncommon for Jay Collins to put in 13-hour days on his diversified farm in Lentner, Mo. There’s so much to be done—raising row crops, running a cow/calf operation and managing contracted swine facilities—that it takes a full family effort to keep the operation going on a daily basis. […]

The International Maritime Organization (IMO), which regulates global shipping, is set to roll out new regulations at the start of next year to reduce sulfur content in fuels used by shipping vessels. You may be wondering what bearing oceanic cargo ships have on a farm cooperative here in the Midwest […]

On any given Tuesday, a jovial group of women can be found sewing blankets, infant clothing and accessories in a Hartville, Mo. church. The women share two passions—sewing and giving back to their local community. These ladies make up the Southwestern Missouri Chapter of Newborns in Need, an organization devoted […]

Joey Massey, who represents the Mid-South (District 8) on the MFA Oil Board of Directors, was recently awarded certification recognizing his completion of the Advanced Governance Series training program for cooperative board members. The series, which is offered by FCC Services, provides training on the complexity of co-op governance and […]

MFA Oil Company congratulates Benny Farrell, former chairman of the company’s Board of Directors for his induction into the Missouri Institute of Cooperatives’ Hall of Fame in March. Farrell served on the MFA Oil board for 27 years, including 21 as its chairman. He played a fundamental role in guiding […]

Since its founding in 1929, MFA Oil Company has consistently focused its efforts on fulfilling the needs of its farmer-owners. The cooperative serves its more than 40,000 farmer-members in a variety of ways, such as ensuring a reliable supply of quality petroleum products at a fair price. One important benefit […]

Enhancements are coming to MFA Oil’s fuel contracting program. Contracting is a valuable tool you can use to lock in fixed or maximum pricing on a set number of gallons. This provides clarity for budgeting your fuel expenses. These benefits are hallmarks of our contracting program, and they will remain […]

How often have you thanked the good Lord above for the challenges you face daily? I’ll be the first to admit that it may seem counterintuitive to be thankful for our challenges. Challenges can cause stress, high blood pressure and other issues. They really are no fun at all. But […]

The following column is written by Mark Fenner, president and CEO, and was originally published in the Fall 2018 issue of Momentum magazine. Choices. Don’t you love them? Whether it’s an ice cream flavor, a pair of jeans or the vehicle we drive, most of us like to have options. […]

Since 2002, the Shryock family has carved fields of corn into imaginative mazes. Located conveniently on Interstate 70 just outside of Columbia, Mo., the rustic labyrinths have firmly established the Shryock’s Callaway Farms as an annual agritourism destination that draws thousands of visitors to the family’s fields each fall. The […]

Leffler Farms Inc. Focuses on Efficiency On the fringes of the Flint Hills of Kansas, Bill and Jacquelyne Leffler are five years into an unexpected partnership. The father and daughter duo raise corn, soybean, wheat and cattle near Americus, Kan., but Jacquelyne’s return to the farm was more happenstance than […]

Every autumn, millions of vibrantly colored monarch butterflies embark on an incredible mass migration. The remarkable trip takes the butterflies up to 3,000 miles, traveling as far south as central Mexico before that generation’s offspring return to the upper Midwest and Canada in the spring. The wonder of this natural […]

Barry Oden knows his customers count on MFA Oil for high-quality fuel. The challenge he sees is helping them maintain that quality once it’s been delivered. “I see the analysis of every fuel sample that customers in my district send in to our lab for testing and too many have […]

Farmers hoping for a quick resolution to the trade war between the United States and China may be kept waiting for the foreseeable future. The commercial conflict escalated when President Donald Trump instructed his administration to enact $200 billion of new tariffs on a wide array of Chinese goods by […]

Most corn grown in fields these days is selected chiefly for its yield potential, but other factors such as disease tolerance, standability and maturity are important considerations. While a focus on these traits has led to bin-bursting harvests through the Heartland, it leaves something to be desired for whiskey makers […]

For decades, the fight against weeds in Arkansas agriculture—barnyardgrass and Palmer amaranth, in particular—has been an ongoing war of attrition as weed populations gradually acquire resistance to one herbicidal chemistry after another. During this time, weed scientists and other experts with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture have […]

How would you describe your farming operation? My father got into farming in 1934 when he purchased a small parcel of land during the Great Depression. Our family has been farming the same area near Ste. Genevieve, Mo., ever since, and we now also farm across the river in Illinois. […]

The energy market is full of questions these days. What is the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) up to and has the cartel reestablished its relevance? How much of a factor is Russia playing? Where does the United States stand with its abundant shale oil production and new […]

Tony Dameron of Vandalia, Mo., was elected to represent the East Central district on the MFA Oil Company board of directors through a special election held on Sept. 21 in Mexico, Mo. The special election was held to fill the seat that became vacant due to the untimely death of […]

Every day after school, about 50 children from Chillicothe, Mo., arrive at the North Missouri Center for Youth and Families. The kids range from kindergarteners to eighth graders, but they all take part in the center’s PowerUP! Afterschool program, which provides a nurturing environment for tutoring, help with homework, enrichment […]

Throughout the spring and summer, MFA Oil has been hard at work upgrading its phone systems, enterprise content management system and server infrastructure to better care for customers. These efforts have been handled by the company’s Network Operations department, which has worked diligently to replace outdated technology and install solutions […]

I was recently asked by an employee what I think MFA Oil Company will look like in the future and whether I feel we are still prospering. Both are great questions and probably something I don’t talk about enough. I feel the company will be much larger in the future […]

After producing award-winning goat cheese for more than a decade, Baetje Farms is poised to begin a new chapter With the pull of a rope, a trap door at the end of the milking parlor rises. Eight Saanen dairy goats enter, moving in unison like choreographed dancers taking the stage. […]

Frank Yiannas walked into his staff meeting with a package of sliced mangoes. As he set it down on the table, he looked at his team of Walmart colleagues and said, “The traceback study starts right now. Hit the clock.” Yiannas wanted to know from which country the mangoes came […]

When Missouri soybean farmers began investing their checkoff dollars into biodiesel research in 1991, they set the wheels in motion for the development of a renewable fuel that would drive demand for their crop and provide a clean-burning alternative to petroleum diesel. “Biodiesel started out as an idea—an opportunity to […]

As the summer temperatures rise, the crisp winds of fall and winter can seem impossibly far away. In the heat of the summer, it can be easy to put winter to-do’s, such as filling up your propane tank, on the back burner. But filling tanks now, rather than waiting until […]

Finding Farmworkers is a Challenge When Dannie Daughhetee reached out to his local unemployment office in West Memphis, Ark., last fall looking for help in filling four positions on his 5,000-acre rice, soybean, corn and cotton farm, he received 18 applications. Only four people bothered to show up to the […]

In dry weather with short pastures, Missouri cow-herd owners face tough culling decisions. One way to match cows’ needs to available grass is to sell cows. Give careful thought to which grass eaters go first, says Eric Bailey, University of Missouri Extension beef nutritionist. Under drought stress, identifying those cows […]

Oliver Farms While most family farms have a long history, the Oliver family is breaking ground with their first-generation farm, Oliver Farms. Bill Oliver started farming in the 1990s, during his high school agricultural education courses. Fifteen years ago, Laura came on board, turning the farming project into a family […]

Missouri Bans Misrepresentation of Meat Missouri has become the first state to ban alternative-meat products from being marketed as meat. The state’s lawmakers approved legislation outlawing foods originating from sources other than livestock or poultry from using the term “meat” on product labels. The surge of interlopers vying to compete […]

Fields of corn and soybean are common sights on the short drive from Interstate 29 to Jowler Creek Road in rural Platte County, Mo. A different kind of crop grown in rows soon comes into view as tires crunch the gravel of the road. An unpaved driveway leads the way […]

How would you describe yourself and your farming operation? I was born and raised in northwest Missouri and have been farming here my entire life. I represent the fifth generation of my family to do so. My wife, Nancy, and I raise corn, soybeans and cattle with our two sons […]

Summer is here, and it is officially barbecue season. Propane fuels grills across the country, but the pursuit of a perfectly grilled pork chop isn’t the only reason to purchase propane this summer. It is never too early to start getting ready for winter. As we came out of last […]

On June 5, Mark Fenner, president and CEO of MFA Oil, was awarded the Outstanding CEO Communicator award by the Cooperative Communicators Association (CCA) in Fort Worth, Texas. Fenner was presented the award at the CCA annual institute. A panel of judges from the association reviewed each nominee and their […]

MFA Oil congratulates Richard Fordyce, a longtime member of the cooperative, for his appointment to serve as the administrator of USDA’s Farm Services Agency by the Trump administration. Fordyce will oversee the agency’s effort to support agricultural production across the country through a network of 2,100 county and 50 state […]

Youth sports are as American as apple pie. Participation in activities such as youth sports has proven time and time again to be a positive outlet for kids to develop healthy lifestyles and learn the importance of setting goals, working as a team and how to win and lose with […]

For nearly 90 years, MFA Oil has built a reputation of conducting its business with steadfast financial integrity. The foundation of this commitment is rooted in the cooperative’s principles, which calls for fiscal responsibility and to do the right thing, ethically and morally, at all times. These sentiments, which have […]

It wasn’t long after my last Momentum article titled “No Pain, No Gain” that we came to the realization perhaps we (I) underestimated the severity of some of the pain. You see, when you implement a new accounting system for the first time in 27 years, you expect to have […]

From pasture to plate, Gourley Land & Cattle Co. offers premium beef When Billy Gourley Jr. says he manages from the ground up, he couldn’t be more literal. At Gourley Land & Cattle Co. based in Ozark, Mo., success starts in the soil. “If you have good soil, you’ll have […]

Lack of Access to High-Speed Internet Hampers Rural Communities The digital divide separating rural Americans from their urban neighbors has left the far-flung communities across the country cut off from the economic, educational and social opportunities high-speed Internet provides. While recent advancements in Internet technology have transformed the ways people […]

I recently had the difficult task of sitting by the hospital bed of a farmer in his early 80s to discuss his estate plan. This man, who was suffering from the late stages of cancer, had two children. One child had farmed with his father all his life and one […]

For the first time in 35 years, soybeans are expected to be within reach of claiming the crown as the nation’s top crop. A poll of 21 trading firms and analysts conducted by Bloomberg predicts 2018 will be the year soybeans unseat corn as the top U.S. crop. The survey […]

Researchers Accuse Russia of Spreading Anti-GMO Propaganda Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election has been confirmed by the Trump Administration and U.S. intelligence agencies, but politics is far from the only arena where Russia has sought to shape international opinion. A recent review of Russian-funded media outlets conducted […]

Graves-Chapple Research Center Demonstrates Benefits of No-Till Systems Landowners across Missouri use numerous tillage systems, including plow, chisel, disk or strip-till. Tillage is the preparation of soil for growing crops using equipment to mechanically agitate and mix the soil. Eliminating tillage is also an option—simply called no-till. The University of […]

Driving along the grassy levees separating a half-dozen goldfish ponds in central Arkansas, Landon Pool points out the paths too dangerous to traverse by pickup truck. Pool, a 30-year-old fish farmer, is surveying the land he purchased last year, making note of the eroding earthen walls and the work it […]

At first, Dustin Stanton thought the phone call was fake. Why would Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook, want to come to rural Missouri to learn about selling chicken eggs? The call was real, however. Zuckerberg truly wanted to meet Dustin and his brother, Austin, the two young men […]

Spring is a good time to look forward to your fuel needs for the fall harvest. So far this year, there’s been plenty of news about the energy industry, but overall, the market’s reaction to said news has been uneventful. Almost two years ago, Tom Kloza, global head of energy […]

How would you describe yourself and your farming operation? I grew up on my family’s farm near Brashear, Mo., and my family has been farming the ground there for about 80 years. I worked for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) for 31 years before becoming a full-time farmer in […]

A federal judge has ruled in favor of a group of 372 farmers, landowners and businesses who filed suit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for damages caused by repeated Missouri River flooding in recent years. Senior Judge Nancy Firestone of the United States Court of Federal Claims found […]

Every 24 seconds, a fire department responds to an alarm somewhere in the United States. In most cases, it’s volunteer firefighters who show up to battle the flames or render emergency services. These volunteers save not only lives but also money—more than $139.8 billion annually for local governments, according to […]

Sifting through mountains of data sounds dull, but as MFA Oil and other businesses have learned “there’s gold in them thar hills.” As the amount and variety of data available has skyrocketed, new opportunities have surfaced. That’s where MFA Oil’s business intelligence team comes into play. They analyze data to […]

“No pain, no gain!” I remember as a young athlete seeing this saying for the first time. It was posted in the tiny weight room of my high school to remind us that without hard work, future success is in doubt. The same rings true today, regardless of the situation. […]

Not many cities can lay claim to the largest pecan in the world. This unique tourist attraction isn’t the only hidden gem in Brunswick, Mo., the state-proclaimed “Pecan Capital of Missouri.” Nestled in the hills bordering the rich soils of the Missouri River bottoms along Highway 24 is King Hill […]

Elizabeth Brooks wasn’t interested in opening the typical equestrian barn when she started the Springfield Riding Club in Rogersville, Mo. During her time traveling the globe as a professional horse trainer and riding instructor, she saw plenty of new possibilities. “At most barns, there’s one or two instructors who specialize […]

Drift concerns remain as dicamba-resistant seed sales are set to double The 2017 soybean harvest is likely to set a new record for total production, but for many farmers, the year was marred by the finger-pointing, lawsuits and acrimony associated with off-target movement of dicamba herbicide. The hotly debated weedkiller […]

Razor-thin profit margins and depleted capital reserves have forced many farmers to re-evaluate the way they manage their machinery. Low prices for corn, soybeans and other commodities have producers looking to cut costs wherever possible. The belt tightening has prompted many farmers to forego replacing much of the farm equipment […]

Farmers looking for a reprieve from low commodity prices may have to continue waiting for market conditions to improve before they see any relief. Record harvests and increasing foreign competition have flooded global commodity markets with an oversupply of corn, soybeans and wheat. Until the surplus disappears, economists say it […]

Survey Shows Massive Impact in Farm Country The results of a survey recently published by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and the National Farmers Union (NFU) shows farmers and ranchers have been hit significantly harder by the opioid crisis than rural populations overall. While just under half of rural […]

Census Tells the True Story About the State of U.S. Agriculture The 2017 Census of Agriculture, which provides detailed data covering nearly every facet of U.S. agriculture, is underway and millions of agricultural operators across the United States are encouraged to promptly complete the survey to fully demonstrate the value […]

Diesel prices have gone up roughly 55 cents per gallon from the mid-year low, and this is the kind of price rally that we are all trying to protect against by contracting our fuel. This is why putting in a little effort now to determine your fuel budget and target […]

What motivated you to get involved with the cooperative and serve on the board? It seems like most people these days are too content to sit back and watch things happen. I prefer to get involved in the organizations I’m a part of because I want to help make a […]

Have you ever believed in anything so strongly that you would want anyone who sees you to know it instantly? Would you go so far as to shave it into the hair on the sides of your head? That’s the kind of dedication Marvin VanLeer had for MFA Oil during […]

MFA Oil’s farmer-owners will soon receive their patronage checks in the mail, and there’s one department members can thank. The company’s Records Services department is responsible for not only mailing equity and patronage checks, but also keeping membership information up-to-date and maintaining other customer-related paperwork. Any customer who is involved […]

In a recent sermon, my pastor focused on the idea of ensuring the church understands and sticks to its mission of serving God. This notion, keeping the main thing the main thing, originated from famous self-improvement guru Stephen Covey. It’s a strong point, and it made me reflect upon the […]

For the past 11 years, Mid-America Biofuels, a biodiesel production plant in Mexico, Mo., has become a large contributor to the growing renewable fuels industry. The plant, which became Missouri’s first large-scale biodiesel production facility when it opened in 2006, has grown from its original production capacity of 30 million […]

With limited funds designated for facility upkeep, universities around the country are facing a mounting backlog of maintenance needs, and farmers could soon feel the effect. The widespread problem of deferred maintenance has the potential to limit agriculture research findings, and ultimately halt future innovations the United States may make […]

No easy answer to herbicide controversy Uncertainty is swirling in the Midwest, where millions of acres of crops may have been damaged by a controversial herbicide. An estimated 3.1 million acres of soybeans have been affected by off-target movement of dicamba across the country, and that figure doesn’t include other […]

Break Time unveiled its first truck stop in Moberly, Mo., in September. Located at the southern edge of the city where U.S. Highway 63 and State Highway M intersect, the store features many amenities for truck drivers, including: parking space for 25 tractor-trailers, a lounge, showers, laundry machines, free WiFi […]

3 Tips for Propane Preparedness Fall is here and heating season is just around the corner. If you haven’t planned for your propane needs yet, now is the time. MFA Oil is committed to keeping your home, farm or commercial business adequately supplied with propane all winter long. The price […]

Fruit and vegetable farms, gardens and other agricultural sectors rely on pollinators to ensure abundant production, but wild pollinator populations are in decline, says Dirk Philipp, associate professor of animal science for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “The original prairies that covered much of the United States […]

Thirty years ago, agricultural cooperative leaders from across the country gathered for a series of focus panels to discuss the future of farmer-owned cooperatives. The panelists’ discussions were summarized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the report “Positioning Farmer Cooperatives for the Future,” which concluded cooperatives must continually adapt […]

A change is coming to the cattle seedstock industry. Breed associations have long been interested in finding the genetic basis for feed efficiency, with the aim of breeding more efficient animals. But the first step—accurately measuring how much cattle eat across different life stages and diet types—has been a missing […]

Whether it’s the thrill of competition, the fun of building custom machinery or the comradery found at the track, something about tractor pulling has captivated the Dohrman family for generations. “The feeling you get when the tractor ignites and the wheels are spinning 70 miles per hour is sort of […]

A hint of a chill has returned to remind us fall has arrived and will soon be followed by winter. What does Mother Nature have in store for us this year? It is hard to predict the weather, but that doesn’t stop people from making predictions. Meteorologists have already begun […]

There is no gray area when it comes to MFA Oil’s stance on ethics and corporate citizenship in the company’s guiding principles: “When in doubt, do the right thing, ethically and morally.” Those words set forth an unequivocal directive for the cooperative to operate with integrity, fairness and respect in […]

The construction department at MFA Oil Company may not have many employees, but what it lacks in manpower it more than makes up with its productivity. The department is primarily staffed by Brian Arnold, senior construction specialist, who works directly with architects, engineers and contractors on the company’s projects. “I […]

Kent Kunkel got his first taste of disaster relief when he traveled with volunteers from his church to help the victims of the catastrophic tornado that ripped through the city of Joplin, Mo., in 2011. “That type of experience makes you appreciate what’s really important in life,” Kunkel says. “It […]

Fuel tank maintenance is an indispensable part of ensuring the quality of diesel fuel. Incorporating a preventative tank care plan protects stored fuel and maximizes the service life of diesel-powered equipment. Don North, MFA Oil director of product development and quality control, offers four important tips for proper tank maintenance. […]

What’s in a name? Well, in our case it describes our business and why we are here. For decades, MFA Oil has been known as a dependable supplier of fuels and propane with a deep appreciation of our farmer-owners. But what about oil? While we do sell a significant volume […]

For four generations, the family-owned Independent Stave Company has produced high-quality oak barrels and other cooperage products for the wine and spirits industries. What began as one Missouri man’s business has grown into an industry leader with an international presence. In 1912, T.W. Boswell founded a stave milling business to […]

The only thing tougher than rice is the farmer who grows it. What would be the worst conditions for other crops makes the best environment for rice production. Rice thrives in heavy clay soils that retain water—the type of fields most growers try to avoid. “An old farmer once told […]

Agriculture Embraces EPA Administrator Ask farmers for their views on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and you may hear a few choice words. Generally speaking, farmers fear and mistrust the EPA, an agency they say doesn’t understand agriculture and too often oversteps its authority when it comes to regulating […]

Traditionally, wholesale suppliers of fertilizer, grain and feed rely on two modes of freight transportation: rail and truck. However, suppliers like AGRIServices of Brunswick (ASB) in north central Missouri have found a third option is highly valuable: river barges. The Mississippi River watershed, which comprises the Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi and […]

First Generation Rancher Blazes His Own Trail Lincoln Hough was a seventh-grade student when he made the fateful purchase that would help shape his future. A $450 loan from his parents bought Hough three Hereford heifers, which he bred to a neighbor’s bull. Three calves later, he had $1,000 in […]

The agricultural input supply landscape could see some big changes in 2017. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently issued a report assessing the potential impacts of pending mergers and acquisitions involving the world’s “Big Six” agricultural chemical and seed companies. Though the deals are all still awaiting regulatory approval, the […]

A Kansas State University swine scientist says advances in how pigs are raised have led to enormous improvements in pork production over the last 20 years. Mike Tokach, professor of animal science, says research has allowed the swine industry to safely increase litter sizes and growth rates of finishing pigs. […]

Beware Phishing Scams Think twice before clicking suspicious emails that land in your inbox. Phishing scams have grown in popularity and continue to trick people into a host of problems. As cybercriminals use increasingly sophisticated scams, it has never been more important to protect yourself. Phishing scams aim to collect […]

When the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) announced on Nov. 30, 2016, it would cut crude oil production in an effort to drain record global inventories, the oil market quickly responded. Crude prices immediately shot up 9 percent from $45.24 to a high of $49.44. The agreement, which notably […]

When a tractor or combine breaks down during planting or harvest, farmers lose valuable time in the field, which can end up costing them hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. As a farmer-owned cooperative, MFA Oil is keenly aware of the importance of avoiding equipment downtime. That’s why providing excellent […]

The University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) has named Christopher R. Daubert its new vice chancellor and dean. Daubert is currently a professor and department head of Food, Bioprocessing & Nutrition Sciences and system co-chair of Food, Biochemical & Engineered Systems at North Carolina State […]

Missouri Farmers Care (MFC) has launched a new summer service program to fight childhood hunger. The Drive to Feed Kids program will leverage existing food banks and in-school food pantries to deliver kid-friendly meals to underfed youth. The food is delivered through backpack programs and in-school pantries. “Hunger isn’t an […]

Nearly two decades ago, David Reed and his wife, Brenda, received a phone call from a fellow horse lover. She asked if they would take over as coordinators for a charity trail ride benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The Reeds’ “yes” took them down a trail they never expected. […]

Much responsibility comes with jobs dedicated to reducing risks, protecting people and being a trustworthy steward of our environment, but it’s all in a day’s work for MFA Oil’s Department of Environmental, Health and Safety (EH&S). The department manages the company’s 260 petroleum storage tank sites, and its primary objective […]

Diesel engines have come a long way since Rudolf Diesel first introduced his invention to the world in the late 19th century. Though it’s been more than 100 years since Diesel demonstrated his single-cylinder engine in 1897, many of the most significant advancements in diesel engine technology have occurred within […]

Glen Cope, a fourth-generation cattle rancher from Aurora, Mo., has served on the MFA Oil Board of Directors since December 2018 and was elected chairman on December 16, 2020. How would you describe yourself and your farming operation? I grew up on my family’s cattle operation in Barry County, which […]

Beginning in May, MFA Oil customers will have the opportunity to lock in prices with propane contracts for next winter. The MFA Oil Pre-Buy Program allows individuals and businesses to contract a predetermined volume of propane at a set price. Spring and summer are traditionally great times to contract propane. […]

Surveys show half of equipment operators are unaware of how choosing the right grease can positively impact the performance of their machinery. Proper greasing is a crucial maintenance practice and one of the keys to extending the longevity of your equipment. While there are many factors like a grease’s grade, […]

Regularly sampling your used motor oil for analysis is a great way to extend the life of your equipment. Oil analysis is like getting “bloodwork” for your machines. It provides valuable information about what’s going on inside the equipment that can be used to identify proper drain intervals and potential issues before […]

When your fuel has gelled or fuel filters have frozen, RED ALERT, an emergency fuel treatment, can quickly remedy the problem and restore fuel flow to the engine. Overnight RED ALERT Strategy                                    If your fuel appears gelled prior to operation, follow these steps: Spin fuel filter and saturate the filter with contents […]

Whether you own a single tractor for farming, 20 pieces of construction equipment, or a fleet of 100 trucks, you likely depend on our equipment to get the job done. And how well your equipment performs is dependent on you. Machinery needs lubrication to function safely, properly, and when you […]

No matter what industry you’re in, whether it be agriculture, construction, industrial, mining, forestry or transportation, you’ve undoubtably 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 […]

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 […]

Have you ever walked into an auto parts store and felt overwhelmed by the incredible number of engine oil product choices? There are more than 50 different brands of engine oil and they can come in a variety of colored bottles. Each brand has its own claims as to why […]

Extreme temperatures can cause a multitude of issues with your equipment. These issues can lead to inconvenient downtime, costly repairs, and in some instances, jeopardize your health and wellbeing. Traditionally, when we are talking about extreme temperatures in association with equipment, we tend to think about the winter months. But […]

The U.S. crude oil market ventured into unprecedented territory on Monday, April 20, when prices turned negative. Futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange for soon-to-expire May contracts of West Texas intermediate crude oil, or WTI, fell to -$37.63 a barrel by the time the market closed. WTI serves as […]

If you look back at the seasonal cycle of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) over the last 10 years, you can see trends that have historically led to great buying opportunities. Now, keep in mind that each year’s performance will always be unique […]

Farm machinery transportation can create dangers for farmers and rural residents. Tractors and other farm implements will soon be on the move from one field to another on backroads and highways across the Midwest. Planting season is one of the most hazardous times for driving in rural areas, notes Karen […]

Spring is nearly here. That means it’s time to start getting fields ready for planting. To ensure your equipment is ready to run without issue, you need to perform preventative maintenance on your bulk fuel tank. If left unchecked, your tank will begin to collect water, rust, dirt and bacteria. […]

MFA Oil recently completed the sale of its propane operations in Vernal, Utah, and Craig, Colo., to Mountain West Propane, Inc., on Friday, February 1. The company had acquired Basin Propane Systems in Vernal on Feb. 3, 2015. Jon Ihler, MFA Oil vice president of sales and marketing, says the geographic […]

All MFA Oil offices will be closed on the following dates to allow our employees to enjoy time with their families: Thanksgiving – November 22, 2018 The day after Thanksgiving – November 23, 2018 Christmas Eve – December 24, 2018 Christmas – December 25, 2018 New Year’s Day – January […]

As Labor Day approaches, the unofficial end of summer nears and that means cooler temperatures are just around the corner. While it’s easy to understand wanting to put off purchasing propane during the heat of summer, doing so runs the risk of missing out on favorable contracting rates. MFA Oil […]

Skimming fraud is growing in popularity among criminals. During the first six months of 2017, the number of compromised ATMs and point-of-sale devices jumped 21 percent, compared to the first six months of 2016, according to data from FICO. Meanwhile, the number of compromised cards soared 39 percent. Approximately 39 […]

The Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) has barred the sale of tractor hydraulic fluid (THF) labeled as “John Deere 303” effectively immediately. The ban was announced by MDA’s Weights, Measures & Consumer Protection Division which called John Deere 303 fluids misbranded “because they fail to meet any current tractor manufacturer’s […]

MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, recently held its 88th Annual Delegate Meeting in Branson, Mo., where the co-op’s elected representatives approved a return of $5.2 million in patronage to the membership. The patronage disbursement, which was recommended by the MFA Oil Board of Directors, represents 80 percent […]

Winter is just around the corner and its frigid temperatures can be hard on diesel equipment and fuel systems. Performing routine maintenance now can help you prevent the most common cold-weather problems and avoid costly repairs and downtime. Before the cold weather strikes, prepare your equipment for the season by […]

The deadline to lock in propane pricing for the winter through contracting is quickly approaching. Are you ready for winter? MFA Oil customers have until Sept. 30 to contract propane for the winter. Contracting provides you with an opportunity to secure a set price on your propane for a specified […]

As Hurricane Harvey battered Texas this past week, dropping more than four feet of rain in some areas, gasoline prices shot up across the country. According to AAA, the national price of gas has risen to $2.519 as of September 1, the highest it’s been in two years. The price spike […]

Predicting prices in the fuel and propane industry is a lot like a night at the casino. Uncertain factors and inconsistent circumstances are both elements that go into winning the jackpot and determining the exact future price of fuel and propane. For Tim Danze, senior pricing analyst, recognizable factors are […]

This summer, MFA Oil is giving aspiring students real world experience in their desired fields. Nine interns have recently joined the MFA Oil team as part of the company’s third annual internship program. The interns, a mix of undergraduate and graduate students, are scattered in various departments across the home […]

MFA Oil raised $160,000 for Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit organization that provides emergency and other financial assistance to the families of U.S. military service members and veterans. Mark Fenner, MFA Oil president and CEO, presented a check to representatives from Operation Homefront during the company’s Third Annual Charity Golf […]

The American Petroleum Institute (API) recently released a new heavy-duty engine oil specification to replace API CJ-4. The new API CK-4 service category for diesel engine oil has been in development for about a decade and will deliver improved fuel economy performance and reduce emissions. Known as PC-11A during its […]

Did you know that more than three quarters of the land in the continental U.S. is privately owned? The farmers, ranchers and foresters who own and manage the vast majority of private land in this nation hold the key to environmental improvement. Without their voluntary stewardship, our biggest conservation challenges […]

In early March, wildfires ravaged more than a million acres of land in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. MFA Oil is working with the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association to help the farmers and ranchers who were devastated by the fires by donating $5,000 in gift cards to reimburse fuel expenses for […]

Farmers, truckers and other users of heavy equipment can maximize the performance and reliability of their equipment through regular analysis of engine, hydraulic and transmission oils. Establishing an oil analysis regimen can help determine contamination levels, wear rates and the overall condition of equipment. Routine testing can identify minor problems […]

Winter storms can sometimes cause power outages, pipes to burst and other problems in your home. Make sure you’re prepared to handle any upcoming storms by reviewing our winter propane safety tips. Maintain an adequate supply in your tank. Winter storms can hinder propane deliveries, so it’s a good idea […]

The 24th Annual MFA Oil-Break Time Shootout, benefiting the Show-Me STATE GAMES, is scheduled to tip off at noon on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017 at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. The event features top high school basketball teams and some of the best athletes from around the state of Missouri. […]

By the time you read this column, you may have heard the news about OPEC’s recent decision to cut crude oil production. I have to give OPEC credit; I did not think it would be able to pull off this historic agreement to limit its members crude output. The details […]

The current fundamentals and realities of the energy market are bearish, in my opinion. The question is whether there are longer-term bullish implications we need to consider. A quick look at supply and demand as of late August shows crude oil stocks in the United States are sitting at 521 million barrels – […]

After a wetter than normal summer, construction is well underway on the new shuttle-loader just outside Hamilton, Mo. The grain-handling facility, a joint venture between MFA Incorporated and MFA Oil Company, will consist of 2 million bushels of permanent storage and 1.5 million bushels of temporary storage. The site will be connected to the Union […]

MFA Oil takes great pride in providing our farmer-owners and customers with the energy solutions needed to keep their operations growing. We know that meeting our customers’ needs goes beyond simply delivering fuel. The MFA Oil Service Division was established to ensure our customers receive the care they deserve. In […]

For the more than 70% of Americans that own a grill, summer time is prime grilling season. One thing you don’t want to happen is for your next grilled meal to be memorable for the wrong reasons. According to the National Fire Protection Association, July is the peak month for […]

Established in recent months to meet the needs of large-volume customers, the MFA Oil Wholesale Fuels Division is now servicing a wide variety of businesses and government organizations. Our goal is to provide a quick and easy way to arrange for the delivery of transport-sized fuel loads. The Wholesale Fuels […]

MFA Oil is excited to announce we will now accept EFS, TCH and T-CHEK credit cards at all of our Petro-Card 24 locations.  In addition to these new options, you can pay for your Petro-Card 24 purchases using any of the following: MFA Oil Petro-Card 24 Card MFA Oil Preferred […]