Jan. 22, 2021  Missouri Agriculture's 2020 wins As the Department welcomed in the new year, we took a look back at some of the great things we accomplished while serving farmers, ranchers and Missourians across the state. The year 2020 brought unique challenges, but also unique opportunities for our team to better serve, promote and protect agriculture. Looking back at some key accomplishments: - The Missouri General Assembly appropriated $20 million in federal CARES ACT funding for the Department to create the Missouri Meat and Poultry Processing Grant Program. The grant program was created to support Missouri meat and poultry processing facilities to address supply chain disruptions as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
- The Missouri Grown program sold and distributed more than 450 holiday gift boxes to more than 34 states across the country. Each box was filled with Missouri Grown member items, helping to promote Missouri grown and Missouri made products.
- The Missouri Industrial Hemp State Plan was approved by the USDA.
- The Missouri State Fair Youth Livestock Show saw a 12% increase in 4-H and FFA livestock entries.
- The State Milk Board inspected an additional 320 dairy farms.
- The Grain Inspection Services team designed and created a workstation shield, allowing their employees to continue working safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. The design concept was shared with grain inspection companies nationwide.
- Our Meat Inspection Team worked with processors throughout the state to accommodate flexible inspection schedules, helping ensure continuity of business.
- The Plant Industries division took in more than 1,200 reports of unsolicited mystery seeds in Missouri and helped coordinate with the USDA.
To stay up to date with latest news from the Department, click here! |  Latest update on pet food investigation On Dec. 30, 2020, the Missouri Rapid Response Team (MRRT) was activated in partnership with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Missouri Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The team was activated after test results showed high levels of aflatoxin in certain brands of dog food. As of January 11, FDA had been made aware of more than 70 dogs that had died and more than 80 that were sick after consuming the contaminated food. The FDA, in cooperation with the state departments of agriculture for Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington, is investigating certain Midwestern Pet Food products that may contain potentially fatal levels of aflatoxin. On Jan. 11, 2021, Midwestern Pet Foods expanded the recall to include additional products that contain corn and were made in their Oklahoma manufacturing plant. The MRRT has been working to help provide additional personnel support so the investigation could proceed more efficiently and effectively over a wider area. They partnered with the University of Missouri and labs in neighboring states to conduct testing on collected samples of pet food, and began conducting retail audits to ensure remaining product was pulled from store shelves. Our team continues to complete recall effectiveness checks for the recalled pet food lots. We are also continuing to sample other products from the manufacturer, and are working closely with pet breeders and veterinarians across the state. To learn the latest information about the FDA's recall, click here! |  Director of Agriculture announces funding for local
4-H, FFA youth service projects Today, Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn announced that 14 youth groups from across Missouri were awarded grants from the Missouri Department of Agriculture's 2021 Building Our American Communities grant program. Six local chapters of the National FFA Organization and eight Missouri 4-H clubs statewide have been awarded funds for their community service projects this year. "It's important that we continue to support youth as they seek leadership opportunities to serve their communities," said Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn. "I am so proud of each of the Missouri FFA chapters and 4-H clubs that were awarded these grants and thank them for showing up and making a difference in their community. They are truly inspiring to all of us in Missouri agriculture. " Each of the 2021 awardees will receive $500 toward their projects, which may include upgrades or additions to existing facilities, grounds or buildings, such as fairgrounds, parks or community centers used by local organizations. The Building Our American Communities program has been supporting youth projects since the 1970s. Each year, youth organizations throughout Missouri submit proposals for consideration for the grants that support specific projects within each community. The grants are funded through Missouri's Agriculture Development Fund under an agreement with the USDA. To learn more about the Building Our American Communities grant program, and to see a list of the 2020 grant recipients, click here! | COVID-19 Testing Update The Department of Health and Senior Services has compiled a comprehensive list of COVID-19 testing sites throughout the state. Please call the site you wish to visit before visiting the hospital or testing location to determine testing eligibility. Many sites still require a physician order or evaluation before testing is approved. Jan. 25: Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Center, Kansas City Jan. 25: Pressure Performing Arts Center, Mexico Jan. 26: Victor Roberts Bldg, St. Louis Jan. 26: Bethany Community Center, Bethany Jan. 26: Highland Elementary, St. Louis Jan. 27: Worlds of Fun, Kansas City Jan. 27: Compass Health Network, St. Peters Jan. 27: Southern Missouri Community Health Center, West Plains Jan. 27: Viburnum Medical Clinic, Viburnum Jan. 27: NAACP St. Louis County Building, St. Louis Jan. 28: Northwest Health Services, St. Joseph Jan. 28: Beverly Hills Shopping Center, St. Louis Jan. 28: Your Community Health Center, Rolla Jan. 28: Cap America, Fredericktown Jan. 28-29: Kansas City Zoo, Kansas City Jan. 29: CareSTL Health, St. Louis Jan. 29: Jefferson County Fair Grounds, Hillsboro For the full list of testing locations, click here! To view an interactive map of COVID-19 testing sites, click here! Photo of the Week Cold days and winter weather have us keeping warm inside, but the cattle that call Missouri home, like the Hereford pictured below, don't seem to mind. 2020 Focus on Missouri Agriculture Photo Contest Children's Barnyard Winner: Wayline in the Snow, submitted by Beau Ann Graves   | 
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