MASBDA to accept applications and award $660,000 in dairy premium assistance

The State of Missouri’s FY18 budget signed by Gov. Eric Greitens made available $660,000 to fund a dairy risk management program created by the Missouri Dairy Revitalization Act. The Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority (MASBDA), housed within the Missouri Department of Agriculture, will begin accepting applications for the program in early 2018.

“I applaud Gov. Greitens for making this a priority and supporting the Missouri dairy industry, which employs 23,000 Missourians and generates an estimated $7.5 billion in economic output annually,” said Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn. “The dairy industry worked for this for several years, and MASBDA is ready to go to work for them.”

The Margin Insurance Premium Assistance program was established by the Missouri General Assembly to assist Missouri dairy farmers with the cost of their participation in the federal margin protection program. Eligible dairy farmers may be reimbursed up to 70 percent of their federal premium, excluding the USDA Farm Service Agency administrative fees. Dairy farmers applying for reimbursement will be required to submit full proof of federal premium payment for each year that reimbursement is requested. Applications will close on Feb. 28, 2018.

Click here to read the entire news release. 

Program to recruit large animal veterinarians proves successful

The Dr. Merrill Townley Large Animal Veterinary Student Loan Program was established to assist students currently enrolled or students that have been accepted into the University of Missouri's College of Veterinary Medicine with their financial burden. The loan provides up to $20,000 for living and educational expenses incurred during their veterinary education process for six individuals per academic year. The loans are forgiven provided the students practice large animal veterinary medicine in a defined area of need ($20,000 for each year of service provided).

Since the program’s inception in FY09, the Large Animal Veterinary Student Loan Program has awarded scholarships to 30 individuals and has invested nearly $1 million. Six of the recipients are still in school, and of the remaining 24 recipients, 22 are practicing vets in Missouri. The majority of those practicing are large animal veterinarians in rural communities. That goes to show that this program is achieving its mission of recruiting veterinarians to live, work and become invested in rural communities.  

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Eat your way to good health in 2018

With the concern of obesity across the country, eating healthy foods has never been more important – or so easy and affordable. In Missouri, the state’s hardworking farmers offer fresh produce, meats and more at 200-plus farmers markets across the state, allowing consumers to eat farm-to-fork meals. Most markets open in spring and offer foods throughout the fall, giving lots of seasonal options. Missouri-grown products can also be found at many local grocery stores year round.

“People need to be aware of the produce that is grown locally where they live so that they can ensure they’re getting seasonal produce at the best price,” says Whitney Reist, a registered dietitian and lifestyle blogger at sweetcayenne.com.

Reist, a dietitian for eight years, currently consults as the Missouri Beef Industry Council’s dietitian and teaches as an adjunct faculty member at University of Missouri’s Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology. She says that not only is eating local an easy way to eat seasonally, but it’s also a great way to support your community at the same time. “That’s very important to me and my family,” she adds.

Click here to read the rest of this article from Missouri Grown magazine.