Data Centers No Barrier to Agri-Ready Status

Nancy Zeliff, a visitor to one of the recent Nodaway County Commission meetings regarding data centers, raised the question of what a data center would do to the county’s Agri-Ready status. Erin Metzler, Communications Director for Missouri Farmers Care, which manages the Agri-Ready program, told the Express that Missouri Farmers Care does not have a policy that would cause a county with a data center to  be ineligible for the Agri-Ready Designated Status. The group furnished a flyer regarding Agri-Ready specifications.

The Agri-Ready program has been in existence since 2015. A county commission must apply to be designated as Argi-Ready; there is no cost to the county to participate.  Cooperation is voluntary and is not required by law. Missouri Farmers Care reviews county ordinances, policies, and statements of support to determine a county’s willingness to support agriculture. Nodaway County applied for and was given Agri-Ready status in 2021.

To receive Agri-Ready status, a county must:

—Attest willingness to promote agricultural stewardship, growth, and opportunity;

—Not have any health or zoning ordinances that discourage, limit, or restrict agricultural operations or ag processing facilities;

—Defer to the Missouri Department of Agriculture and Missouri DNR for all environmental permitting of agricultural operations;

—Not impose additional agricultural bonding, permit fees, or insurance requirements;

—Not apply definitions to agricultural operations more stringent than state laws or regulations;

—Allow land application of nutrients at agronomic rates based on data from the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources;

—Allow the use of biotechnology crops and crop products in accordance with their federally labeled use.

Upon designation as an Agri-Ready County, Missouri Farmers Care provides counties with the Agri-Ready logo to use in promotional and informational materials and road signs announcing designation and publish and promote the list of such counties. Missouri Farmers Care members will use their extensive networks and available resources to promote, encourage, and equip business entities to expand, locate, and do business in Agri-Ready designated counties and bring agricultural education efforts and stewardship efforts to such counties.

 

 

Addison Cadle Donates Hog to Fight Hunger

After competing at the Missouri State Fair, Addison Cadle of the Allendale Arrows 4-H Club, chose to donate her market hog through Hogs for Hunger, a program that turns livestock projects into high quality protein for Missouri families facing hunger. 4-H and FFA members from across the state have joined with Missouri Farmers Care to make a difference far beyond the showring this year.

 Addison was one of 32 youth exhibitors who joined in the effort to commit 53 hogs, to provide approximately 27, 825 servings of protein and, to prove that even one animal can make a major difference when agriculture and generosity go hand in hand. A single hog is processed into approximately 525 servings of lean, high-quality pork, enough to help feed hundreds of Missourians facing food insecurity.

“Hogs for Hunger shows the heart of Missouri agriculture,” said Ashley McCarty, Executive Director of Missouri Farmers Care. “These young people are doing more than just raising animals, they’re stepping up to serve their neighbors in a powerful, tangible way.” 

"Missouri agriculture is about more than crops and livestock—it's about people," said Governor Mike Kehoe. "The Missouri Farmers Care Foundation Drive to Feed Kids opens the door for Missourians to make a difference in the fight against hunger, and Missouri FFA and Missouri 4-H members are leading the way. Claudia and I are proud to join these leaders to make an impact and work toward a stronger, healthier Missouri.”

The pork donated through Hogs for Hunger is distributed to Missouri food banks through Feeding Missouri. Processing is completed by Kempf’s Custom Butchering, Sedalia, and costs are covered by the Missouri Farmers Care Foundation Drive to Feed Kids, presented in partnership with Brownfield Ag News, ADM and partners across Missouri agriculture. 

Missouri’s agriculture community makes Hogs for Hunger possible through the generous support of: ADM, Brownfield Ag News, American Family Insurance / AmFam Dreams, Nutra-Blend, MFA Incorporated, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, The Poultry Federation, FCS Financial, Jerry Litton Family Memorial Foundation, Smithfield Foods, Missouri Farm Bureau, Martin Rice, Missouri FFA Foundation, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, Missouri’s Electric Cooperatives, Missouri 4-H Foundation, Missouri Pork, Forrest and Charlotte Lucas and Lucas Cattle Company, Missouri State Fair Foundation, Midwest Dairy, and Empower Missouri. 

For more information on the program or to see how to get involved in 2026, visit www.MOFarmersCare.com/hogs-for-hunger.

 

Agri-Ready Designation Proposed for Worth County

Ashley McCarty, Executive Director of Missouri Farmers Care along with around ten local farmers came to the Worth County Commission to lobby for the county to be designated as an Agri-Ready Community. She said that such a move would send a message to prospective businesses that Worth County is open for business and that it would help educate young people about the importance of farming.

Missouri Farmers Care is a joint effort by numerous companies and farm organizations to promote the growth of agriculture in Missouri communities. Members of the executive committee include the Missouri Soybean Association, the Missouri Corngrowers Association, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, Missouri Pork Association, MFA Oil, MFA, Missouri Farm Bureau, FCS Financial, the Missouri Poultry Federation, and the Missouri Beef Checkoff Program.

Other members include AGRIServices of Brunswick, Bayer (formerly Monsanto), Biofuels LLC, Brundage Ag Law, Dairy Farmers of America, Infra, Law Firm of Haden & Colbert, Midwest Dairy, Missouri Agribusiness Association, Missouri Animal Husbandry Association, Missouri Association of Meat Producers, Missouri Dairy, Missouri Egg Council, Missouri Farmer Today, Missouri Federation of Animal Owners, Missouri Horse Council, Missouri Levee & Drainage District Association, Missouri Livestock Marketing Association, Missouri Pet Breeders Association, Missouri Rice Council, Missouri Sheep Producers, Missouri Veterinary Medical Association, Missouri Vocational Ag Teachers Association, Missouri Wine & Grape Board, Missouri’s Electric Cooperatives, Nutra-Blend LLC, Professional Pet Association, St. Louis Agribusiness Club, and Sydenstricker Nobbe Partners John Deere.

In 2014, this coalition came together for the purpose of promoting agriculture. Missouri Farmers Care initially started off as a bill in the legislature, but the coalition decided they wanted to work without government constraints. In 2015, they decided to partner with county commissions, and the Missouri Agri-Ready slogan was thought up. Since then, 77 Missouri counties, including Harrison, Gentry, and Nodaway Counties, have signed up. Missouri Farmers Care put together a promotional video with Nodaway County to market to nearby cities such as Des Moines and Omaha; that video has generated 150,000 views.

For Worth County to join, the commission would have to repeal its health ordinance. Passed by a previous commission, it is a massive document consisting of many pages with extensive regulations that any Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO)  locating in Worth County would have to follow and giving the Tri-County Health Department power to enforce it. This ordinance, and others statewide like it, were subsequently rendered unenforceable by the Missouri legislature. However, McCarty said such ordinances were still a deterrent to prospective businesses seeking to locate in a Missouri county.

As of 2021, Worth County has $14.5 million in total value added by agriculture. It has $34.2 million in output. There are 428 jobs in the county that are ag-related, including agriculture, agri-food, forestry, and related industries, or 41.4% of all jobs.

There is $24 million in estimated household income in Worth County as a result of agriculture as of 2021.

McCarty said the benefits of being an Agri-Ready county include the ability to promote the county to prospective businesses from outside the area looking to locate along with educational benefits.

She said that in one instance, Caldwell County got a $110 million shuttle loader from MFA. In another instance, American Foods Group, based in Green Bay, was looking to locate an operation where they would buy food within a 500 mile radius. They narrowed it down to Tennessee, and they were able to fly some farmers from Warren County, Missouri to Green Bay to successfully convince them to locate in Missouri, where they have made a $1.3 billion investment.

Worth County would have problems landing such an operation because of the infrastructure. “We don’t have the roads,” said commissioner Reggie Nonneman. A visitor, Mark Cadle, said that if the county could attract an operation that could employ 5-10 people, that would be great. “The best thing we could have is a trade school,” said Nonneman, saying the county was always in need of someone who can do a skilled trade such as carpentry, plumbing, and electrical. “It’s not a fit for everyone,” said McCarty.

McCarty said another benefit of being Agri-Ready was the educational benefit to students. Missouri Farmers Care offers Ag Education On the Move, a free curriculum for third graders taught by FFA students or college interns. It teaches students where food comes from and offers hands-on STEM activities. Cadle noted he has spent time in classrooms where kids didn’t realize that tomatoes grow on plants, for instance.

Presiding Commissioner Jubal Summers said that a quarterly commissioners meeting was coming up and that the one after that would be hosted by Worth County. “I want to ask around and see how being Agri-Ready has affected other counties,” he said. The commission took no action on the proposal at Monday’s meeting. If approved, it would be free and would come up for renewal every two years.

 

Missouri Farmers Reaching Out to Families in Need

Missouri Farmers Care along with the Missouri State Fair and Ford auto dealers announced today a summer-long food drive campaign to benefit Missouri's six food banks. Concluding with Missouri Farmers Care Food Drive Tuesday at the 2011 Missouri State Fair, the campaign aims to help the roughly 343,000 Missourians experiencing hunger.


Beginning in June, Missouri Ford dealerships will collect canned food donations through Aug. 15 in exchange for dollar-off Missouri State Fair admission coupons. Additionally, Missouri farmers and Ford will collect canned food items at the fair entrance Tuesday, Aug. 16 for a one dollar discount on fair admission.



"We look forward to working closely with the Missouri State Fair and Ford to help those in need," said Missouri Farmers Care Chairman Don Nikodim. "Nearly 16 percent of our state faces food insecurity, with many of those individuals living in rural areas. By collecting food and partnering with the state's food banks we can help provide safe, nutritious food to families in need."



The announcement was made during a live AgriTalk broadcast at The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri. Participating adults may redeem dollar-off coupons for up to four canned food items; seniors three; and children a maximum of one item. All donations collected will be distributed to the six Missouri food banks that serve the state's 114 counties.



Additional information regarding Missouri Farmers Care and Missouri agriculture can be found at www.MoFarmersCare.com.

"Stand Up For Farmers!” Rally, Organized by Missouri Farmers Care, Draws Hundreds

At 5:00 pm on Wednesday afternoon, the south lawn of the Missouri Capitol teemed with nearly 1,300 pro-agriculture supporters. The rally, organized by Missouri Farmers Care, focused on the joint effort of Governor Jay Nixon, Missouri legislative leaders, agriculture advocates and animal welfare experts to craft a “Missouri Solution” for the problems caused by Proposition B.

“Today, hundreds of Missourians travelled to the Capitol to let their leaders know that Missourians won’t stand idly by as big-money, special interests attack our farm families,” explained Don Nikodim, chair of Missouri Farmers Care. “That’s why Senate Bill 113 and the Missouri Solution are so important. We have to protect agriculture from radical groups like HSUS.”

The highlight of the rally came when Jon Hagler, head of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, announced Governor Nixon’s support for a “Missouri Solution” that will fix Proposition B. The result of an agreement between Missouri’s agriculture community and local animal welfare advocates, the “Missouri Solution” will ensure that dogs and puppies receive the treatment and care they deserve, while preserving Missouri jobs and protecting Missouri farmers.

“We’re proud that Governor Nixon is standing with us against radical outside interests like HSUS,” Nikodim said. “The Missouri Solution is a clear example of what can happen when we all work together. Missouri’s farmers, pet providers and animal welfare experts all support this agreement that eliminates cruelty while protecting our homes, farms and jobs.”

The “Missouri Solution” proposal will complement Senate Bill 113, sponsored by Senator Mike Parson (R-Bolivar), which improves enforcement of current animal cruelty laws, strengthens standards for animal shelters, cracks down on unlicensed breeders and removes controversial provisions hidden in Proposition B that threatened animal agriculture in Missouri.

Also speaking at the event were; House Speaker Steve Tilley (R-Perryville), Senate Pro Tem Rob Mayer (R-Dexter), Senator Mike Parson (R-Bolivar), Senator Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown), Veterinarian Dr. Alan Wessler and local farmer Chris Chinn. The event was emceed by Missouri Farmers Care Chair, Don Nikodim.

“It was inspiring to look out and see so many people coming together to fight for our farms and our families,” Nikodim concluded. “We sent a strong message today that Missouri will continue to stand strong against radical outside interests like HSUS that threaten our homes, our jobs and our values.”