Partnership with State Parks Continues to Grow

Missouri Grown items in visitor centers 

The days are getting longer and the weather is a bit warmer. With the chorus of peeper frogs and new tree buds, hopefully that means spring is here to stay. 

Missouri State Parks have begun to open for the year, and that brings a number of opportunities for Missourians to explore some of the state's beautiful landscapes through hiking, biking, camping or horseback riding. As you plan places for your family to visit, keep our state parks in mind. They have a little something for everyone - including Missouri Grown items available for purchase in the visitor centers!

Some of the parks featuring members' products are:

• Echo Bluff 
• Montauk
• Babler 
• Johnson's Shut-Ins
• Route 66 State Park
• Sam A. Baker
• Lake Wappapello

MO Beef for MO Kids 

Beefing up school lunches across Missouri. 

The Missouri Department of Agriculture and Missouri Beef Industry Council have teamed up to increase the amount of Missouri beef served on school lunch trays. The goal is to double the amount of beef on the school menu, using beef raised and provided by area cattlemen.

The project started at Mount Vernon School District with a Farm to Table dinner in October 2017. Since then, Mount Vernon’s 1,450 students are seeing double the amount of beef on their lunch menus.

Not only does the project provide more beef, but it also provides increased agricultural education in the cafeteria sites. Posters hang at each school that honor the ranchers who are participating in the program. The schools also have banners in front of each school promoting the program. The goal is to encourage additional ranchers and businesses to support the program in years to come.

FAQs:

Who covers the cost of the processing? Your school or food service contractor will pay a local meat processor for the processing cost of the animal.

Why would a beef producer participate? Producers who participate in the program are able to count the value of their animal as a charitable contribution.

For more information, contact Morgan Householder by phone at (573) 751-5019 or by email at Morgan.Householder@mda.mo.gov 

Click here for more information.

Celebrating National Ag Week 

Thank a farmer. Drink milk. Eat vegetables. 

This year, we celebrate National Ag Day on March 20. However, the entire week of March 18-24 will be promoting and recognizing the importance of the No. 1 industry in our state - agriculture.

Missouri's farm acreage proves to be diverse in growing corn, soybeans, cotton and rice. Our family farms also grow some of the sweetest berries and most delicious, fresh vegetables. The Show Me State is home to some of the nation's best beef, poultry and pork products. More than 97% of Missouri’s farms are family owned, and they are committed to producing a safe and abundant food supply for customers locally and globally. 

Almost everything we eat, drink, wear or use on a daily basis has roots in the ag industry in some way.

“For most of us in the industry, agriculture is a personal thing. It’s a passion we’ve had since we were young, and a legacy we want to pass on to the next generation,” Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn said. “We want every Missourian to be able to connect personally with food, fuel, fiber and forestry, because it is part of each of our lives, in big and small ways, every day. We hope this statewide celebration is one that encourages growth, investment and trust in agriculture.”

Farmers are able to feed considerably more people than they did 50 years ago. Missouri's food and fiber are top-notch, and we are proud to celebrate and promote all of our Missouri Grown ag products on National Ag Week and EVERY week!