Farming

Missouri farm income is projected to decrease $546 million in the coming year.

Increased limits on a loan program for new farmers and expanded tax credits for small farmers could help producers as inflation continues, but more could be taking advantage of the opportunities.

Legislation is being proposed at the federal and state level to restrict foreign ownership of farmland, especially by China. The scrutiny comes after a Midwestern project was scuttled by military concerns and the flight of a Chinese spy balloon across the U.S.

A new study shows a threefold increase in Midwest farm acres using the offseason crops to help protect the soil and reduce runoff, but it still makes up less than 8% of all farmland.

Farm implement manufacturers, including giant John Deere, are well on their way to deploying autonomous tractors. Prototypes are in the field now, and they could be widely available by the end of the decade.

Extreme weather changes have impacted the work farmers do, and it’s no different for Mitchell Pearson, who runs an urban farm in Spanish Lake.

For decades, corn detasseling was a customary summer job for teenagers in Nebraska and the rest of the Corn Belt. In recent years, however, agriculture companies are relying more on migrant labor to do this work through a visa program meant to supplement the local workforce.

Across the Midwest, farmland prices have risen sharply from last year, in part because of high commodity prices and a global food shortage. The highly competitive market, which often includes investors, can make it difficult for young farmers to grow their businesses.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture has opened applications for a grant for urban farmers who tackle food insecurity in their communities. While grants are crucial for urban farms, some find this one to be inaccessible.

Gov. Mike Parson issues a drought alert for 53 Missouri counties that are experiencing extreme heat. His administration is supplying water to farms and ranches through state parks and conservation areas.