The State Board of Education is scheduled to meet tomorrow in Jefferson City and her appointment will be discussed with an anticipated announcement after.

Eslinger would be replacing retiring Commissioner Margie Van Deven who has announced she was leaving the post in July. The timing would allow Eslinger to complete the upcoming legislative session that ends in May.

The Department has been in a recurring state of upheaval since the Covid pandemic closed public schools in 2020 with several state leaders including Senate Majority Floor Leader Cindy O’Laughlin calling for her resignation.

Eslinger is a former school superintendent in southern Missouri who was elected to the State House of Representatives in 2018, and the State Senate in 2024.

She is currently being challenged in the primary by Rep. Brad Hudson, and several sources confirm that Rep Travis Smith will now enter the primary to replace Eslinger.

Brady Hays

Brady Hays is a 2023 graduate of the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in History. He is currently attending the University of Missouri School of Law and is on pace to graduate with his JD in 2026. He has been working for the Missouri Times since early March 0f 2022.

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Recent rains have helped much of the state, but the overall amount of the state experiencing a form of drought has increased.

Areas around Joplin and Springfield, Mo. continue to battle extreme drought conditions. Drought has also started to impact Nothern Missouri, an occurrence not previously seen this summer. Areas around St. Joseph, Mo., Kansas City and the northern border of Missouri are currently experiencing moderate drought, according to the federal drought tracker.

Although rain has indeed helped much of the state when it comes to hay and crops, much of Missouri has still yet to experience the long and consistent rain needed to replenish soil conditions.

According to the report, the cattle market is beginning to see some normalcy, something cattlemen have sorely missed the past few months. The recent rains have given hope to those who have not culled their herds yet.

Crop reports are also optimistic for all three of Missouri’s largest crops.

Corn production is forecast at 525 million bushels, 4% below last year’s production. Corn bids continue to rise after taking a small dip at the beginning of the month.

Soybean production is forecast at 287 million bushels, up 4% from 2021. Soybean bids also rose in the middle of the month.

Except for the St. Louis area, which took a sharp dip compared to other areas.

Wheat production is forecast at 43.6 million bushels, up 37% from the previous year. Wheat bids have started to climb after a large plummet at the beginning of the month.

It seems with heavy rains in the past month and some more consistent ones in the near future, farmers may be able to breathe a small sigh of relief as both the cattle market and the crop market seem to be coming back to normal.

Featured Image Courtesy of Alisha Shurr

Kelton Turner

Kelton is a 2023 graduate of the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies. He is a native of mid-Missouri and likes to write politics at both the state and federal levels. Kelton joined the Missouri Times in April 2022

www.themissouritimes.com

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The new hotline, called the AgriStress Help hotline, is a “free and confidential service available to Missouri producers and rural families seeking mental health support,” according to a press release. The number associated with the 24/7 hotline is (833) 897-2474.

AgriStress is meant to service farmers who are in need of a quick way to access mental health help related to the stress from their farming duties. 

“We know producers take pride in their ability to handle challenging circumstances, which can lead to a stigma around seeking mental health support,” Chris Chinn, director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture said. “But, it’s okay to need help. Our goal is to ensure free, confidential support is available for Missouri farmers, ranchers and rural community members through the AgriStress Helpline.”

The hotline has been in the works since earlier this year, when Gov. Mike Parson and the Department of Agriculture began looking for companies to operate a call center. 

The decision came after a troubling survey in 2021 from the American Farm Bureau Federation questioned farmers about their mental health and the stigma surrounding it. The survey allowed the participating farmers to pinpoint the issues they think are causing intense stress in their lives. 

According to the survey, the four biggest stressors that impact farmers’ mental health are financial issues, fear of losing the farm, uncertain future and the state of the farm economy. 

The survey also states that 60% of farmers were experiencing more mental health issues in 2021 than the year before. 

The survey also says that more farmers are becoming aware of the mental health resources available to them and that farmers are utilizing these resources more often. Still, there is still a lot of ground to cover when it comes to making sure farmers are able to seek mental health resources. 

Data shows that rural suicides in Missouri are on a steep incline. According to a joint study that included the Missouri Farm Bureau, the Missouri Department of Mental Health and the University of Missouri, the rate of rural suicide deaths increased by 78% to 21.3 suicides per 100,000 people in 2017.

 “Combined, the latest data from CDC signal the rate of rural suicide deaths in Missouri is 18% higher than the nonrural rate — and it’s growing 50% faster,” the study states.

“Stratified by gender and urbanization, rural males have the highest rate of suicide deaths in the state at 35.6 per 100,000 residents,” the study adds. This statistic is almost double the statewide rate of 18.8 per 100,000

According to the Department of Agriculture, almost 90% of the farms in Missouri are family owned. Many of the farms have been operated through generations of family. Additional stress is added for family-owned farmers, as losing a farm is more than losing a business venture, it means losing land that has been passed along for generations.

The hotline is arriving amid a difficult year for crop farmers and cattlemen. A severe drought in the southern half of the state has forced cattlemen to make hard decisions about culling cattle in the face of a spiraling beef market, causing many to take a severe loss in the middle of the year. 

According to the Department of Agriculture, they have partnered with a group known as Agrisafe, a nonprofit organization that specializes in rural mental healthcare, in order to specialize the AgriStress hotline to suit the needs of farmers and other members of rural communities.

By involving Agrisafe, the department hopes to ensure that the mental health professionals of AgriStress will be more well-suited to serving the needs of rural producers than the average mental health professional.

While not a fix-all solution, there is hope that this hotline will be able to start tearing down some of the mental health inequalities found in rural areas around the state. According to the joint study, all 99 of Missouri’s rural counties have a shortage of mental health professionals.

 The Department of Agriculture has more information on its website here.

If you are suffering a mental health crisis, call or text 988.

Featured Image Courtesy of the Missouri Coalition for Behavioral Healthcare

Kelton Turner

Kelton is a 2023 graduate of the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies. He is a native of mid-Missouri and likes to write politics at both the state and federal levels. Kelton joined the Missouri Times in April 2022

www.themissouritimes.com

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Drought conditions still persist in many parts of Missouri according to the report, with almost 3/4th of the state experiencing some sort of drought. Parts of Southern Missouri are still experiencing extreme drought conditions.

These conditions are likely to change by next week’s report as parts of Missouri, specifically the St. Louis area, experienced very heavy rains and flash flooding this week. Much-needed rain is also in the forecast for many parts of the state.

The hay crop continues to see some issues, following its troubling trend from the last report.

According to the report, 90% of the state’s hay has been cut. This is mostly due to persisting drought conditions, which has led many hay growers to cut their hay earlier than usual.

There is no hay shortage, supplies remain moderate and hay is relatively easy to access for those that did not grow or did not grow enough.

The cattle market also continues to see its fair share of issues as well. The amount of culled cattle in the state continues to rise according to the report. This rise is mostly due to weather conditions, as cattlemen cull their livestock at the market to ensure they can feed their herd over the coming fall and winter months.

The report also includes information regarding some of Missouri’s biggest crop markets.

Soybean bids are showing a slight climb in bid prices after dropping sharply for a few days straight. The bids for soybeans for the month have been very volatile.

Wheat bids have sharply declined over the past few days after a brief period of climbing. Wheat saw a steep decline two weeks ago, like soybeans, wheat has been very volatile in July.

Corn bids have been on a steady decline for most of the month, this week’s report is no exception.

Overall, the bids for Missouri’s crops are on the decline and have been for a large portion of the month.

Overall, the report is a look into how a summer drought has negatively affected some of Missouri’s largest industries and their relationships with each other. Hay and cattle are still in turmoil, although the full effects of the summer heat have yet to be seen.

The next weekly report will also include data that takes into account this week’s intense rainfall and even flooding in some areas, which will surely affect some of the agriculture industries in the state.

If you are in need of hay, go to the Department of Agriculture’s hay directory.

Featured Image Courtesy of the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

Kelton Turner

Kelton is a 2023 graduate of the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies. He is a native of mid-Missouri and likes to write politics at both the state and federal levels. Kelton joined the Missouri Times in April 2022

www.themissouritimes.com

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The Farm Bureau called out Invenergy, the owner of the Grain Belt Express transmission line project, for trying to skirt the new eminent domain laws laid out in House Bill 2005.

The Grain Belt Express transmission line has been a source of conflict for nearly ten years including in 2019 when the Missouri Public Service Commission gave the project eminent domain authority to build its new power line after previously rejecting their application.

Invenergy acquired the project in 2018 but did not draft the original plans.

In response to eminent domain concerns stemming from the project, the Missouri legislature passed HB 2005 during the spring session. HB 2005 sets new rules for eminent domain proceedings during transmission line projects.

Among other things, HB 2005 sets a floor of compensation for Missouri landowners who go through eminent domain proceedings. The compensation promised is 150% of “fair market value,” a figure that will be determined by the courts.

However, many stakeholders were disappointed to see that HB 2005’s rules do not apply retroactively, the law does not take effect until Aug. 28. This means that the Grain Belt Express transmission line, the original source of eminent domain concern, is not beholden to HB 2005’s provisions.

The Chicago-based energy company plans to build an addition to the Grain Belt Express in Mid-Missouri, called the Tiger Connector. Invenergy claims the connector will bring significant energy benefits to Missouri, connecting its transmission line to existing power infrastructure in Callaway County. The project is expected to bring 5x more energy to Missouri from the Grain Belt Express, according to Invenergy’s website.

The groups put out a press release on the situation Thursday afternoon. 

Grain Belt was originally attempting to claim that the Tiger Connector Line was simply an extension of the original line and not a new project. The alleged attempt to skirt the new law happened earlier in July, according to Garrett Hawkins, president of the Missouri Farm Bureau.

“It all comes down to the timing of the announcement. And the timing of their most recent filing, you see that they had made a request with the Public Service Commission in July to amend the existing case,” Hawkins said. “The PSC denied that and now has said a new file will be created. So that filing within the PSC led farmers and landowners to believe that Invenergy was trying to get ahead of this new law taking effect.”

“This will play out within the Public Service Commission,” Hawkins added. “In the meantime, we believe Invenergy on its own can do the right thing by acknowledging publicly that they intend to adhere to the provisions embodied in HB 2005.”

In response, Invenergy released a statement Friday morning.

“We plan to honor these wishes by compensating Grain Belt Express Tiger Connector landowners at 150% of fair market value for easement payments while also designing the project to be capable of delivering half of the line’s capacity to Missouri,” the statement reads.

Statement from Grain Belt Express in response to the letter from @MOFarmBureau and other MO ag groups.#moleg@LtGovMikeKehoe@Eric_Schmitt@DaveSchatzMO@calebrowden@BeanSenate@RobVescovo@deanplocher@MissouriPSC pic.twitter.com/U7526Aj1qY

— Invenergy (@InvenergyLLC) July 22, 2022

The Farm Bureau and other agriculture groups aren’t so sure about Invenergy’s promises.

“Unfortunately, we have been given no reason to take their words to heart,” Mike Deering, executive vice president of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association said. “The relationship has been mired with deception and outright lies to landowners. While this news is encouraging — you’ve got to show me.”

Hawkins was pleased to see the announcement but doesn’t plan to let up on the Invenergy going forward.

“It’s encouraging to see Grain Belt announce that they will follow the law,” Hawkins said. “This will be a situation of trust, but verify and you can count on members of the Missouri Farm Bureau to be at the public meetings on the project.”

Rep. Mike Haffner, R-Pleasant Hill, sponsored HB 2005 through the House during spring session. He believes that legislators would be willing to take action should Grain Belt Express circumvent the law.

“There are a lot of Reps and Senators that are very concerned about what’s taken place,” Haffner said. “I’ll be watching the proceedings in the PSC very closely.”

Featued Image: Missouri Farm Bureau President Garrett Hawkins on “This Week in Missouri Politics.”

Matthew McFarland

I’m a journalist hailing from the Detroit area. I love to tell investigative stories with a focus on everyday people.

You can contact me by email at matthew@missouritimes.com

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Parson signed the order Wednesday afternoon at a press conference flanked by Chris Chinn, Dru Buntin and Sara Parker Pauley; the directors of the Missouri departments of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Conservation respectively.

The executive order will call together the three departments to form the Drought Assessment Committee and decide the best course of action for drought relief.

Parson urged proactivity as the Southern part of the state faces severe drought. According to the federal state drought tracker, around 50% of Missouri is experiencing a moderate drought with over half of that 50% experiencing a severe drought. The drought spreads from Oregon to Boone Counties, covering a vast swath of the state.

“As a farmer myself, I know the heartache a drought can bring, especially in the middle of July,” Parson said at the press conference. “We’ve learned from past experience, the more proactive we are, the better we can help our farmers and citizens lessen the impact of even the most severe droughts.”

The departments of Natural Resouces and Conservation will work together to provide water to farmers supplied from state parks and conservation areas.

Missouri farmers have faced an uphill battle all year, facing high fertilizer and fuel costs. A drought of this scale enveloping the southern portion of the state could have dire economic impacts for many farmers.

The drought is impacting the cattle indrustry particularly hard, forcing cattlemen to decide between culling their cows now and selling into a saturated market or hope for enough rain to produce sufficient hay for cattle feeding.

“Livestock producers are having to make difficult decisions about selling livestock because there is no pasture in many areas. Grain farmers are watching their crops wither before pollination. Conditions are difficult for many Missouri farmers and ranchers,” Chinn said.

Parson suspended administrative rules and offered some avenues to financial relief for Missouri farmers. No specific spending or program for drought relief was announced besides the formation of the Drought Assessment Committee and a special session of the Soil and Water Conservation Commission on July 25.

Parson and the three directors stressed the importance of community assistance to administration during times of drought, helping the state monitor the drought and provide assistance accuractely and efficiently.

“Our partners are doing a great job helping us assess drought conditions across Missouri,” Buntin said. “We’re also relying on help from our citizens in reporting and submitting photographs of the conditions they’re seeing locally.”

Citizens can report drought conditions to the Condition Monitoring Observer Reports system.

The Parson administration doesn’t see drought conditions improving soon. Regardless of when the rains come, Parson stressed the importance of continued support to farmers through the coming months.

“This will not go away with the first rains that come,” Parson said. “This will affect these farmers in the fall, it will affect them in the winter becuase of the conditions … anytime you’re feeding livestock in July in a great amount, you know that’s problematic.”

The administration doesn’t see as much of a threat to drinking water as there was in the 2018 drought that rocked most of Northern Missouri. Southern Missouri’s access to natural water sources is expected to curb the danger of that possibillity. Parson did encourage “common sense” when it came to citizen water conservation, especially in Southern and Mid-Missouri, the hardest hit areas.

The Governor has reached out to U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt to see what federal resources may be available to the state.

“The persistent drought conditions we’re seeing in many parts of the state are a huge concern for farm families. We need to be sure farmers and producers are able to recover quickly, especially given the global food challenges we’re facing,” Blunt said in an email exchange with the Missouri Times. “I will continue to be in touch with Governor Parson, Directors Chinn and Pauley, and other state and local officials to help support response efforts.”

Featured Image Courtesy of the National Drought Mitigation Center

Matthew McFarland

I’m a journalist hailing from the Detroit area. I love to tell investigative stories with a focus on everyday people.

You can contact me by email at matthew@missouritimes.com

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The report details many different parts of Missouri’s economic growth. The most intriguing number might be the one for seasonally adjusted unemployment rate. The rate this month is at 2.8% which is down from May’s rate of 3.1%.

According to the Economic and Research Information Center, this is the lowest the rate has been since data collection began almost 50 years ago in 1976. The last time the unemployment rate was this low was in 2019, when it reached 2.9% for a three-month span.

Missouri’s unemployment rate is better than the national unemployment rate for June, which was 3.6%.

This comes as welcome news to many Missourians, as a mix of nationwide inflation, rising fuel costs and supply chain issues have rocked the state for much of 2022.

A total of 5,300 jobs were added since last May, with many sectors seeing large job growth. Leisure and hospitality had an increase of 2,400 jobs. This is an important improvement for Missouri, as May’s job report saw a 2,400 job decrease in leisure and hospitality jobs.

Educational and health services saw an increase of 1,200, a continuation of steady increases for the sector that saw a large growth of 1,700 back in May.

Other job areas are seeing better growth since the last report too. Government jobs saw a massive increase, comparable to a very noticeable loss last month. In May, Missouri lost 1,700 government jobs. 1,100 were local and 600 were federal government jobs.

Now, many government jobs are making their way back into the fold. June saw an addition of 3,300 jobs to the government sector. State government jobs saw an increase of 1,800 and local government saw an increase of 1,700. A far cry from last month’s massive loss in that sector.

Despite an overall healthy job market, some areas are seeing an overall decrease.

Professional and business services lost 3,300 jobs. This is very different than the last report, where the sector saw an increase of 3,500 jobs.

The sector has been on a yo-yo of sorts over the last two months. Professional and business services were one of the only sectors that saw an increase of such a large scale last report and is now one of the only sectors with a decrease of such a large scale in this report.

Gov. Parson seems bullish on the Missouri economy, putting out a tweet Wednesday to highlight Missouri’s low unemployment rate.

GREAT NEWS: Missouri's unemployment rate dropped to 2.8 percent – the lowest in Missouri’s history since this data series started in 1976.

Missouri’s economy is STRONG! pic.twitter.com/KsokKrpKak

— Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) July 20, 2022

Kelton Turner

Kelton is a 2023 graduate of the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies. He is a native of mid-Missouri and likes to write politics at both the state and federal levels. Kelton joined the Missouri Times in April 2022

www.themissouritimes.com

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988 is a national initiative, simplifying and improving the services of the previous National Suicide Prevention hotline. 1-800-273-8255, the previous hotline number, will continue to function and both numbers will connect callers to the same services. Those seeking mental health services can also text the 988 number.

U.S. Sen Roy Blunt welcomed the launch of 988 on Friday, the new number went live on Saturday.

“The number of calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline skyrocketed in recent years as Americans struggled with the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each one of those calls can be a life or death moment for a person in crisis,” Blunt said. “We need to be sure the capacity is there to answer every call as quickly as possible. As the top Republican on the appropriations subcommittee that funds health programs, I have been proud to work with my colleagues to substantially increase federal funding to transition to the lifeline’s new 988 number.”

Blunt serves on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies. Blunt also backed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was signed into law last month and provided $150 million in federal money for the launch of 988.

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act also gave states the opportunity to expand mental health services in accordance with the Excellence in Mental Health program, which started in 2014. Missouri is one of nine states participating in the Excellence in Mental Health pilot program, according to a press release from Blunt.

988’s implementation was a national initiative but left states responsible for ensuring access to crisis services. Missouri’s seven centers for 988 calls went live Saturday, the first day possible.

“The launch of the 988 crisis line will establish a more streamlined and effective resource for Missourians in a behavioral health crisis,” Gov. Mike Parson said in a press release. “We know that when individuals are experiencing a crisis — the sooner we can connect them to support and provide assistance the better. The launch of 988 is an important step in addressing the mental health crisis and saving lives.”

Missouri’s 988 crisis specialists expect to field 253,000 contacts, which include calls and texts, in the first year of operation. Crisis specialists are expected to work with individuals in need of help, provide support and connect them to resources. Specialists can also dispatch mobile crisis response teams should the situation necessitate it.

“The Missouri Department of Mental Health (DMH) is seizing this opportunity to advance current crisis services towards an evidence-based care continuum prepared to deliver high-quality behavioral health services statewide,” Valerie Huhn, director of the DMH said. “Providing consistent crisis care and support will be integral to reducing the burden on and misuse of law enforcement/emergency response and other public health services.”

Featured Image: Gov. Mike Parson and U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt tout the Rocheport Bridge replacement project. (ALISHA SHURR/THE MISSOURI TIMES). 

Matthew McFarland

I’m a journalist hailing from the Detroit area. I love to tell investigative stories with a focus on everyday people.

You can contact me by email at matthew@missouritimes.com

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MERIC is the research division of the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development’s Office of Performance & Strategy.

Missouri’s labor force participation rate was 63.3% in May 2022, according to MERIC’s monthly job report. 63.3 percent is one percentage point higher than the national rate of 62.3 percent.

Missouri’s employment-population ratio was 61.3 percent in May 2022, meaning that 61.3 percent of Missouri’s total working age population had a job. That’s 1.2 points higher than the national rate of 60.1 percent.

Unemployment is down as well. The report states that Missouri’s unemployment rate is 3.1 percent, a slight improvement from April’s 3.4 percent and a noticeable decrease from May 2021, which had an unemployment rate of 4.5 percent.

Altogether, the total number of unemployed Missourians dropped from 103,605 in April to 96,446 in May, a difference of 7,159.

Compared to the national rate of 3.6 percent, Missourians are seeing significantly less unemployment. This should not be a surprise as Missouri has been at or below the national unemployment rate for the past five years according to the report.

The employment areas that saw the most growth were manufacturing (1,800), professional/business services (3,500), and educational/health services (1,700). Those sectors all saw thousands of jobs added since April.

Some sectors did see significant job loss, specifically private service-providing industries. Trade, transportation, and utilities lost 5,100 jobs, and the leisure/hospitality industry lost 2,400 jobs.

Perhaps one of the biggest losers was the government. Government jobs saw a big decrease, especially in the local government sector (-1,100). The federal government also lost a sizable 600 jobs.

These numbers are from preliminary data and they may change when the revised data report comes out, according to the Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development.

Some of these numbers are also just regular trends.

“In local government, for example, it’s not unusual to see some declines near the end of the school year or start of the summer, as some roles in local education are not employed at the same levels during summer break,” Veronica Gielazauskas said.

Gielazauskas serves as the Assistant Commissioner for Performance & Strategy at the Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development.

Though some sectors were hit hard, May’s job report continues a trend of steady economic recovery for the Show-Me State.

Kelton Turner

Kelton is a 2023 graduate of the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies. He is a native of mid-Missouri and likes to write politics at both the state and federal levels. Kelton joined the Missouri Times in April 2022

www.themissouritimes.com

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June 1 was the first day eligible residents could apply to receive state-issued vouchers to purchase produce with. The vouchers will be available until Sept. 30 and can be used until Oct. 31. 

Vouchers and produce are provided through both the Missouri Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) and the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (WICFMNP).

The program is designed to give seniors and WIC participants in Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield and the Mid-Missouri area access to fresh produce that would normally not be available nor affordable.

For eligible seniors, 10 vouchers worth $5 each are available to use at participating locations. Seniors are encouraged to register a proxy, usually a spouse, that can receive an additional 10 vouchers.

Seniors can register one proxy per household, setting a limit of $100 in vouchers.

For WIC recipients, four vouchers worth $5 each are available per child. The total amount of usable vouchers can vary based on the amount and age of the children. 

WIC recipients can receive their vouchers at the same agency where they receive their WIC benefits.

“Each of these programs provides the opportunity to purchase fresh, delicious products grown and raised by Missouri producers,” Chris Chinn, director of agriculture for the state said. “Recipients, growers and the local economy all benefit from these worthwhile programs.”

The SFMNP program began in 2019, while this year is the first year for the WIC FMNP. 

The language that added WIC to this program was championed by Rep. Martha Stevens, a Democrat from Boone county, back in 2021. Stevens added the language to an existing bill at the time, HB 432. Now for the first time, Missourians eligible for WIC will get to see the benefits of this program.

This year’s program could provide much needed help, with high inflation and overall slow economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. Low and fixed income seniors and WIC recipients have been among those hit the hardest by the financial impacts of COVID-19.

Many counties across the state have participating farmer’s markets. 46 counties in total are participating this season and over 200 Missouri farms are selling their products at markets and roadside stands. 

Farmers at these markets will be using special signs to advertise their participation in the program and acceptance of vouchers. Farmers receive special training through the Missouri Grown program to participate.

According to the Department of Agriculture website, eligible foods must be “fresh, unprepared, Missouri fruits, vegetables, honey and herbs in their raw form. They may not be processed or prepared beyond their natural state except for usual harvesting and cleaning processes” 

Honey-based produce is only available to seniors in the program.

There is a small list of ineligible foods, which include fruits and vegetables not grown in Missouri, dried fruits and vegetables, meat, eggs and dairy products. 

The full list of participating counties can be found here. Other information, such as the full eligible lists of produce, can also be found there. 

Seniors can apply for their vouchers at four locations across Missouri:

• Springfield – SeniorAge Area Agency on Aging, (417) 862-0762
• St. Louis County and St. Louis City – Aging Ahead, (636) 207-0847
• Kansas City – University of Missouri Extension, (816) 482-5850
• Columbia – Aging Best, (573) 443-5823

Featured Image courtesy of the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

Kelton Turner

Kelton is a 2023 graduate of the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies. He is a native of mid-Missouri and likes to write politics at both the state and federal levels. Kelton joined the Missouri Times in April 2022

www.themissouritimes.com

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