Tony Harbison’s campaign is built on a solid foundation of conservative principles and a deep commitment to the community. As a self-made business owner in Missouri’s tree industry and president of the Iron County Farm Bureau, Harbison brings a wealth of experience and leadership to his candidacy. His dedication to public service and community development is evident through his active roles in various local organizations.

“I am running for state representative to protect and defend our conservative rural way of life,” said Harbison. “Our community deserves a representative who will fight for our rights, invest in quality education for every child, and support our farmers and small businesses. I am committed to ensuring that our voices are heard in Jefferson City.”

Harbison’s mission is clear: to defend Missouri’s conservative values and improve the quality of life for all residents. His campaign focuses on key issues such as expanding access to high-speed internet, improving rural infrastructure and roads, and supporting the agricultural community. Harbison understands the challenges faced by rural Missourians and is dedicated to finding practical solutions.

“Our community needs reliable infrastructure and access to modern technology to thrive,” Harbison added. “I will work tirelessly to expand high-speed internet access and improve our roads, ensuring that our rural areas are not left behind. We must invest in our future while preserving the best of our past.”

With over 40 years of marriage to his wife, Jan, Harbison’s family values are at the core of his campaign. He is a proud father of two and grandfather of six, and his dedication to family and community is unwavering. As chair of the Iron County Soil and Water Board and the Iron County Republican Central Committee, Harbison has demonstrated his ability to lead and advocate for his community effectively.

“I am committed to representing our community with integrity and dedication,” said Harbison. “My experience as a business owner and grassroots leader has prepared me to take on the challenges we face and to make a positive impact in the state legislature.”

For more information, please contact the campaign at tonyharbisonformissouri@gmail.com or visit the Facebook page Tony Harbison for Missouri.

“I’m working hard to preserve the best of yesterday and build a better tomorrow with proven conservative values,” Harbison concluded. “Together, we can ensure a brighter future for our community and state.”

The post Press Release: Tony Harbison running for southeast Missouri state representative appeared first on The Missouri Times.

Keith Baxter is a cattleman in Rogersville, Mo. he’s dealt with the effects of the drought first-hand.

“It’s kinda been a one-two punch for us down here,” Baxter said of rising fertilizer and gas prices coinciding with the wet spring and summer drought. “We couldn’t lay as much fertilizer as we wanted, and then we ran out of pastures for grazing.”

Baxter, like many cattlemen in Missouri, has been forced to feed his winter food reserves to his cattle during the summer, meaning he will likely be forced to scrape by come the cold months.

Baxter even resorted to letting his nearly 200 cattle forage for food, letting them wander to find anything green.

“We had to keep close tabs on the herds … we had issues with cattle getting out,” he said. “Obviously they’re going to go look for something green to eat instead of hay.”

Logan Brittingham is a row crop and cattle farmer in Poplar Bluff, Mo.. He farms with his grandpa on their family-owned farm, something he’s done since he was 13.

“It was a real wet spring, all the crops were late getting in … about a month late,” he said. “It’s just been a rough year for farmers, we’ve seen the two extremes … it’s affected every farm around my area.”

Brittingham hasn’t culled his heard yet, though he plans to, depending on how hay cutting goes.

Brittingham owns about 100 cattle and farms rice and soybeans as well, for him, the financial impact of the drought has been twofold. Brittingham was forced to sell cattle recently as a result of the drought.

“My irrigated land has been fine,” he said. “But my dryland — it’s gonna be an insurance farm this year.”

The financial impacts have been felt by both producers and consumers, as high gas prices, fertilizer and a lacking, oversaturated market have put many farmers in a tight spot.

“Even when we make profit, it’s just moving dollars around,” Baxter said of the high overhead costs associated with farming this year. “They’re (the consumers) spending a lot more money too, but it ain’t going to me — trust me.”

“The cost of everything, across the board, has come up,” Brittingham said.

Thankfully, some rain has mercifully made its way to the southern part of the state. Although Rogersville is still considered to be dealing with a severe drought and Poplar Bluff is dealing with a moderate drought, according to the federal drought tracker. 

Even while still dealing with severe drought issues, Baxter thinks things are starting to look up in Rogersville.

“The pressure has backed off a bit,” he said.

Baxter attributes the improvement of conditions as much to the rain as he does to the support of his rural community.

“Our local co-op has supplied support,” Baxter said. “We’re lucky to be surrounded by other family farms, sharing hay and helping each other.”

Characteristic of a farmer, Baxter feels optimistic about how he and the farmers around him will handle the lasting impacts of the drought going forward.

“This ain’t the first drought we ever been through down here,” he said. “It don’t make it easier, but we know what to do … It’s a good time to find out that you have good neighbors.”

Featured Image Courtesy of The High Plains Journal (Reagan Bluel)

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

The post Southern Missouri cattlemen give their input on a “tough year for farmers” appeared first on The Missouri Times.

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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Despite boasting Missouri’s number one crop in both acreage and monetary value, Missouri Soybeans hasn’t had a major presence at the fair for several years. That will change this time around, MoSoy will have its own set-up in the “Mizzou building” at the state fair, continuing the close relationship between The University of Missouri and MoSoy.

“Soy touches our lives every day,” Baylee Asbury, director of outreach and education for Missouri Soybeans said. “We want to make sure consumers are realizing how much of an impact it has.”

Missouri Soybeans will be all over the fair, complete with revamped branding and a new approach to connecting with consumers. MoSoy will have activities designed to engage young fair-goers and farmers alike in their space at the Mizzou building. The soybean organization will also provide the bio-diesel fuel used to power tram cars that will transport fair-goers around the grounds.

The new branding and approach coincide with the recent launch of MoSoy’s new revamped website. For Missouri Soybeans, the fair will be a tremendous opportunity to increase traffic to its newest tool.

“Our farmers have really invested in our new website and approach,” Asbury said. “They’ve invested, so we need to make sure it’s being used.”

MoSoy’s stand at the fair will be equipped with I-pad stations and QR codes all designed to lead consumers back to the website. The website focuses on making Missouri Soybeans a resource rather than just a farmer organization.

With 1,000s of visitors on the horizon, the state fair will give Missouri Soybeans a massive opportunity to gain momentum with its new branding and increased online presence.

“The Missouri State Fair is a great place for consumers to ask questions face to face,” Matt Wright, president of the Missouri Soybean Association said. “It is also a tremendous opportunity for us to share more about how much we care not only about the products we produce, but also about the land on which we grow them.”

MoSoy overhauled its social media presence last year, well before unveiling the new website.

However, as an organization that primarily supports farmers, Missouri Soybeans is being careful not to abandon the “boots on the ground” approach that is necessary when working in agriculture.

“We will continue to push our online presence, but also our on-the-ground presence,” Asbury said. “Our eyes are set on innovation.”

Featured Image Courtesy of the Missouri State Fair

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

The post Missouri Soybeans increases state fair presence, focuses on online branding appeared first on The Missouri Times.

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

The post Summer drought spurs decline in Missouri’s agriculture industries appeared first on The Missouri Times.

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

The post Parson signs executive order, Missouri’s drought response goes into action appeared first on The Missouri Times.

According to the state drought monitor, the southern portion of the state and a swath of the middle portion have been classified as abnormally dry, or dealing with a “moderate drought”. Parts of Carter, Oregon, Ripley and Howell counties, which sit on the Missouri-Arkansas border, have been classified as dealing with severe drought.

63% of the state is showing signs of drought. 

The drought has had effects on hay growth in particular, according to the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s weekly market report released earlier this week. The hay market itself is still stable, with hay not being too hard to find or buy. 

The real issue is that many farmers use the hay they cut to feed their livestock, including cattle.

“The bad part is dryness is causing some (cattlemen) to either already think of feeding something now or the more common solution is starting to cull cows and reducing herd size,” the report states.

This statement echoes the problem many cattlemen are facing across the state this summer. Should they cut hay and cull their herd? Or, should they wait for the possibility of more rain to cut hay later and keep their herd population?

For many farmers, it can be a tough choice. 

The cattle market has become oversaturated with supply. An influx of culling cows from neighboring states also experiencing drought and the high number of cattle being culled within Missouri borders has caused the market to take a significant hit. This makes culling cattle a risky, and potentially costly choice. 

“Many producers are being forced to reduce herd size as there just isn’t enough grass to maintain inventory levels, and feeding this early in the year isn’t feasible given lower hay production,” the report states. “The market took a big hit mid-week.”

Waiting for rain can be just as risky, as the drought has shown no signs of letting up in some parts of the state. 

“There have certainly been years, without question, when people have had to start feeding hay in August. But to start feeding hay in June or the first of July, that’s pretty tough,” Christi Miller, communications director with the Missouri Department of Agriculture said. Miller and her Husband raise cattle in Miller County, near Eldon

“That’s hard to keep going all year long. If you’ve got to start feeding your hay and then hope that it lasts all through the winter — so that’s pretty tough,” she added.

Miller and the Department of Agriculture are aware of the difficult decision many cattlemen are facing in parts of the state. The choice to cull their cattle and sell for cheap in a saturated market or risk running out of food for their bovines.

“So now you have to make that decision — Do you feed hay? Do you find find a place where there is grass, something to feed those cows or do you send them?” Miller said. “The market is not quite as good, so nobody wants to give their cattle away. When there’s a rush on the market prices drop, so that’s a challenge for our producers too.”

When asked about what a farmer should do when faced with an ugly reality such as this, Miller invoked the classic philosophy many farmers are known for. Their optimism in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. 

“Farmers are the ultimate optimists, right? We’re the eternal optimist, whether we put a seed in the ground or we breed cows, or whatever we do, we’re always eternal optimists,” she said. “We’re in it because we love it. I mean, people in agriculture do it because they love it or you don’t stay in it for very long. So we certainly love it, but it is difficult decisions.”

The fix to the problem may not be as simple as getting a few inches of rain on any given day. While a big one-day downpour would be welcome, it would take a longer, sustained period of rainfall to produce an amount of hay that would put farmers’ minds at ease, Miller said.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture offers a hay directory, available to any farmer that needs hay. The purpose of the directory is to help any farmer in need of hay by helping them find available hay close to them. While not a fix-all solution, the directory is still a valuable resource to get hay to farmers that need it, and possibly save them from having to make hard decisions.

Gov. Parson is also stepping in, which is no surprise considering the former Polk County Sherriff owns and operates a cattle operation near Bolivar, Mo., in the southwest region of the state.

“​​This administration, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Conservation are watching the drought situation across Missouri very closely,” Parson said. “We are ready to act if the situation worsens. As a farmer, I know the harmful effects a drought can have on farmers and Missouri agri-businesses, and as Governor, I will do what I can to assist in any way possible.”

The new drought index for Missouri will release later this week, providing new data on the ongoing conditions. The trend doesn’t seem to be stopping, as heat and dry weather are predicted to rage on through the end of the summer.

Editor’s Note: Gov. Parson announced a press conference regarding the drought at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. The press conference will be held in the Governor’s Office in the Capitol building and will take place Thursday at 2 p.m.

Featured Image: Courtesy: Gov. Parson Facebook

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Once upon a time, there was a little girl who had to grow up fast. It’s not your typical fairy tale, but it’s one that is a bit more familiar than any featuring an omnipotent godmother. 

It’s the story of Holly Thompson Rehder, a Republican state senator, who candidly shares her upbringing navigating abuse, addiction, and poverty in her upcoming memoir, “Cinder Girl.”

Thompson Rehder forgoes flashy sentences. She doesn’t dilute any details, even of the more lurid, intimate memories. 

Instead, she paints a realistic picture of the trauma her mother and sisters faced, the sexual abuse she painstakingly endured at the hands of someone who was supposed to be her protector, and how, as a young teenager, she learned to “stretch a dollar” to provide for her own daughter. 

But she also details how she left — people and situations — and didn’t give up on herself. She was her own advocate, managing to care for her family, become a successful businesswoman, and enter an increasingly volatile world of politics. 

It’s a raw, emotional, but truthful recollection, expelling any stigma regarding her circumstances. It’s Thompson Rehder’s own story, one she hopes will be a lifeline to those, like her, who have felt forgotten or left struggling in the shadows. 

The purpose of her book is twofold, she said: “Hope for those who did grow up like me, who are pushed down in the stigma of shame because of addiction or sexual abuse or domestic violence. But also for the people who have the ability to affect change — that they do it, and realize that they have the power to do that.” 

Thompson Rehder wants her book to shed a light on the reality of so many Americans who are struggling — whether it be with abuse, addiction, poverty, trauma, or a combination — so well-meaning lawmakers can enact change that doesn’t ultimately “continue to trap intelligent women in poverty.” 

That’s her own goal as a lawmaker, the purpose at the forefront of her mind as she served in the House and now in the upper chamber. It’s the catalyst for her championing a prescription drug monitoring program and for her tenacious fight for legislation aiding sexual assault survivors to be heard (and passed) on the floor. 

“It’s just a tremendous honor, the fact that God would give me this opportunity to be a voice for my people and to hopefully be illustrative enough on the floor in my lawmaking that helps others who, thank God, haven’t seen that side of life but are in the position to help people from that side of life,” Thompson Rehder said. “It’s a tremendous honor, and I want to use every tool I have.” 

The title of her memoir is a reference to the 1998 movie “Ever After” starring Drew Barrymore. It’s a type of “Cinderella story,” but one where Barrymore’s character frees herself. 

The theme of the movie and Thompson Rehder’s memoir are one and the same, she said: “It’s about somebody who did grow up rough, but she fought and still had compassion and cared about other people getting out of similar situations. She’s not bitter and didn’t blame other people. She worked her way out, and it’s not because some prince came around and saved her.” 

Throughout the book, it’s impossible not to connect in some way with Thompson Rehder and her experiences. She deftly pulls in her readers, opening her heart and home and experiences. 

“Cinder Girl: Growing Up on America’s Fringe,” from Post Hill Press, is out Aug. 9. It’s available for preorder on Amazon. 

Kaitlyn Schallhorn

Kaitlyn Schallhorn was the editor in chief of The Missouri Times from 2020-2022. She joined the newspaper in early 2019 after working as a reporter for Fox News in New York City.

Throughout her career, Kaitlyn has covered political campaigns across the U.S., including the 2016 presidential election, and humanitarian aid efforts in Africa and the Middle East.

She is a native of Missouri who studied journalism at Winthrop University in South Carolina. She is also an alumna of the National Journalism Center in Washington, D.C.

Contact Kaitlyn at kaitlyn@themissouritimes.com.

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The plant, slated to open its doors in 2026, will have an annual production capacity of 62 million bushels of soybeans, according to a press release from the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council (MSMC).

Southeast Missouri is the state’s largest regional producer of soybeans. Cargill’s plant will provide 45 new jobs to the area once it opens.

The company was unable to provide exact wage offerings due to “competitive reasons” according to Bridget Christenson, media relations director for Cargill.

The company guaranteed to pay “more than double” the county average in an email exchange with the Missouri Times. The current average hourly wage of Pemiscot county is $15.30, according to a 2020 report by the Missouri Economic Research Center.

Gary Wheeler, CEO and executive director of the Missouri Soybean Association (MSA), sees the Cargill plant as a major investment in Missouri’s agricultural economy.

“The dividend (of past Cargill projects) has been, you know, 10 times of what the investment has been,” Wheeler said. “Cargill has been a great partner with Missouri soybean farmers. And it’s been proven four or five times over the past 20 years. And that’s the reason why we’re excited to have Cargill.”

Cargill currently employs nearly 1,200 people in Missouri across nine locations.

Pemiscot county was chosen as the preferred location for a soybean crush plant after about a year of research, Wheeler said. The access to railways, the Mississippi River, and two interstates made the area an attractive choice for the plant, as Cargill specializes in receiving, processing and shipping agricultural products.

Wheeler added that the new plant will help Missouri strengthen both the state and national supply chains for soybean products and oil; as well as providing a healthier market for soybean farmers both in Southeast Missouri and the surrounding states.

“We did research … specifically with the University of Missouri. How can we add value to a bushel of beans before it leaves the borders of Missouri?” Wheeler said. “We wanted to make sure that domestic use was priority number one, that’s where we went with it.”

“And that’s what’s important for the farmers down there. To add additional competition for the sale of their bushel of beans,” Wheeler added.

Additional competition will ideally increase revenue for farmers in the area, Wheeler said.

The project is receiving state assistance through the Missouri Works program, which is designed to provide tax incentives to businesses looking to create jobs in Missouri.

Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe worked alongside the MSA during the process of securing the Cargill plant.

“This facility will support family farms and efforts to source more quality products from right here in Missouri,” Kehoe said in a press release. “I’m grateful to Cargill and all those who worked together to make this project a reality, and am confident it will benefit Missourians for years to come.”

The MSA is currently “aggressively” pursuing two more areas to build agricultural processing plants, Wheeler said. Specifics about such plans were confidential and could not be shared with The Missouri Times as of Wednesday afternoon.

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