Missouri Western State University is making applying to college a little easier for students in the St. Joseph School District through a new partnership, 

The two recently signed an agreement for a direct admissions program, that will cut down the information needed for students applying for college, streamlining the process slightly. 

President Elizabeth Kennedy says college application paperwork can be complicated 

"Basically, what we’re doing is just taking out some of those requirements, getting the basics, the very basics that we need for information, taking that and putting it into our system so that we can get either an admissions recruiter, an advisor, whoever it is, connected immediately to walk them through the rest of it,” Kennedy tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  

 Kennedy says this process will make the difficulty of applying for college easier, possibly drawing more local students to MoWest. 

"Ask yourself the question, if you had to do something and it was very complicated and difficult, or you had to do something and you just had to do a little bit, you’d probably go for option B,” Kennedy explains.  “And that’s kind of our goal.” 

Kennedy says students already matriculate well from St. Joseph to MoWest, this agreement is more about eliminating barriers to getting into college 

"We know we’re affordable, so that’s not a barrier, we know that we have high quality education, what’s the other piece that might prohibit or restrict people from coming and that’s ease of application,” Kennedy says. 

The partnership will begin being offered to district graduates of the class of 2026.  This is the first partnership of its kind between a university and a school district in Missouri. 

St. Joseph School Superintendent Ashly McGinnis says this is a great opportunity for students, especially with all of the workforce growth opportunities at the university, such as the Houlne Center for Convergent Technology.  

"Houlne Center is an awesome expansion almost onto our Hillyard programming, and so we are excited to be able to offer those opportunities for our kids,” McGinnis says. 

Direct admission guarantees admission to graduates of Central, Benton and Lafayette High Schools that meet minimum academic criteria 

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Agreement between MoWest and St. Joseph School District adds ease to applying for college

Missouri Gov. Mike
Kehoe has appointed LeAndra Beauford of St. Joseph to the Missouri
Developmental Disabilities Council.

Beauford is a
family navigation manager for Progressive Community Services and a certified
family support provider. She has served as a substitute teacher in the St.
Joseph School District. Beauford received a certificate in legal studies from
Missouri Western State University.

Keho also
appointed Frank Kruse of Smithville to the Conservation Commission.

Kruse is the
president of Martin Hill Advisors and previously served as the vice-president
of business development and marketing for Sekisui XenoTech LLC. Kruse is a
member of several conservation organizations, including the Missouri
Conservation Heritage Foundation, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership,
and Johnny Morris Institute of Fisheries.

Kruse previously
served as an international marketing representative for the Missouri Department
of Agriculture.&nbsp; Kruse holds a master’s
degree in economics from North Carolina State University.

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Beauford appointed to Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council

KFEQ Morning Sports

KFEQ Morning News

BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Lawmakers voted to repeal the Missouri Incarceration Reimbursement Act, a 1988 law now seen as a property rights violation and barrier to a fresh start after prison

One of the&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB495&amp;year=2025&amp;code=R" target="_blank">most-watched bills</a>&nbsp;approved by Missouri lawmakers this year put the state&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/26/gov-mike-kehoe-signs-bill-to-put-st-louis-police-under-state-control/">back in control</a>&nbsp;of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

The police takeover provisions made the bill one of the most controversial of the session, and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/05/civil-rights-law-firm-sues-to-block-missouri-from-taking-over-st-louis-police/">sparked a lawsuit</a>, set for trial Nov. 5. But tucked inside, and noticed only by those watching closely, the bill also includes bipartisan provisions ending the practice of seizing assets from incarcerated people that are unrelated to their crimes.

Known as the&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=217.825&amp;bid=11876&amp;hl=" target="_blank">Missouri Incarceration Reimbursement Act</a>, the law was passed in 1988, when any idea intended to make life harder for criminals received a favorable hearing. Now, the law is viewed as a violation of property rights and a barrier to a law-abiding life.

“We need to pay our debts to society,” state Rep. Tara Peters, a Rolla Republican, said in an interview with The Independent. “Those who have paid their debt to society should have every opportunity to have a fresh start and to get out on the right foot when it comes time to go back into society.”

Peters sponsored a bill with the repeal, as did state Sen. Stephen Webber, a Columbia Democrat. It was added to the St. Louis police takeover bill to persuade Democrats in the Senate to end a filibuster.

Once enacted, it is one of two bills that will allow people under the control of the state to keep assets they would use when released. The other stops the state from taking&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/09/missouri-governor-signs-bill-banning-state-from-seizing-foster-kids-benefits/">foster children’s Social Security benefits</a>&nbsp;to cover the cost of foster care.

The incarceration reimbursement law was intended to take money from inmates to cover the cost of maintaining them in prison. The most recovered over the past five years is $523,000 in fiscal 2024, while the cost of operating the Department of Corrections is greater than $1 billion.

In the fiscal year that ended June 30, efforts to enforce the act brought in only $136,000.

“People who are incarcerated by the state should not have to pay like it’s a hotel or an Airbnb,” said Amy Malinowski, director of the Missouri office of the MacArthur Justice Center. “It’s a prison. It’s the state’s responsibility to maintain those prisons, not the people who are detained there.”

Missouri has laws allowing prosecutors to seize assets gained in a criminal enterprise, and the courts can enforce restitution for stolen or damaged property as part of a sentence. The incarceration reimbursement act allows the attorney general to seek other assets, such as a family inheritance or proceeds from the sale of a house, that are unrelated to the crime.

State Rep. Brad Christ, a Republican from St. Louis County, sponsored the St. Louis police bill and chaired a committee where Peters’ bill was discussed in February. It was an easy decision to accept Democratic requests to include the repeal, he said in an interview.

“Democrats support it from a criminal justice aspect and a number of Republicans supported this, too, because it’s just basic property rights,” Christ said.

Missouri’s prisons hold about 24,000 people. In any given year, about 11,000 will be released on parole or because they have completed their sentence. The goal of prison is to punish and to prepare inmates to live within society’s rules, Christ said.

The seized money can be an important part of avoiding a return to prison, he said.

“Whatever it may be, whether it’s two grand, 20 grand or 200 grand,” Christ said, “to knock someone down a peg while they are in prison, I thought, was a little unjust after their sentence has been fulfilled.”

Under the law, people sentenced to state prison are required to make a statement of their assets when they arrive in custody and, on release, allow the department to garnish their wages for five years.

The attorney general can file a lawsuit to seize any assets found or received by the incarcerated person.&nbsp;

With the repeal, the Department of Corrections is no longer requiring the statement of assets on entry, agency spokeswoman Karen Pojmann said in an email. But any current garnishments will be stopped only if the person making the payments petitions the courts to end them, she said.

At the House hearing in February, St. Louis attorney Bevis Schock, who has represented clients in civil litigation against the department, said he has won judgments that the attorney general then tried to seize.&nbsp;

Schock said he believes the law is unconstitutional and expected a court would rule that way in the future. But he still urged lawmakers to act.

“I hate criminals,” Schock said. “I don’t want to help them all. I want them to go to jail, but a criminal’s property should be as sacred as the property of a non-criminal.”

New Missouri law means state is no longer allowed to seize assets of prison inmates

The newest class enshrined into the St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame were all great at what they did, but one word can define many of them: Impact.  

Longtime KFEQ broadcaster and 'Voice of the Griffons' Bob Orf says at the time, he didn't realize the impact he was having on others around him

"People will tell you that later on, and you didn't have any idea that you had that kind of impact, so it's a big deal," Orf tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. 

Orf says reflecting on his career and adding this accomplishment to the list, adds a lot to an already historic legacy 

"I hate to say it's a cherry on top, but it kind of is, it's really cool to have all the Missouri Western games for a long time, got to do some boxing matches, it was a lot of fun, it really was," Orf says.

Another member that had quite the impact on area football teams was the coach Don Tabor, who coached at Bishop LeBlond and Benton.

Mary Jane Tabor, Tabor's wife, says she heard from many about the impact her late husband had on their lives

"We're grateful for that and he'd be very pleased and happy," Tabor proudly says.

To see her husband join the ranks of the immortal on the walls of the hall of fame, Tabor says she and the family are very pleased and happy

"And very grateful for the honor that's been bestowed upon him," Tabor says.  "And he would say that this is really nice, he would appreciate it very much."

Outside of the hall of fame class, another individual was honored with the Bill Snyder Woman of Impact award

And for the first time, it was awarded to a student athlete in former Central golfer Ali Perry

"It feels so, so awesome that my accomplishments are being shown and everything and all my hard work is paying off," Perry says.  "It really feels so, so good."

Perry earned the award after an outstanding freshman season at Arkansas-Fort Smith, and says in her sophomore season she's hoping to earn more Top 10 and top five finishes

"I mean it would be great to win one or two tournaments, and I know that I'm dedicated enough to and stuff, but I just have expectations that I can score in the Top 10 in almost all of the tournaments," Perry explains.

Perry was named the MIAA Freshman of the Year and won the NCAA Division II Central Regional Individual Championship in Edmond, Oklahoma, helping to qualify her teammates to compete in the  NCAA National Championship.

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

New St. Joseph Sports Hall of Fame class filled with impact makers

In Missouri, nearly 42% of counties are defined as maternity care deserts, higher than the nationwide average. Rural families face fewer options and greater distances to get OB-GYN care

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/megcunningham/">Meg Cunningham</a>

For Dr. Kelsey Davis-Humes, practicing medicine in rural Missouri is a way of life. She’s on call almost constantly in northeast Missouri’s Scotland County, where she cares for patients from their birth until their death.

As an osteopath practicing in a rural community, part of her job includes caring for patients throughout their pregnancies.

“I do inpatient hospital coverage,” Davis-Humes said. “I deliver babies and do women’s health. I do pediatric care, newborn care. I am in the clinic. I go to the nursing home.”

While her area hasn’t lost an obstetrics unit in recent years, Davis-Humes has seen the impact on the state as a whole as pregnancy care becomes more difficult to access.

Missouri has lost 11 obstetric units since 2009, with seven of those in rural parts of the state, a&nbsp;<a href="https://rhrc.umn.edu/publication/loss-of-hospital-based-obstetric-services-in-rural-counties-in-the-united-states-2010-2022/" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;from the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center found. The closure of hospital obstetric units means women have to travel farther for their appointments and their deliveries.

As the units have closed, more parts of the state have fallen into maternity care deserts — areas without access to birth units or maternity care providers.

Based on 2023 data, Missouri is marked by more maternity care deserts than the nation as a whole. March of Dimes&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marchofdimes.org/peristats/state-summaries/missouri?lev=1&amp;obj=3&amp;reg=99&amp;slev=4&amp;sreg=29&amp;stop=55&amp;top=3" target="_blank">data</a>&nbsp;shows that 41.7% of Missouri’s counties are classified as maternity care deserts, compared to 32.6% nationwide.

Part of the problem for rural providers? Medicaid payments. The government-sponsored health insurance plans do not reimburse obstetric care fully, meaning for every baby they deliver, the hospital takes a loss.

“Every hospital who does birth services loses money,” said Alison Williams, vice president of clinical quality improvement at the Missouri Hospital Association. Williams also leads Missouri’s Perinatal Quality Collaborative, a statewide task force dedicated to improving outcomes for moms and babies across the state.

In Missouri, about 40% of the state’s births were&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2023/05/12/missouri-postpartum-medicaid-expansion-2023/" target="_blank">covered by Medicaid</a>&nbsp;in 2023, KFF&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/key-facts-about-hospitals/?entry=use-of-hospital-care-pregnancy-amp-hospitalizations" target="_blank">data</a>&nbsp;shows.

As Medicaid cuts under President Donald Trump’s budget plan begin to materialize, anywhere from 130,000 to 170,000 Missourians are expected to lose their coverage over the next five years. The budget also changes how states can pay for Medicaid patients — and how much.

“We are going to be paid less,” said Craig Thompson, the CEO of Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton.

That could put rural hospitals with obstetric units at higher risk when it comes to continuing to offer their services, and will require more creative thinking from Missouri and its health care providers.

Rural Missouri’s maternity care shortage&nbsp;

Missouri’s health care challenges are compounded when it comes to maternity care. As health care services become more difficult to access, chronic conditions rise and lead to more complicated pregnancies.

Then, obstetric providers and care teams must be prepared to take on more high-risk pregnancies.

In Missouri, 68.7% of counties have a high burden of chronic health conditions and a high rate of preterm births, March of Dimes data shows, higher than the nationwide average. An estimated 45.5% of women living in Missouri had one or more chronic health conditions, compared to 37.8% nationwide.

“In general, you see more high-risk patients,” Davis-Humes said. “People are sicker, they’re more unhealthy, so we just see more patients that have more of these high risk conditions during their pregnancy.”

An added layer is the growing distance that rural women in Missouri must travel to get their care. Women living in maternity deserts — just over 40% of the counties in Missouri — have to travel 3.6 times farther than women living in areas with full access to maternity care.

That means things like prenatal care and regular checkups are even farther out of reach, and missing appointments raises the risk during pregnancy even more.

That’s showing up in Clinton and impacting how Thompson and his team think about maternity care. At their hospital, 63% of about 350 deliveries that happen every year are considered high-risk.

“Many Medicaid patients don’t have access to transportation, either they cannot afford transportation or there is no public transportation in rural Missouri,” Thompson said. “So without transportation access, people don’t have the ability to access that prenatal care, which then causes poor birth outcomes.”

And with high-risk pregnancies, soon-to-be moms in rural areas are drawn to more robust hospital systems with more speciality providers.

The downside to that, Williams said, is people who have the ability to travel to a larger hospital often take their commercial insurance with them, driving up the rate of deliveries that are covered by Medicaid for their nearby hospital and making it even harder to continue providing labor and delivery services.

“It creates an even larger, disproportionate share of Medicaid and vulnerable patients, or patients who don’t end up engaging in prenatal services,” Williams said.

As a hospital leader, Thompson and his team are committed to continuing to provide obstetric services in their hospital. But because so many of their births are covered by Medicaid and cost more than what they are paid, they rely on other services to cover that loss.

“If we were to look at those services on their own, they would be a significant financial drain to the system,” Thompson said. “We are kind of robbing Peter to pay Paul, to some extent.”

Plus, obstetricians and gynecologists, like most other medical providers, are looking for work-life balance, such as splitting their patient loads with multiple providers and other upsides that often come with working in a more populated area.

It can be difficult for rural providers to balance all of those needs, especially since monitoring labor and deliveries are so sporadic.

“If you have enough providers, you will likely have enough (patient) volume,” Williams said of rural providers looking to keep their birth units open. “The challenge is making sure you can maintain enough providers to where they have that work-life balance.”

What do health leaders want to see for OB-GYN providers moving forward?&nbsp;

As providers look to fill the gaps in maternal care, they’re leaning on innovative ways to ensure that every Missouri mother has access to adequate care.

For example, providers in Harrison County, which sits in northwest Missouri along the Iowa border, created a partnership with North Kansas City Hospital for labor and deliveries. Expecting mothers get prenatal care in the county, but travel to Kansas City for their deliveries. Afterward, patients are handed back to their providers in Harrison County.

Those types of partnerships are key to ensuring that mothers are followed every step of the way throughout their pregnancies, Williams said. Creating similar partnerships is one of the state’s goals moving forward.

“It’s important to have that good flow of prenatal records,” Williams said. “It’s important to have that connectivity, that handoff for the patient, so the patient feels like people know what’s going on with their care.”

The state is also focusing on recruitment and retention as part of the path to solving the problem. Davis-Humes mentors many aspiring doctors, who say that the workload of being on call constantly in rural communities is a deterrent for them.

“You’ve got to have people that are willing to come to an area and wear multiple hats, and also be willing to be called in in the middle of the night, too,” she said.

But she also wants to see more unique ways of encouraging rural providers to continue providing a service that makes them lose money.

“I think the state needs to put their money where their mouth is,” Davis-Humes said.

“We keep seeing all these birth centers close. We keep seeing that OB has a hard time making money … I think there should be some type of reward there,” she said. “You keep your OB center open, every year you get some sort of incentive from the state that says ‘Thank you … we’re going to help support you so you can continue to keep that OB unit open.’”

Although hospital executives are expecting to reassess their finances and the services they provide in the coming years as a result of Medicaid cuts, they are encouraged that they are seeing a new willingness to discuss the financial difficulties rural providers face.

“At some point, there has got to be real reform around reimbursement for rural health care services,” Thompson said. “We’re just not the same as our urban and suburban counterparts.”

This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/08/22/maternity-care-closures-rural-missouri-hospitals-ob-gyn/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Missouri</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a&nbsp;<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.

As rural maternity care units close, Missouri families lose options

ATCHISON COUNTY, Missouri —One person was injured in an accident just after 3p.m. Saturday in Atchison County, Missouri.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Chevy Silverado driven by a 53-year-old Platte City man was southbound on Interstate 29 nine miles north of Rock Port.&nbsp; The pickup traveled off the east side of the road, crossed into northbound lanes, struck a fence, a ditch and rolled onto its top.

The driver was air-lifted to University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. man airlifted to hospital after pickup rollover crash

KFEQ Week in Review

ANDREW COUNTY —Four people were injured in an accident just before 5p.m. Friday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Ram 1500 driven by an 18-year-old Highland, Kansas, man was westbound on Route O near county Road 290 just west of Cosby. The driver lost control of the pickup. It traveled off the north side of the road, struck the ground with the front bumper, traveled down an embankment and struck the ground a second time.&nbsp; The vehicle was driven to a controlled stop.

EMS transported the driver and three passengers including a 19-year-old man and an 18-year-old man from St. Joseph and a 19-year-old woman from Sargent, Nebraska to Mosaic Life Care. Only the driver was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

2 teens from St. Joe among 4 injured in pickup crash

CALDWELL COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just before 7p.m. Friday in Caldwell County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2013 GMC Yukon driven by a 44-year-old Cowgil man was westbound on Highway F three miles south of Kingston. The driver failed to stop at the stop sign at MO 13.&nbsp; A northbound 2022 Ford Escape driven by a 20-year-old Braymer woman struck the Yukon.

EMS transported the Ford driver to Mosaic Life Care and the driver and a passenger in the Yukon to Cameron Regional Medical Center.&nbsp; All three were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

3 hospitalized after SUVs collide on Missouri highway

December corn closed down 1/4 cent per bushel at $4.11 1/2 and March corn was down 1 cent at $4.28 3/4. November soybeans closed up 2 1/2 cents at $10.58 1/2 and January soybeans were up 3 1/4 cents at $10.77. December KC wheat closed down 5 cents at $5.21, December Chicago wheat was down 2 1/2 cents at $5.27 1/4 and December Minneapolis wheat was unchanged cents at $5.90.

December corn finished 6 1/4 cents higher at $4.11 1/2. March corn also finished 6 1/4 cents higher at $4.28 3/4. November beans rose 16 cents for the week at $10.58 1/2 and January beans finished up 15 1/2 cents at $10.77. Kansas City September closed down 9 at $4.98, Chicago September finished down 1 3/4, and Minneapolis December finished up .0075 at $5.90.

Soybeans got a boost and rose for the second straight day. Although pod counts are being reported as record large in several key states, it is the drier outlook ahead that has traders buying. Also supportive for soybeans was the bean oil strength and the EPA decision to grant full waivers for only 63 of the petitions with partial waivers and some not approved at all. Wheat and corn flirted with both sides in slow trade Friday.

The live cattle complex continued to trade higher and higher as support remains plentiful for the market. Boxed beef demand has been stellar this week, and although we'd just seen a small trading thus far in the fed cash cattle complex, prices have been higher in the North. It's normal for traders to pull the contracts back somewhat ahead of the release of the monthly Cattle on Feed report, but at this point, it's looking like there's enough support in the marketplace to ease traders' nervousness about the report to continue to push the contracts higher.

A new day, and another new contract high summarizes the feeder cattle complex at this point. It will be interesting to note what happens on the monthly Cattle on Feed report as placements are expected to be lighter than a year ago, but how much lighter once again remains the question to be answered. It's been an incredible week for the feeder cattle complex as the market has been able to close higher every single day.

The lean hog complex made a late-week rally as the nearby contracts were successful trading upward of $1.00 higher into Friday's noon hour. Some of the market's support is stemming from the strong fundamental showing late in the week, but more than that, it seems that traders have regained their confidence, as fundamental support throughout the week has been spotty.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/08/22143712/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Commodity markets daily recap

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins said the USDA will no longer fund taxpayer dollars for solar panels on productive farmland or allow solar panels manufactured by foreign adversaries to be used in USDA projects. Subsidized solar farms have made it more difficult for farmers to access farmland by making it more expensive and less available. Within the last 30 years, Tennessee alone has lost over 1.2 million acres of farmland and is expected to lose two million acres by 2027. 

This problem isn’t just in Tennessee, because, since 2012, solar panels on farmland nationwide have increased by almost 50 percent. That’s why the Department took action. “Our prime farmland should not be wasted and replaced with Green New Deal-subsidized solar panels,” Rollins said. “One of the biggest barriers to entry for new and young farmers is access to land, and subsidized solar farms are making land much more expensive and less available.” 

Rollins blocks taxpayer dollars for solar panels on prime farmland

The U.S. and the European Union announced that they’ve agreed on a Framework of an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade. Among the key terms, the EU intends to eliminate tariffs on all U.S. industrial goods and provide preferential market access for a wide range of U.S. seafood and agricultural goods, including dairy products, fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, soybean oil, pork, and other products. 

The U.S. commits to applying the higher of either the U.S. Most Favored Nation Tariff Rate or a tariff rate of 15 percent, comprised of the MFN tariff and a reciprocal tariff, on originating goods from the European Union. Among some of the other commitments, the U.S. and EU share one of the world’s largest economic relationships. European companies commit to invest an additional $600 billion across strategic U.S. sectors through 2028. They’ll also work to eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers. 

U.S. and E.U. issue a joint statement on trade framework

December corn closed up 7 3/4 cents per bushel at $4.11 3/4 and March corn was up 7 3/4 cents at $4.26 3/4. November soybeans closed up 20 cents at $10.56 0/1 and January soybeans were up 18 1/2 cents at $10.73 3/4. December KC wheat closed up 2 3/4 cents at $5.26, December Chicago wheat was up 1 1/2 cents at $5.29 3/4 and December Minneapolis wheat was up 0.02 cents at $5.9100.

Both the corn and soy markets surged Thursday as the next 10 days holds a dry outlook for the Eastern Corn Belt and crop tour participants are finding diseases more prevalent than thought. Soybean oil rallied ahead of what is expected to be a decision on small refinery exemptions soon. Wheat markets were along for the ride in two-sided trade but in the end finished mixed to slightly higher.

Following Wednesday's massive surge in the futures complex, the live cattle complex&nbsp;traded mostly steady, seeming unsure of what it should do next. It remains incredibly supportive that boxed beef prices are continuing to trend higher, but the market has yet to really see what this week's trend is going to be in the fed cash cattle complex. There's been a light movement in the North at $245, which is steady to a tick higher than last week's weighted average, but the market hasn't seen enough trade, or any trade in the South, to say that it confidently knows what this week's trend is going to be. Regardless, it's anticipated that prices will trade at least steady if not a bit higher again this week simply because feedlot managers possess enough leverage in the marketplace to be able to roll their showlists over if prices aren't what they want. From a technical standpoint, it's impressive to see that futures contracts are trading mostly steady as traders want to support the complex more but also don't want to overdo anything.

The feeder cattle complex&nbsp;continued to trade mostly higher into Thursday's close after a rough start to the session, as traders are seeing plenty of support. Support from feeder cattle sales in the countryside, support from strong boxed beef demand, support from the light movement that the fed cash cattle complex has seen already this week, and, as of this point this week, total support from traders.

Although pork cutout values were down slightly, and the week's export report wasn't overly supportive, the lean hog complex traded mostly higher into Thursday's closing bell as traders have seemed to find some footing in the futures complex. The bulk of this week's cash hog trade is likely done, so any fundamental support is going to need to come from cutout values, and this morning the carcass price was down slightly.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/08/21152506/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Local opposition to utility-scale solar installations in rural areas is growing following the rapid pace of new solar developments in recent years. Land use concerns in areas largely dominated by agricultural production are fueling much of the community-level resistance. A new CoBank report says solar expansion could deliver the fastest, most affordable means for increasing the nation’s razor-thin energy reserves while driving new revenue streams for rural communities. 

CoBank says concerns around the pace of solar development in rural areas and the implications for land use in agricultural regions are warranted. A recent independent study found that about 15 percent of U.S. counties have some form of restriction on building new utility-scale solar energy projects. American Farmland Trust says more than 80 percent of new solar development will take place on agricultural lands over the next 20 years, with almost half that development on what’s considered “prime” land. 

Can large-scale solar coexist with agriculture in rural America?

The 2022 Census of Agriculture Typology Report shows that family farms make up 95 percent of all U.S. farms. The report, released by the National Agricultural Statistics Service, focuses on the “family farm,” which is defined as any farm where the majority of the business is owned by the producer and individuals related to the producer. 

“Classifying America’s 1.9 million farms to better reflect their variety is critical to evaluating and reporting on U.S. agriculture,” said NASS Administrator Joseph Parson. “Typology allows us to more meaningfully explore the demographics of who is farming and ranching today as well as their impact on the economy and communities across the country.” The data shows that small family farms with income under $350,000 per year make up 85 percent of all U.S. farms. They also have 39 percent of the total land in farms, and 14 percent of the value of all agricultural products sold. 

Family farms make up 95 percent of all U.S. Farms

Click <a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/08/20142159/30001-230-markets.wav">HERE</a> to listen to the closing markets

December corn closed up 3/4 cent per bushel at $4.04 and March corn was up 1 1/2 cents at $4.22. November soybeans closed up 2 1/4 cents at $10.36 0/1 and January soybeans were up 2 cents at $10.55 1/4. December KC wheat closed up 1 1/2 cents at $5.23 1/4, December Chicago wheat was up 7 cents at $5.28 1/4 and MIAX December Minneapolis wheat was up 0.02 cents at $5.8975.

The September U.S. Dollar Index is trading down 0.064 at 98.055. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 88.22 points at 44,834.05. December gold is up $29.30 at $3,388.00, September silver is up $0.44 at $37.77 and September copper is up $0.0050 at $4.4275. October crude oil is up $0.95 at $62.72, October heating oil is up $0.0297, October RBOB is up $0.0367 and September natural gas is down $0.016.

Corn futures were quietly higher Wednesday in slow trade, rejecting early weakness to finish higher. Reports from the ongoing Midwest annual crop tour showed more good numbers with record pod counts in Nebraska soy and higher corn yields and record ear counts in Indiana. However, there were some weather issues and tour participants found tip back on western and northern Illinois fields Wednesday, so perhaps some strength came from that. However, it is likely both Illinois and especially Iowa will show record potential when done. Some rust is being found in Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa fields, which could have a small impact on yield. Corn demand continues to be very good with two more sales to Colombia and Mexico announced on Wednesday amounting to 9 million bushels (mb). Corn sales and inspections continue to run at a solid pace, However, with Brazil's safrinha corn harvest nearing the finish line, they have become much more aggressive in selling corn, with shipping firm ANEC reporting Brazil would ship over 8 million metric tons (mmt) in August, 1.5 mmt higher than a year ago. IN EIA's weekly petroleum report ethanol production slipped 2% lower at 1.072 million barrels per day while stocks remained steady. Word from the University of Illinois is that the breakeven cost on corn, depending on the area, ranges from $4.64 to $4.94 with futures sitting at $4.06 currently. Funds remain net-short corn to the tune of 160,000 contracts. DTN's National Corn Index is $3.61 and 19 cents under the September futures.

Soybeans were modestly higher Wednesday, drawing strength from the continuing rally in soybean meal. It is being reported that not only are funds covering some of their sizeable meal short, but traders are also unwinding September-October spreads, which has moved that from a $4.00 carry to a $2.00 inverse. Bean oil continues to show weakness with September threatening to fill an open chart gap left following the June announcement of the increased RVOs for biodiesel. Tour participants are finding record pod counts in many areas such as Nebraska and are hinting at the potential for record soy yields. Unlike corn, demand is not keeping pace with the expectation for increased supply. The ongoing tariff battle with China has sent them on a buying spree from Brazil all the way into November, and at close to a $1.00 premium to U.S. FOB beans. While China would typically take anywhere from 2 mmt to 8 mmt of U.S. new-crop beans by mid-August, with the 23% tariff they imposed on U.S. beans they have bought zero so far. China's July soy imports from Brazil jumped 14% from the previous year to 10.4 mmt. The American Soybean Association is urging the Trump administration to get a grain deal with China soon or many farmers would face financial hardship. The weather forecast is mostly dry this week until the weekend when we will see rain in the western Midwest. The soy crop will need some finishing rain to solidify record yields. DTN's National Soybean Index is $9.67 and 67 under the November futures.

Wheat markets began Wednesday by falling to new contract lows, but each market recovered to finish higher, with Chicago leading the way. Both the KC and Chicago markets had become extremely oversold and due for a bounce. It is being reported that FOB soft red wheat had become so cheap at the Gulf and more than $10 below FOB Russian wheat that it has drawn some Asian interest. Growing supplies and aggressive marketing from other major wheat exporters, especially Russia and the EU, have pressured wheat lately. In other news, the U.S. spring wheat harvest is advancing and as of Sunday was over 36% done. Tenders include Bangladesh for 50,000 mt of optional milling wheat and Taiwan is tendering for over 90,000 mt of U.S. milling wheat. Jordan passed on its tender for 120,000 mt of milling wheat. Funds remain short both KC and Chicago wheat. DTN's National HRW Index is $4.50 and 50 cents under the September futures.

Farm Credit System Institutions made more than 150,000 loans to young, beginning, and small U.S. producers in 2024. A new Farm Credit Administration Report shows the institutional support for its ongoing mission of supporting rural communities and agriculture. “The future of agriculture depends on the next generation,” said Christy Seyfert, president and CEO of the Farm Credit Council. “We’re proud to deliver on our ongoing commitment to supporting young, beginning, and small producers as evidenced through this report.” 

During 2024, Farm Credit institutions made the 150,000 loans, totaling $33.1 billion, which was more than half of all loans made last year. Through 2024, Farm Credit supported over 50,000 loans to young producers who were 35 and under. More than 72,000 loans were made to beginning producers with ten years or less of experience, and 121,000 loans to producers with under $350,000 in gross cash farm income. 

Farm credit supporting young farmers

Based on the mid-year cattle report, a further tightening is expected of calves available for placement in late 2025 and early 2026. The report also suggests steady but gradual changes to inventories of beef cows and replacement heifers. That means the 2025 and 2026 beef production forecasts were lowered from last month. Elsewhere, lamb prices moved sharply upward in June and July of this year, leading to higher lamb price forecasts for the rest of 2025 and 2026. 

Milk production is forecast to increase in 2025 and 2026, driven by larger herds and improved yields. The all-milk price remains unchanged at $22 per hundredweight. Pork production for 2025 is reduced by one percent from last month’s forecast to 27.7 billion pounds, reflecting a slower slaughter rate and reduced dressed weights in the third and fourth quarters. Projected broiler production in the poultry industry is expected to increase due to strong hatchery data and lower feed costs. 

USDA issues August livestock report

December corn closed down 3 1/4 cents at $4.20 3/4 and March corn was down 3 1/2 cents at $4.03 1/4. November soybeans closed down 7 1/2 cents at $10.33 3/4 and January soybeans were down 6 3/4 cents at $10.53 1/2. December KC wheat closed down 6 1/2 cents at $5.21 3/4, September Chicago wheat was down 4 1/4 cents at $4.98 1/2 and December Minneapolis wheat was up 0.01 cents at $5.87.

It was generally a bright red day on ag commodity quote boards as all three wheat markets again printed new lows; corn, soybeans and bean oil fell, with the latter two down hard. Steady crop ratings in corn and soy and the ongoing crop tour reflecting the record yield potential that USDA saw, along with the accelerating southern harvests, combined to weigh on prices throughout the session.

Tuesday presented itself as another opportunity to rally in the live cattle complex, and traders didn't let the chance to again push the contracts higher slip by.It's obviously helping that boxed beef prices continue to trek higher despite the already incredibly high price point at which the market is trading, but resistance pressure could at any time pressure the live cattle contracts and cause traders some anxiety. In the spot October contract, resistance pressure looms around $232, and the contract was just roughly $0.50 away from that threshold for the bulk of the session. Asking prices are noted in the South at $240 plus, but are still not established in the North.

The feeder cattle complex continues to flex its power and strength, as currently, many of the nearby contracts have already reached new contract highs for the day. More than anything, the surge in the feeder cattle complex seems to be stemming from the fact that demand in the countryside remains utterly incredible, and that the live cattle complex is seeing plenty of support, which all bodes well with traders.

Following yesterday's higher close in the lean hog complex, the market seemed to question its move, trying to determine if it has enough support to justify the move made yesterday and finished modestly lower. The biggest deterrent to the morning's carcass price was the loin's $2.24 decline.

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KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City man wounded in a Sunday shooting has died.&nbsp; He is the fourth victim in a deadly weekend of violence in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just after 7p.m. Sunday patrol officers were dispatched to 6th and Park in Kansas City on a reported shooting, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

Officers located a man suffering from gunshot wounds.&nbsp; Kansas City Fire and EMS responded to the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital in critical condition.

Assault Squad detectives and crime scene personnel responded to begin the investigation. Preliminary information indicated there was an interaction between the victim and another individual in the street just prior to the shots being fired.

Just before 10p.m., detectives were notified by hospital staff that the victim died of his injuries. This is now being investigated as a homicide, and homicide detectives have taken over the case.&nbsp;

In addition to the Sunday evening death,&nbsp; One man died in a shooting in 1700 block of East 12th Terrace. Two others died from a shooting that injured three others in the area of 13th and Grand, near the KC Power and Light District.

Deadly weekend: Fourth victim dies hours after another KC shooting

GASCONADE COUNTY—One person died and a driver accused of DWI for an accident just after 9p.m. Sunday in Gasconade County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Jeep Liberty driven by&nbsp; 37-year-old Tyler C. Schmidt of Bland, Mo. was southbound on County Road 4th Street just north of County Road Pat.&nbsp; The vehicle traveled off the right side of the road, struck three mail boxes, a utility pole and a driveway embankment. The Jeep became airborne, struck the ground and rolled. All the occupants were ejected.

A 17-year-old boy from Bland was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Gottenstroeter Funeral Home.

An air ambulance transported a 22-year-old Belle, Mo. man to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. EMS transported a 26-year-old passenger to Mercy Hospital Washington.&nbsp; The driver was arrested on requested charges of Driving While Intoxicated; death of another and carless and imprudent driving.&nbsp; He was released for treatment at Mercy Hospital Washington.

The driver and passengers were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

Mo. driver accused of DWI after crash that killed 17-year-old

DICKINSON COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire at a pharmacy in Abilene.

According to a social media report from Paterson Health Care Pharmacy, 105 NW 3rd Street in Abilene, the fire occurred Sunday night. There were no injuries but significant damage due to the fire and smoke. The pharmacy is working with officials to determine the next steps to be taken. 

&nbsp;Pharmacy operations are currently suspended and the business has no way to access patient info that is backed up on the software server. This means the pharmacy cannot perform any transfers as well.

The pharmacy we will provide updates on social media and on our phone system as soon as possible.

&nbsp;The pharmacy encouraged customers to call their doctor and have a prescription sent to another pharmacy. 

Fire temporarily closes Kansas pharmacy

SHAWNEE COUNTY —The Topeka Zoo announced the passing of giraffe, Liz on Sunday. The Giraffe &amp; Friends building was temporarily closed to the public n Sunday. The giraffes still had access to their outdoor yards.

Liz (full name Elizabeth) was born August 21, 2018 at the Topeka Zoo &amp; Conservation Center to parents Hope and Sgt. Peppers. Her namesake was a very generous late supporter, Elizabeth Stratton. 

More than 1300 viewers tuned in to the live YouTube video of the birth, welcoming her into the world.&nbsp; The Zoo is currently gathering more information the cause of her death.

 Liz died Sunday night at approximately 10 pm. The zoo share more information once pending results are in from Liz’s recent exam. We are very appreciative of any mindful comments or letters of support and would love to read any special memories of Liz that supporters want to highlight. Cards for staff can be dropped off in the Zoo's gift shop. Giraffe feedings will resume Sunday, August 31.

7-year-old giraffe dies at Kansas zoo

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a Saturday afaternoon homicide in Kansas City, Missouri have identified the victim as 39-year-old Victor Austin, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

&nbsp;Just after 4p.m. Saturday, patrol officers were dispatched to the 1700 block of East 12th Terrace in Kansas City on a shots fired call for service.

 While in route the call was upgraded to a shooting. Additional call notes indicated someone had possibly been stabbed, as well. When officers arrived they were directed to an apartment building within the complex. As they entered an apartment they located Austin suffering from unknown bodily trauma.

KCFD EMS responded and pronounced Austin deceased at the scene. Two additional victims were located on scene. A man suffering from a gun shot wound. A boy was suffering from head trauma by unknown means.&nbsp; 

Both transported to a local hospital with non life threatening injuries. While on scene officers learned a fourth victim was at a local hospital. A private vehicle transported a woman to the hospital for treatment of a stab wound. She was listed in serious condition, according to DiMartino.

This is being investigated as a homicide.&nbsp; Preliminary information revealed a possible altercation between several individuals. Police have not reported an arrest or suspect details.

Homicide: Police ID victim in fight at KC apartment

STONE COUNTY, Mo. — A Kansas girl was injured in an accident just before 4p.m Saturday at Table Rock Lake.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported an 11-year-old from Olathe jumped off a 2022 Crest Pontoon boat driven by a 28-year-old Overland&nbsp; Park woman near PT 5, South of Branson West. The girl was attempting&nbsp; to help another swimmer. The boat propeller struck the girl.&nbsp;