September 4, 2012

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The Drought of 2012 Continues to Present Challenges

Farmers have been hit the hardest by this drought and summer heat wave. Fortunately, some folks are getting together and reaching out to rural Missouri. The Missouri Corn Growers Association is teaming with the University of Missouri, Missouri Cattlemen's Association and Missouri Department of Agriculture to help connect corn growers and cattlemen across the state. If folks are interested in selling or buying corn stover, silage, hay or other forages, they can visit the following websites: agebb.missouri.edu/haylst - University of Missouri Extension Hay Market Listings; www.mocattle.org/haydirectory.aspx Missouri Cattlemens Association Hay Directory; or mda.mo.gov/abd/haydirectory - Missouri Department of Agriculture Hay Directory. I mentioned some of the issues farmers are facing in my most recent column. Family farms face enough challenges as it is, without additional

disasters wreaking havoc. We went from a blizzard to a flood to the beginnings of a drought last year to a full-on drought and heat wave this year. This comes as our state is trying to climb out of an economic recession. The timing simply could not be worse. Fortunately, the Missouri Corn Growers Associations plan to hold several demonstrations, in conjunction with the Missouri Cattlemens Association and the University of Missouri Commercial Agriculture Program and Extension to discuss feeding options for incorporating forages into livestock feeding rations, including ammoniation and liming processes. A demonstration has been scheduled for Sept. 20 at the MU Beef Research and Teaching Farms Annual Field Day in Columbia. There are other demonstrations scheduled throughout the month in other parts of the state. The event planned on the 20th is the closest to the 21st Senatorial District. I would like to thank the Corn Growers Association and all the other folks who are taking the time to reach out to rural Missouri and help our farmers wherever they can. We can get past this challenging drought, but we have to work together. I continue to pray for a better economic and agricultural climate for our states citizens in the coming year.

Senator Stouffer serves the counties of Carroll, Chariton, Cooper, Howard, Lafayette, Macon, Ray, Saline, and a part of Clay. If you have questions or comments about this or any other issue, please call toll free (866) 768-3987 or by e-mail at bstouffer@senate.mo.gov.
bstouffer@senate.mo.gov | www.senate.mo.gov/stouffer State Capitol, Room 332, Jefferson City, MO 65101 | (866) 768-3987