April 20, 2018
 Focus on Missouri Agriculture Photo Contest is back!
The Missouri Department of Agriculture launched the 9th annual Focus on Missouri Agriculture photo contest this week, inviting Missourians to share the unique stories and images of agriculture through photographs. The contest, which runs through June 15, is an opportunity for amateur photographers across the state to submit their best images of Missouri agriculture. That image may take shape through a breathtaking farm landscape, an aerial shot of harvest, a farm tractor that has been in the family for years or a fun moment showcasing farm life captured on a mobile device .
“The longevity of this photo contest has allowed the Department to see amazing growth, in a variety of ways,” said Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn. “Families have expanded and evolved, young toddlers have grown into teenagers, and landscapes have blossomed. Despite all that change, the heart of agriculture remains the same, and it continues to be tell the legacy of Missouri agriculture.”
The Focus on Missouri Agriculture Photo Contest is open to Missouri’s amateur photographers of all ages. Participants may enter up to three photos in each of the six categories. The photo contest categories are: Beauty of the Farm, Faces of the Farm, The Farmer’s Life, Pride of the Farm and Farm Selfie. Children's Barnyard, a special category for budding photographers ages 12 and under, is back for the 9th annual contest as well.
Click here to learn more.
 Reminder: complete your online synthetic auxin herbicide applicator training
Online training for synthetic auxin herbicides, such as Dicamba, is still available through University of Missouri Extension's website. As part of a collaborative effort to safeguard Missouri agriculture, the Missouri Department of Agriculture has issued Special Local Need labels for the 2018 growing season requiring that certified applicators complete training before buying or using Dicamba. MU Extension is the sole authorized training source.
As of this week, 2,200 individuals have completed the training either online or in-person. The Department hopes that the training better equips our farmers to use the technology effectively.
University of Missouri weed scientist Kevin Bradley and MU researcher Mandy Bish teach the online, self-paced class. For more information, click here.
Visit agriculture.mo.gov/dicamba to learn more about Missouri’s requirements for the 2018 growing season.
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 Promoting Missouri's farmers' markets
The Farmers' Market Matching Grant program provides funds to
help increase buyer traffic at markets across the state.
This grant awards up to $1,000 for expenses associated with
promoting each farmers’ market. Projects should promote the farmers’ market in
the local community and improve understanding, perception, knowledge of and
location of the market.
We look forward to seeing all the creative methods each of these
farmers' markets uses to promote Missouri Grown and their farmers' markets.
The following markets will receive funding: Arnold
Farmers' Market, Boone
County Farmers' Market, Boonville
Farmers' Market, Brookside
Farmers' Market, Cape
River Front Farmers' Market, Capital
City Farmers' Market (Jefferson City), The
City Market (Kansas City), Columbia
Farmers' Market, Creve
Couer Farmers' Market, Downtown
Lee's Summit Farmers' Market, Ferguson
Farmers' Market, Go
Farm Farmers' Market (West Plains), Greater
Springfield Farmers' Market, Hickory
County Farmers' Market, Ivanhoe
Farmers' Market (Kansas City), Joplin
Empire Market, Lake
St. Louis Farmers' Market, Lincoln
County Farmers' Market, Market
on Main by City of Winfield, Midtown
Farmers' Market; (St. Louis), Monett
Farmers' Market, Nixa
Area Farmers' Market, Ozarks
Farmers' Market, Washington
County Farmers' Market, Washington
Farmers' Market, Webb
City Farmers' Market and West
Plains Area Farmers' Market.
Click here to learn more.
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This Week in Photos
This week, we highlight Missouri FFA Convention, Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn reviewing and signing the Department's proposed rule amendments and rescissions, Missouri Wines Marketing Director Annette Alden speaking to the Mid-Missouri PSRA on successful marketing tactics, Director Chinn speaking with the Missouri Council for Activity and Nutrition (MOCAN) and Missouri Grown products at Mark Twain State Park.
 
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