USDA

Entire state of Mo. now federal agricultural disaster area

Rachel Lippmann and Marshall Griffin — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 17:22:22 +0000

Updated with comments from McCaskill conference call.

The entire state of Missouri is now a federal agriculture disaster area.

Seventeen of the state's counties, mostly in the Bootheel, had already received that declaration. Today's announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture extends that declaration to the other 97 counties and the city of St. Louis.

National plan will affect management of Missouri's Mark Twain Forest

Véronique LaCapra — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:03:42 +0000

The U.S. Forest Service has released a final environmental impact statement for its new management plan for the nation's public forests.

The new Forest Planning Rule will guide the management of America's 193-million acres of national forest lands, and provide the framework for local forest managers to develop their own forest-specific management plans.

Local researcher awarded $1.3 million to study corn genetics

Véronique LaCapra — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:54:19 +0000

The National Science Foundation has awarded a local researcher $1.3 million to study the genetics of how corn plants take up nutrients.

The ultimate goal is to reduce the amount of fertilizer needed to grow the ubiquitous crop.

Ivan Baxter, a U.S. Department of Agriculture research scientist and assistant member at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, will lead the research.

St. Louis-area food banks struggling to keep up with rising need

Tim Lloyd — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:35:07 +0000

With one of the biggest meals of the year fast approaching, those who rely on St. Louis area food pantries for Thanksgiving may be in trouble. The USDA’s food assistance program is sending far less to agencies like the St. Louis Area Food Bank than in past years. And as Tim Lloyd reports, the shortfall is making it hard for the food banks to keep up with a rising need for help.

USDA announces funding for rural broadband, Mo. not on list

The Associated Press and Kelsey Proud — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:25:09 +0000

Telephone utilities in 18 states will receive nearly $500 million in U.S. Agriculture Department funds to build, expand and improve broadband in rural areas.

The Ag Department made the announcement Monday during the annual meeting of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners in St. Louis.

In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the money to 28 telephone utilities will provide high-speed Internet that will improve health care and educational opportunities to rural areas, along with greater job opportunities.