Missouri Young Farmers Collective

11/05/2025

Hey Missouri Beginning Farmers & Ranchers. We need your help. University of Missouri College of Health Sciences is conducting a research study to better understand the experiences of farmers in the Midwest, particularly around weather, stress, and well-being.

• Who can participate? Adults (18 or older) currently involved in farming or agricultural production in the Midwest. We are recruiting up to 40 participants.

• What does participation involve? A one-time, 45-60 minute interview (in person, or by phone or Zoom). You will be asked about your experiences, challenges, and supports related to farming, weather, and well-being.

• What will you receive? Participants will be compensated with a $40 Amazon gift card as for their time.

• How will my information be used? Your responses will be kept confidential, and no identifying information will be shared.

If you are interested in participating, please email Megan Waddle: [email protected] to learn more and sign up.

Thank you for considering sharing your experiences.

11/03/2025

Our Missouri CRCL Project’s Conservation Fieldscapes incentive payment program is NOW OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT! Small farmers and ranchers can earn $10,000 over a 3-year contract to stack at least three stacked conservation-smart practices to serve as demonstration sites. Apply or learn more at https://cra.missouri.edu/crcl_conservationfieldscapes/

The Missouri Conservation Resilient Crop and Livestock (CRCL) Project offers incentive payments that support adoption of conservation-smart practices for Missouri producers. A special thank you to our partners!

01/10/2025

Snowed in? Great time to apply for the climate-smart fieldscapes program! A great opportunity for small and underserved farmers in Missouri to receive funding to build farm resilience! Learn more at https://cra.missouri.edu/crcl_climatesmartfieldscapes/

Missouri Beginning Farmers & Ranchers ProgramThe Kansas City Food HubEarthDance Organic Farm SchoolColumbia Center for Urban Agriculture

01/07/2025

Save the date and register! February 5th!

This is a rare opportunity to learn from produce safety trainers with the Produce Safety Alliance, University of Missouri Extension, Local Food Safety Collaborative, and Three Creeks Farm + Forest. Participants will learn how to identify and manage food safety risks on their farms, including basics of how to write a farm food safety plan.

After attending the entire course, participants will receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials/ Produce Safety Alliance.

Missouri Farmers Union National Farmers Union
Local Food Safety Collaborative MU Extension Produce Safety Alliance Cornell University Three Creeks Farm + Forest

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12/31/2024

Time is running out to apply for the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program. MASC provides financial assistance to specialty crop producers to help them expand domestic markets or develop new markets for their crops.

Eligible crops include but are not limited to: 🫐🥦🍋🍎🌷🍄🍯 fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, honey, floriculture, maple, and nursery crops. Call your local office today to make sure you apply by the Jan. 8 deadline!

Photos by USDA; honey photo from Canva

12/30/2024

Apply today through January 31, 2025 for our Climate-Smart Fieldscapes program and earn $10,000 to use climate-smart practices. Learn more at https://cra.missouri.edu/crcl_climatesmartfieldscapes/

12/26/2024

Calling specialty crop producers! Starting Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, through Wednesday Jan. 8, 2025 you can apply for U.S. Department of Agriculture's new Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program to help you expand current markets and develop new ones. USDA is making more than $2 billion available to eligible specialty crop producers through the MASC program.

MASC can help you offset costs related to tenderness and perishability of your crops, specialized handling requirements, packaging, moving crops to market and labor costs.

You are eligible if you will be producing any of the following crops in 2025:
• Fruits (fresh, dried)
• Vegetables (including dry edible beans and peas, mushrooms, and vegetable seed)
• Tree nuts
• Nursery crops, Christmas trees, and floriculture
• Culinary and medicinal herbs and spices
• Honey, hops, maple sap, tea, turfgrass and grass seed

To learn more about the program and submit your application, visit your local USDA Service Center

📸 © Kitreel - stock.adobe.com

12/26/2024

CCUA is Hiring🌱💚💪🏼

CCUA is currently accepting applications for multiple full-time, part-time, and AmeriCorps positions! Apply now!

Visit ColumbiaUrbanAg.org/jobs or ColumbiaUrbanAg.org/apprenticeship to learn more⏰ Don't wait!

12/04/2024

Calling all small farm and food producers!

Now is an exciting time to run a small farm or food business – learn about funding opportunities designed to help you grow your business. Join MU Extension for a free webinar on December 12 and gain insight into:
✅ Grants from the Center for Regenerative Agriculture & Heartland Regional Food Business Center
✅ Loans from the USDA Farm Service Agency
✅ Cost-share opportunities from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service

Bonus: One lucky attendee will win FREE registration to the Great Plains Growers Conference in St. Joseph, MO – the premier event for fruit and vegetable growers. The winner will be announced live at the end of the webinar!

Don't miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and grow. Find more information and register at http://muext.us/fundingsmallfarmfoodbiz



This event is made possible by partners The Center for Regenerative Agriculture, Heartland Regional Food Business Center, USDA Farm Service Agency, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service + Great Plains Growers Conference

12/04/2024

Specialty crop growers – don’t miss out on the education and networking opportunities offered at the 2025 Great Plains Growers Conference in January!

MU Extension - Agriculture and Environment Program’s Denice Ferguson, Katie Neuner, Mallory Rahe and Ryan Milhollin will lead an interactive and informative education track on starting and scaling your farm business. Join them to learn how to assess your farm business’s readiness for growth, evaluate new farm products’ feasibility and make decisions that affect your business goals. A group of successful value-added producers will share their journey of startup success.

Learn more and register for the conference at https://www.greatplainsgrowersconference.org/

MU Extension

11/07/2024

Starting this Sunday!

Are you a farmer looking to learn and share with other Missouri farmers? Participate in our Farmer to Farmer program! Whether you're a beginning or seasoned farmer, this program is designed to grow your farm! Register today: https://www.eventcreate.com/e/mfufarmertofarmer2024

11/07/2024

We are excited to announce our second year applications for the Missouri CRCL Project's Climate-Smart Fieldscape program is open!

This competitive grant program is tailored for small and underserved producers who want to adopt climate-smart practices.

We will accept applications from November 1-January 31. Check out program details here: https://cra.missouri.edu/crcl_climatesmartfieldscapes/

Help us spread the word!
Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture EarthDance Organic Farm School The Kansas City Food Hub Missouri Beginning Farmers & Ranchers Program Missouri Farmers Union