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Scented Splendor

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

A close-up of a solar panel array reflecting sunlight. The sun is partially behind clouds, creating a dramatic sky with bright and dark areas. The panels are positioned at an angle, capturing the suns rays.

Eye on the Future

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 […]

A cluster of fresh oyster mushrooms with creamy white stems and light brown, wavy caps. The gills are prominently visible, showcasing the intricate texture of the fungi. The background is blurred, highlighting the mushrooms in focus.

Farming Fungus

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 […]

Close-up of lush, green sunflower sprouts with water droplets on their leaves, creating a fresh and vibrant texture.

Tiny Crop, Big Returns

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 […]

A red basket filled with apples sits on a grassy patch in an apple orchard. Trees with green leaves line the background under a clear blue sky, creating a serene, natural setting.

Orchard Opportunity

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 […]

A man wearing a blue shirt and cap stands smiling in a field of crops under a clear sky. The sun is setting, casting a warm glow over the landscape.

Saving the Soil

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 […]

A farmer wearing a wide-brimmed hat and plaid shirt stands in a lush green field, surrounded by a herd of brown cows. He is smiling with arms crossed, exuding a sense of contentment and pride in his pastoral setting.

The Grazing Guru

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,” […]

Steve and Veronica Baetje have made goat cheese in the hills of Ste. Genevieve County since 2007.

Aged to Perfection

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. […]

lizabeth Brooks founded the riding club to build horsemanship among riders of all ages and experience levels.

Taking Different Track

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 […]

A family of three stands smiling in a green field with rows of plants. They are surrounded by trees under a clear blue sky. The man wears a cap, the woman has long hair, and the child is holding a small plastic basket.

Thinking Outside the Row Crop

New Ventures Mean New Revenue for Moreland Family Matt Moreland never dreamed pumpkins would have a place on his farm. He grew up raising dairy and beef cattle, corn, and soybeans with his father and uncle. Pumpkins did not even register on the list of possibilities. Now, pumpkins, strawberries and […]

A honeybee collects nectar from white cherry blossoms under a clear blue sky, with sunlight gently illuminating the scene.

Agriculture’s Unsung Hero

When people think of farming or agriculture, they often imagine rows of crops, tractors and hard-working men and women dedicated to feeding the world. While these ideas are mostly accurate, they overlook an important contributor known for its distinct buzzing and honey-making prowess. Bees, though small in size, are agriculture’s […]

Big Data

The Next Revolution in Agriculture Thanks to precision agriculture and advancements in equipment and computing technology, farmers are building a treasure trove of production information. The wealth of data generated by precision agriculture technology has enormous potential, but it’s what farmers do with this information that matters. If properly analyzed, […]

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