The fifth annual zombie crawl benefitting the Friends of the Animal Shelter is this weekend in St. Joseph. 

Melanie Barnes with Friends says the annual event is a really fun way to get involved with Friends of the Animal Shelter 

"It’s just light and fluffy as far as if you like to dress up, you like Halloween, this year they put a nice spin on it, what is it they’re doing a zombies versus vampires' theme and something about bite right?” Barnes says on the KFEQmunnity show 

“Night of the bite,” Jennifer Kline with Friends interjects. 

“Night of the bite, and so kind of have a little bit of a theme within a theme there, which I love,” Barnes goes on. 

Barnes says the event starts at 5pm on Saturday 

"Show up at D&amp;G Pub House at 5’o clock and participate, now you do have to get tickets to participate because they need to know how many people there will be in the parade walking down Frederick because it does affect traffic,” Barnes says.  “There’s great giveaways, there’s a costume contest, there’s a raffle at the end, it’s a great way to support Friends of the Animal Shelter while getting out there, and not only that but there’s great drink specials, because let’s be honest it is a pub crawl.” 

All proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Animal Shelter.  Tickets can be purchased by visiting the group’s website.

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

Annual St. Joseph Halloween pub crawl benefits Friends of the Animal Shelter

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Arguments by former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey that abortion regulations do not cause ‘irreparable harm’ to patients is ‘disingenuous,’ an appeals court concluded

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

Abortion will remain available at Planned Parenthood clinics in Missouri,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=226097" target="_blank">the Western District Court of Appeals ruled</a>&nbsp;Tuesday, rejecting a request by the attorney general’s office to reinstate several restrictions on the procedure.&nbsp;

Earlier this year, former-Attorney General Andrew Bailey accused Jackson County Judge Jerri Zhang of abusing her discretion when she issued a temporary injunction that struck down several “targeted regulation of abortion providers,” or TRAP laws, as unconstitutional under the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missouri-voters-overturn-states-near-total-abortion-ban/">reproductive rights amendment approved by voters in November.</a>

That injunction allowed Planned Parenthood clinics in Kansas City, Columbia and St. Louis to start&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/04/abortion-returns-columbia-missouri-planned-parenthood-clinic/">offering procedural abortions for the first time in years.&nbsp;</a>

The attorney general’s office in its appeal argued the TRAP laws should be re-enacted in part because they were not causing a high enough degree of “irreparable harm.” The harm was only “minor” because Missourians looking to end a pregnancy could instead&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/24/2-year-anniversary-missouri-abortion-ban/">travel to Illinois or Kansas for an abortion,</a>&nbsp;the attorney general’s office wrote in court filings.&nbsp;

The appeals court unanimously rejected Bailey’s argument on Tuesday, calling it “disingenuous.”&nbsp;

“The irreparable harm flowing from a denial of abortion care within the confines of the Missouri (reproductive rights amendment) are unique because an abortion decision by an expectant mother ‘simply cannot be postponed, or it will be made by default with far-reaching consequences,’” wrote Judge Mark D. Pfeiffer, citing an earlier ruling by Zhang.

The appeals court also found no proof of Zhang abusing her discretion, noting that she applied “exhaustive consideration” to both sides’ arguments by conducting multiple hearings and sifting through hundreds of pages of written briefs over several months.&nbsp;

Plus, the appeals court noted, the bench trial on the matter is set for January, which is only a few months away. At that trial, Zhang will make a final ruling on&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/06/missouri-abortion-access-planned-parenthood-lawsuit-amendment-3/">the lawsuit filed last November&nbsp;</a>by the ACLU of Missouri and the two Planned Parenthood affiliates in the state.&nbsp;

Until then, the temporary injunction in place prevents the state from enforcing a handful of regulations, including requirements that patients have two visits at least seventy-two hours apart before having an abortion and that abortion clinics be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers.

Bailey previously&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-ag-erred-in-asking-supreme-court-to-overturn-order-legalizing-abortion/">appealed Zhang’s decision to the Missouri Supreme Court</a>, which said the attorney general should have first appealed to the western district before taking his request to the state’s highest court.&nbsp;

The office, now run by&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/09/catherine-hanaway-missouri-attorney-general-andrew-bailey/">Attorney General Catherine Hanaway,&nbsp;</a>can appeal Tuesday’s decision to the Missouri Supreme Court. A spokesperson for Hanaway did not immediately respond to a request for comment.&nbsp;

Zhang is still considering a separate request from Planned Parenthood to overturn even more state regulations that Planned Parenthood argues are&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/11/laws-regulations-medication-abortion-mifepristone-misoprostol-missouri/">preventing clinics from prescribing mifepristone and misoprostol</a>, which are used in medication abortions.&nbsp;

About&nbsp;<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/medication-abortion-accounted-63-all-us-abortions-2023-increase-53-2020" target="_blank">two-thirds of abortions nationally&nbsp;</a>are performed using medication.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains based in the Kansas City area, accused the attorney general of being one of several examples of “disingenuous” state leadership. She pointed to an&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/10/07/missouri-abortion-ban-amendment-ballot-language-2026/">abortion ban proposed by the Republican legislature&nbsp;</a>that will appear on the November 2026 ballot, coupled with attempts to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/04/as-few-as-5-of-voters-could-defeat-initiative-petitions-under-missouri-gop-legislation/">make it more difficult to amend the constitution through citizen-led initiative petitions</a>, which is how the reproductive rights amendment ended up on the ballot.&nbsp;

“We will not stand by while extremist officials try to override the law and the will of the people,” Wales said in a statement Tuesday. “Missourians deserve better.”

Missouri appeals court rules against AG, allows abortions to continue

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations.

Just before 7:30p.m. Sunday,&nbsp; an officer on patrol observed 51-year-old George Milson III of Atchison in the 1400 block Commercial Street and took him into custody on a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court. During the arrest Milson was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and marijuana.&nbsp;

Police found meth, marijuana during Kan. man's arrest

An organization that promotes economic development in northwest Missouri is conducting a follow up survey to one it took five years ago. 

Maximize Northwest Missouri covers 18 counties across the northwest region of Missouri, and it wants to hear from residents once again. 

Director Christel Gollnick says the last survey was important because it showed why people wanted to live in northwest Missouri 

"Because the one thing that really got us concerned at the beginning of this effort, is that our population is declining, like many rural areas across America,” Gollnick says on the KFEQmunnity show.  “But our population has been declining over a century, and so what is the slow but long-term impact of that, and how can we help people really want to live here, stay here if they grew up here, return maybe if they grew up here.” 

Gollick says they learned that outside of jobs some of the biggest reasons people stay are family, social connections, and education opportunities. 

Gollnick says the goal of the follow-up survey is to get a five-year comparison and to see what might have changed 

"What we want to do with it, it will close soon, October 20th is the end of the survey we’ve kind of had it out over the summer and early fall here, so we’re really pushing here towards the end to get more responses because we just want to know are perceptions different now five years later than they were in 2020,” Gollnick explains. 

Gollnick says they also want to have the data on hand so that anyone that wants it can be provided for decision making purposes, such as local organizations, business leaders, or elected officials. 

Gollnick says rarely are people asked questions that can really make a difference within their communities 

"The data that we’re collecting, the questions that we’re asking, it takes less than 10 minutes by the way, so it’s super easy to help out and participate and really know that your voice is actually going to be listened to," Gollnick says.  “It matters, every voice matters, and so I think that’s one reason why people, at least that’s what people tell me, who took the survey that “never take surveys” right.” 

Gollnick says Maximize Northwest Missouri wants to hear from residents about what is affecting communities in northwest Missouri.  

You can take the survey by clicking <a href="https://missouri.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dgSpb9WQnMwqmtU">HERE</a>.&nbsp; It must be completed before October 20th.

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.

Maximize NWMO seeks resident input, once again

A group of 16 is
reviewing the Missouri school funding formula, seeking to recommend an update
for the legislature to consider.

Missouri Gov. Mike
Kehoe appointed the <a href="https://dese.mo.gov/financial-admin-services/school-finance/missouri-school-funding-modernization-task-force-executive-order-25-14">Missouri School Funding Modernization Task Force</a> and
selected state Sen. Rusty Black of Chillicothe as its chair.

Black says its
members, in its first three meetings, are already understanding the difficulty
of trying to bring property tax relief to Missourians while properly funding
public schools. Black says the task force must also have an understanding of
how changes might impact local governmental entities which rely on property tax
revenue to operate.

“I believe we’re
going to come up with one or two plans to go forward as long as we can have
some sense of being sure that that local taxing entity doesn’t get blown up
before our eyes,” Black tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.

Missouri’s public
school funding formula is 20 years old. Former state Sen. Charlie Shields, a
Republican from St. Joseph, devised the current formula in the 2005 legislative
session. It went into effect in the 2006-2007 school year.

Black says members
hope to retain portions of the formula that are forward thinking while updating
portions that are showing their age.

“Some states are
trying to get to something that looks somewhat like ours, similar to ours,” Black
says. “But does ours have some outdated stuff to it? It certainly does that as
well. And then Rusty Black, as chair of the committee letting the committee do their
work, they may come up with a completely different plan that I’ve not even
thought about.”

Missouri lawmakers
have been considering various proposals to ease the property tax burden on
Missouri homeowners. Those efforts are tempered by awareness that lowering
property taxes could negatively impact local governmental entities. Missouri has
around 2,500 local governments that rely on property tax revenue.

Black says as for
this the group, it has to consider easing the tax burden on property owners
while properly funding public schools. 

“I think our task
force has to be very thoughtful,” Black says. “Are we going to see big changes
in personal and real property taxes going forward or are there going to be some
things happen that keeps some consistency there without just blowing the place
up?”

Black says the
task force must walk a tightrope.

“How do we effect
change without creating crisis?”

The Missouri School Funding Modernization Task Force is to provide a public school funding model in a final report to be delivered to Gov. Kehoe December 1, 2026.

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Task force has tough task ahead in reviewing how Missouri funds schools

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

Seven Missouri Head Start centers are set to receive nearly $2 million in funding for upgrades and educational resources

Community gardens, educational programs and breastfeeding rooms are all part of Missouri’s plan to take advantage of one-time federal funding for Head Start programs.

Seven Missouri Head Start kitchens are set to receive nearly $2 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of the office’s efforts to promote healthy eating and nutritious foods.

The funding comes as part of a push from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose office&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/09/09/nx-s1-5534412/rfk-maha-report-childrens-health" target="_blank">rolled out&nbsp;</a>the “Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy” in early September. HHS said in a press release that $61 million in funding will assist more than 100,000 children and families across the country.

In Missouri, it will pay for kitchen upgrades, community gardens, bulk cooking lessons and more.

How Head Start programs are taking on nutrition education&nbsp;

July&nbsp;<a href="https://foodsecurity.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Missouri-Hunger-Atlas-2025_Final.pdf" target="_blank">data</a>&nbsp;from the Interdisciplinary Center for Food Security at the University of Missouri found that between 2021 and 2023, an average of 12.7% of Missouri homes experienced food insecurity, a 10% increase compared to the period between 2018 and 2020.

That equates to nearly 780,000 Missourians. Of those, about 356,000 are experiencing very low food security, where eating habits are interrupted.

For many children, a meal at Head Start schools will be the most nutritious they get all day, 2021&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cacfp.org/assets/pdf/SNACS_Report/" target="_blank">research</a>&nbsp;from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows.

Lunches provided in Head Start centers provided more than the benchmark levels for vegetables, grains, bread, dairy and protein foods, while breakfasts exceeded benchmark levels for fruit, grains and dairy.

On days when children were in child care programs, meals and snacks contributed to 40% of calories a child consumed that day. And in Missouri, Head Start kitchens play a crucial role in addressing increasing food insecurity rates. In April, the federal government closed five of the 10 regional Head Start offices and fired staff, although legal challenges are&nbsp;<a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/education/5420965-trump-administration-cuts-head-start/" target="_blank">underway</a>.

For nutrition coordinators across the state’s Head Start programs, the funding presented a rare opportunity for essential upgrades. Many Head Start kitchens use commercial kitchen equipment, which can cost thousands of dollars to upgrade or replace.

“The majority of our money does go directly to providing the services for the children,” said Kayla Marmaud, the community relations director for the Community Action Partnership of Greater St. Joseph. “When you have funding that goes for the children in your care directly, some of the other things are put on the back burner.”

HHS required that half of the overall funding be used for materials, supplies and equipment for farm-to-table strategies, cooking demonstrations and appliance upgrades. Another quarter of the funding goes toward food service upgrades and sourcing local nutritious foods, while the remainder of the money will contribute to education, workshops and community events.

In Springfield, Head Start staff kept a running list of upgrades that were needed. When the funding was announced, they were able to check that list and pick top priorities.

“We selected the things that we felt like were the most pressing issues, or the ones that could give us the biggest bang for our buck, knowing that this is a one-time and not continuing project,” said Kimberly Shinn-Brown, the Head Start program director at Ozarks Area Community Action in Springfield.

They plan to make food service upgrades, as well as a slew of upgrades to their Head Start locations that have residential-style kitchens. Part of that means making the kitchens easier to use and work in for their staff, Shinn-Brown said.

Ozarks Area Community Action and others are also pursuing educational programs to help benefit their families. In Springfield, they requested money to bring on a new nutrition education program aimed at Gen Z families. The program sends out tidbits of information over text, so families can more easily incorporate nutrition education into their lives.

“They don’t want to talk to someone on the phone, and they don’t necessarily want to have a face-to-face meeting with you,” Shinn-Brown said. “But they do tend to be responsive if you text them.”

“It doesn’t matter how great your resources are if people won’t use them,” she said. “So we wanted to look at how our parents are accessing information, and what are their preferences?”

Daphne Graham, the health and nutrition coordinator at Ozark Action in West Plains, Missouri, knew the organization would have five new Early Head Start centers opening this fall, and requested funds to help with breastfeeding rooms for their families in those new centers.

They also are expanding meal options for parents of kids enrolled in Head Start to help showcase some of the cooking and exposure to different foods their kids get at school. The organization also plans to purchase more than 40 vacuum seal kits to give away to families across their 22 Head Start classrooms, with plans to help families learn more about batch cooking and preservation.

“Our demographic is very low-income … families that are sometimes just barely getting by as it is, and maybe education is not something they enjoy,” said Graham. “They don’t want to sit and listen to a lecture, but they would take in so much more in-person, so that’s where our education is going.”

In St. Joseph, they are applying those same principles to build community gardens at some of their Head Start schools and to create a new demonstration kitchen that will bring families closer to food.

“With the cost of food increasing, our resources sometimes tend to be more limited,” said Marmaud. “We wanted to be able to provide an opportunity that we could have community partners come in and be able to teach people how to get the most out of their resources.”

That sort of hands-on learning is shown to increase uptake of nutritious foods, said Lauren Landfried, a dietitian and associate professor in the St. Louis University Department of Nutrition and Dietetics.

“Getting kids exposure early is hugely impactful for their future health,” Landfried said. “If the kids are able to be a part of any of this, they’re more likely to consume the food. They’re more likely to have that positive relationship to expose others, too.”

What is needed to create more nutritious meals for Head Start? &nbsp;

Although the one-time funding was a welcome start to the winter months, critics argue that the funding does not go far enough in the face of cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and its sister program, SNAP-Ed, which provides nutrition education and other programs that address food insecurity.

“Any funding that goes to enhance nutrition education should be applauded and celebrated,” said Clarissa Hayes, the deputy director of child nutrition programs and policy at the Food Research and Action Center. “But at the end of the day, we know that this funding is not enough and it’s really putting a Band-Aid on the issue.”

Under&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/06/17/medicaid-snap-benefits-missouri-kansas-big-beautiful-bill/" target="_blank">new requirements</a>&nbsp;for SNAP, most individuals will be required to show proof of 80 hours of work, caregiving, schooling or volunteering to receive benefits. In Missouri, that could equate to about 150,000 people losing food assistance benefits.

And under a new waiver request from Gov. Mike Kehoe, the food items SNAP pays for are set to change. The changes would bar SNAP recipients from buying soda and candy, similar to recent&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/06/09/kansas-close-to-banning-soda-and-candy-purchases-with-food-stamps/" target="_blank">changes made in Kansas</a>.

“The problem is not everybody knows how to cook,” Landfried said. “The assumption is that the people know what to do with the food that they are prescribed, which is not the case. In my experience, I had to do a lot of education on how to cook.”

Both Landfried and Hayes see the reliance on other assistance like food banks increasing while families try to stretch their spending on food.

Ultimately, these one-time dollars won’t do much to address the food insecurity issues rising across Missouri, Hayes said.

“It’s not enough,” she said. “It’s very hypocritical in light of all of the other cuts that this administration has made to the nutrition safety net.”

This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/10/08/new-funding-missouri-head-start-rfk-jr-hhs/" 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>.

Upgrades coming to Missouri’s Head Start nutrition programs after new federal funding

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations and have him in custody for the second time in just over a month.

Just before 8:30p.m. Saturday an officer on patrol observed 54-year-old Dwight Downing in the 600 block South 7th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp; The officer took&nbsp;him into custody on a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court. During the arrest Downing was found to be in possession of methamphetamine.

In August,&nbsp; police conducted a traffic stop in the 500 block U.S.59 in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. A passenger in the vehicle, identified as Downing, was arrested on outstanding warrants for failure to appear in court. During his arrest he was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and marijuana, according to Wilson.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kan. man accused again of skipping court, drug possession

The U.S. has traditionally had a healthy agricultural trade surplus for years. As global dynamics change due to multiple political and economic factors, U.S. agricultural imports now exceed exports. A new study says the deficit is likely to get worse in the years ahead. University of Illinois and Texas Tech University researchers say the U.S. is importing much more than it exports. 

From 2017 to 2018, the dispute between the U.S. and China resulted in export values dropping by $9 billion (73 percent) for soybeans, $432 million (67 percent) for wheat, $93 million (61 percent) for corn, and $313 million (37 percent) for sorghum. The total value of lost agricultural exports amounted to approximately $14 billion. At the same time, the U.S. is losing export markets to other large grain producers like Brazil, Canada, Australia, and Ukraine. The only good news is that the U.S. is actively working on new trade agreements. 

Study shows agriculture exports faltering

The National FFA Organization is one of six national organizations to receive a $10 million grant from Lily Endowment, Inc. The grants are being awarded through the latest round of Lily Endowment’s initiative, called the “Character Through Youth Programs,” which helps youth-serving organizations with a nationwide reach create, test, implement, and sustain strategies that support character development in young people ages five to 18. 

“The organizations like National FFA have a long history of supporting young people and helping them grow into healthy, resilient adults,” said Ted Maple, Lily Endowment’s vice president for education and youth programs. “With their distinctive missions and programs, they are embarking on new creative and strategic approaches to support youth-serving organizations through the first round of the initiative.” Ambra Tennery, director of education programs in the programs and events division for the National FFA Organization, said, “We are honored to receive this support from Lily Endowment.”

FFA receives a $10 million grant

December corn closed up 2 1/4 cents and March corn was up 2 cents. November soybeans closed down 1 1/4 cents and January soybeans were down 1 cent. December KC wheat closed up 7 1/4 cents, December Chicago wheat was up 3 1/2 cents, December Minneapolis wheat was up 2 cents.

Row-crop futures were mixed Tuesday with grains trading higher while soybean futures fell on the most recent escalation of the U.S.-China trade war as China hit U.S. subsidiaries of a South Korean shipbuilding company with sanctions. Data out from the Brazilian National Supply Company also served as a reminder to traders of record soybean supplies in Brazil and subsequently what have been record-setting exports as well that have sustained into the typical U.S. sales window due to the ongoing dispute with China. Outside markets were mixed with the U.S. dollar seemingly feeling for a momentary ceiling near 2-month highs which aided wheat markets Tuesday. Meanwhile, energy markets were lower on the China-U.S. shipping news but did manage to bounce off daily lows following a speech by Fed Chair Jerome Powell which hinted at a slowing of the 3-year effort by the Federal Reserve to reduce its asset holdings, a move which would work to effectively pressure interest rates and stimulate growth. Stock indices reversed from early losses following Powell's comments.

Although the live cattle complex started the day off weaker, the market turned its direction and traded fully higher into the closing bell as traders were pleased to see morning boxed beef prices higher again. Again today, the uptick in the futures complex has pushed most of the nearby contracts to new contract highs. Still no developments have surfaced in the fed cash cattle market, and it's likely that with feedlot managers able to push prices higher last week, they'll again try to advance the market and wait to trade any of their pens until late in the week.

Once again leading the charge, the feeder cattle complex traded fully higher into Tuesday's close, with a snappy $4.00 to $5.00 rally being the theme throughout the complex. With strong equity markets, cheap feed and incredible demand, it's been almost easy for the feeder cattle market to push the contracts higher as demand continues to be wildly strong.

The lean hog complex hasn't been as fortunate today as its contracts traded lower and are nearing support thresholds in the spot December contract. One would hope that the support plane around $82.00 would hold strong and not be broken through, but with demand being fickle in the hog sector right now, it's anyone's guess how low traders are going to send this thing. Yes, pork cutout values were up a bit this morning, but traders are going to need to see more than a midday report's worth of higher prices before they'll say that demand is truly shining through in the market.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/10/14143038/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Commodity markets daily recap

The farmland market continued its year-long search for direction in the third quarter. The economists at Agricultural Economic Insights say that, depending on the survey and the time frame, farmland prices moved slightly up, down a bit, or stayed flat. This is evidence of a market that is plateauing and trying to find reasons for prices to go either up or down. The factors influencing the land market continued to be in flux, with more questions than answers at this juncture. 

Activity in the farmland market during the fourth quarter of 2025 and into 2026 will depend on buyers’ and sellers’ views of the ever-changing factors. The supply of farmland for sale and the level of demand to buy it will continue to be a big influencing factor in the land market. One of the biggest unknowns is the geopolitical factor, including tariffs, trade negotiations, and U.S. grain and livestock exports. 

Farmland market didn’t find direction in Q3

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ monthly Flash Report said the sales of all tractors during September 2025, in the U.S., were up four percent from the same month last year. In September, dealers sold a total of 17,729 tractors, which compares to 17,033 sold in September 2024. For the month, two-wheel drive smaller tractors under 40 horsepower sales were up three percent from last year, while those 40 and under 100 horsepower were up 17 percent. 

That was offset by a sharp drop in the sales of larger tractor models. Combine sales in September totaled 414, which was down 22 percent from the same time last year. For the year, tractor sales are down eight percent. One-hundred-plus-horsepower tractor sales are down 25 percent, while sales of four-wheel-drive tractors are down 39 percent. For the year, combine sales totaled 2,668 through September, which is 40 percent below the same time last year.

U.S. combine sales down 40 percent

December corn closed down 2 1/4 cents and March corn was down 1 3/4 cents. November soybeans closed up 1 cents and January soybeans were up 2 cents. December KC wheat closed down 1 3/4 cents, December Chicago wheat was down 1 3/4 cents, December Minneapolis wheat was down 1/4 cents.

Corn, soy, and wheat futures trade was two-sided to start the week but managed to gain a footing after sliding back toward recent lows largely as a result of a sudden flare up in trade tensions between the U.S. and China after China announced a series of export restrictions on rare-earth minerals as well as retaliatory shipping fees against the U.S. For now, things on that front have cooled over the weekend, with President Trump calling last week's development "a bad moment" and expressing confidence in the relationship. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reiterated early Monday that negotiations would move forward as well, at least temporarily easing market fears as stock indices were able to recover Monday from what was their worst day since April on Friday. Energy markets also rebounded to start the week, although crude prices remain within striking distance of calendar-year lows.

The live cattle complex continued to inch higher into this new week as the market is well supported by traders and its fundamentals. Last week, the fed cash cattle market was interesting as trade not only waited to develop until Friday, but there weren't even enough cattle traded in the South to say that any sort of a market trend was established. At any moment now, USDA should release the weekly report, which breaks down how many cattle were sold last week, at what price and for what delivery option they were committed to. It will be imperative to check that report when it's available as that will likely indicate how aggressive packers will be in this week's market. But nevertheless, the futures market is pleased with the support in which it saw last week and is eager to continue to push the contracts higher again this morning. New showlists appear to be a tad lower in Nebraska/Colorado and Texas and lower in Kansas. Last week, Northern dressed cattle didn't begin trading until Friday where most of the cattle were marked at $362, which is $2.00 higher than the previous week's weighted average. Southern live cattle were marked anywhere from $230 to $234.

And just like the live cattle complex, the feeder cattle contracts were also rallying into Monday's closing bell. But the one significant difference about the two markets this morning is that the feeder cattle complex is currently seeing the biggest day-over-day gains in its deferred contracts, which are traded mostly over $2.00 higher. Again today, the uptick in the contracts' prices reaches new contract highs in most of the nearby contracts.

It's likely that the uptick in the cattle contracts along with the stabilization in the equity markets is helped the lean hog contracts find support early this week. It's also helping matters that pork cutout values were higher, which is mainly being pushed by the picnic's $5.95 gain and the rib's $4.62 jump.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/10/13143640/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

According to Research Intelo, the global agricultural drones market size reached $4.7 billion in 2024. That demonstrated robust momentum, which is expected to continue. The market is projected to reach a value of $29.1 billion by 2033, driven by the escalating adoption of precision farming and the growing demand for advanced agricultural solutions. This growth trajectory is driven by the increasing integration of cutting-edge drone technologies intended for crop monitoring, field mapping, and yield optimization across diverse geographies. 

The global agricultural drones market is witnessing exponential growth as farmers increasingly adopt advanced technologies to enhance crop productivity and reduce operational costs. Manufacturers are also developing hybrid drones that combine the endurance of fixed-wing models with the agility of multi-rotor drones, making them ideal for large-scale agricultural operations. Unprecedented innovations in battery life and payload capacity have extended drone flight times, allowing them to cover much larger areas of land. 

Agricultural drone market to surpass $29 billion

The American Farm Bureau Federation sent letters to President Donald Trump and Congressional leaders to emphasize the severe economic pressures facing America’s farmers and ranchers. Falling crop prices, skyrocketing expenses, and trade disputes are creating conditions that are too much for farm families to bear. “Across the country, farms are disappearing as families close the gates on the farms tended by their parents, grandparents, and generations before them,” wrote Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall. “In the short term, we urge leaders to authorize bridge payments for farmers before the end of 2025.” 

While emergency aid will help, Farm Bureau asks for long-term solutions to help improve economic conditions in rural America, including fair and enforceable trade agreements. The organization also wants year-round sales of E15, restoration of whole milk in schools, and protection of interstate commerce. “Federal leadership can now prevent a deepening crisis in the agricultural economy,” Duvall added.

AFBF: Farmers are at a breaking point

December corn closed down 5 1/4 cents and March corn was down 5 cents. November soybeans closed down 15 1/2 cents and January soybeans were down 15 1/4 cents. December KC wheat closed down 6 3/4 cents, December Chicago wheat was down 8 cents, December Minneapolis wheat was down 5 1/4 cents.

December corn closed down 6 cents and March corn was down 6 3/4 cents. November soybeans closed down 11 1/4 cents and January soybeans were down 13 3/4 cents. December KC wheat closed down 14 cents, December Chicago wheat was down 16 3/4 cents and December Minneapolis wheat was down 8 cents.

Row-crop markets fell sharply Friday, led by accelerated selling in the soybean complex after a series of escalations regarding trade between the U.S. and China. It began on Thursday with reports that China was planning further export restrictions on rare-earth minerals which have been a primary point of contention between the two nations through negotiations this year. It was then reported early Friday that China would respond to planned U.S. port fees with fees of their own on U.S. ships beginning Oct. 14. The final straw that broke the proverbial camel's back on Friday was a social media post from President Trump expressing frustration with China, but perhaps most concerning to the market was the comment that the highly anticipated summit between he and President Xi of China may no longer take place. The development was a bearish aspect across almost all markets for Friday, with energy and equity markets falling drastically as well as commodities.

The live cattle complex traded slightly lower as traders took note of the equity market's decline amid ongoing turmoil with China. But even so, the market was able to maintain a relatively low decline, and fundamental support was fruitful today as some early sales in the cash cattle market were marked higher and as boxed beef prices were higher again today too. The complex managed to get enough support to finish fully higher by the closing bell. The cash cattle market has still been mostly quiet, but some light trade has recently been reported in Nebraska at $362, which is $2.00 higher than last week's weighted average. I anticipate that the Southern plains will be able to trade cattle higher, too, as their showlists are slimmer than those in the North.

The feeder cattle complex is also trading lower as traders are skeptical of pushing the feeder cattle contracts any higher, given the fact that they're already trading at record high prices and that outside pressure has grown more troublesome. The market did not keep this lower tone through the day's close, fundamentally, there was more than enough support in the marketplace to finish higher across the board.

The lean hog complex is continuing to scale lower as there's not enough fundamental support in the market to comfort traders, and as the external pressures of the equity markets are affecting the hog complex too. Yes, pork cutout values were a tick higher this morning, but the market's support is a little too late to give much stability to traders.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/10/10142031/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Weekly pork slaughter was estimated to be higher than 2.6 million head, although we won’t know the actual figures as the USDA has furloughed many of its staff due to a funding lapse. Seasonally, pork supply trends higher in the fall, and this year is no different. Slaughter is up 11 percent compared to where it was in mid-August, while weights are up three percent. With nearly 15 percent more pork coming to market, prices have started to trend lower and could see more downside this quarter. 

Pork trim prices were counter-seasonally higher in the previous three weeks, but the increase in supply has finally started to catch up with this market. Strong demand should keep prices above year-ago levels, but prices in November and December are expected to be lower than the current trends. Ham prices are expected to trade sideways, while belly prices could see more downside. 

Pork prices trend lower

SALINE COUNTY —On Monday, the Salina Police Department was made aware of a parking incident which occurred a week prior, on Monday October 6, with a marked Salina Police Department patrol car parking in a handicapped designated parking space at a south Salina business. This matter was brought to the Department’s attention by a private citizen and was not raised by anyone associated with that business, according to Salina Police&nbsp;Lt. Andrew Zeigler.

"The Salina Police Department takes complaints from citizens very seriously as we see it as an opportunity to examine our day-in-and-day-out operations and provides us the perspective and concerns of the community. This incident has given us the opportunity to look into the concerns of our citizens internally and operationally. The matter has been looked into to understand all the circumstances around it, including speaking with the employees of the private business."

"The on duty Salina Police Officer was conducting follow-up on an ongoing criminal investigation at the time of the incident and parked in the only available parking space at the business." according to&nbsp;Lt. Zeigler

A photograph was taken of the patrol car. The photograph was later forwarded on and was eventually passed on to the Police Department. The Salina Police Officer who was driving the patrol car at the time was contacted and is being addressed as an internal matter. The Salina Police Department is also taking steps internally to ensure all officers are following Kansas traffic codes as it pertains to police operations as well as Salina Police Department and City of Salina policies.

"The Salina Police Department thanked the community members for raising their concerns with us and we strive to review our actions on a daily basis to do better and always provide the highest standard of service to the City."

Why Kansas officer was parking in handicapped only space 

Senate president disavows both activists, attorney general fires Hendrix

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The chairman and vice chairman of the Kansas Young Republicans took part in encrypted chats with political peers that were laced with violent, racist and antisemitic rhetoric and blended with references to white supremacy and suppression of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

On Tuesday, the chairman of the Kansas Republican Party said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/14/private-chat-among-young-gop-club-members-00592146" target="_blank">the Politico article</a>&nbsp;disclosing the commentary prompted immediate deactivation of the Kansas Young Republicans organization.

Politico, a digital news company specializing in coverage of U.S. politics, reported Kansas Young Republicans chair Alex Dwyer and vice chair William Hendrix took part in the Telegram group chat.

In 2,900 pages of chat text, Hendrix praised the Missouri Young Republicans because leaders in that state didn’t like LGBTQ+ people. He repeatedly used racial slurs to refer to Black people, including words such as “n–ga” and “n–guh.” In a July conversation in the thread about African-Americans, he said, “Bro is at a chicken restaurant ordering his food. Would he like some watermelon and Kool-Aid with that?”

He was fired from a communications job in the office of Attorney General Kris Kobach as Politico prepared its report on Hendrix’s role in the chat.

“The comments in the chat are inexcusable,” Kobach said. “As soon as the office learned of those messages, Will Hendrix’s employment was terminated.”

In the chat threads, Dwyer and others delved into discussions of how GOP operatives could tarnish a political candidate by linking the individual to white supremacists. The idea was dismissed, Politico said, because the plan could backfire in a place such as Kansas where “Young Republicans could end up becoming attracted to that opponent.” Subsequently, a person in the chat asked others to guess what room number they had a hotel.

Dwyer responded: “1488.” That figure is a form of shorthand among white supremacists when making reference to their beliefs. It refers to the 14 words of text in the slogan, “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.” The “88” stands for “Heil Hitler,” with the H marking the eighth letter of the alphabet.

At another juncture, Dwyer touched on controversy involving release of government files on Epstein, the convicted sex offender. Republicans and Democrats in Congress have sought public release of files to either exonerate or incriminate President Donald Trump or other prominent individuals.

“Trumps too busy burning the Epstein files,” Dwyer wrote on Telegram.

Dwyer didn’t respond to a request for an interview. Hendrix, who ran unsuccessfully for Topeka City Council in 2021, couldn’t be reached for comment.

Before Politico’s disclosure of the Young Republicans’ commentary, Dwyer and Hendrix were photographed at a campaign event with Senate President Ty Masterson, the Andover Republican who is a 2026 candidate for governor. A social media post of the picture, taken at Masterson’s campaign announcement event, shows both of them holding signs touting Masterson’s campaign for governor.

The Masterson campaign released a statement after the Senate president landed in Washington, D.C., for meetings Wednesday with White House officials. In that statement, Masterson blamed political opponents for “shopping around a photo, with deceitful intentions, in efforts to disparage” him.

“I categorically deny any association with William Hendrix or Alex Dwyer, as neither is current, nor has ever been, on staff or volunteered for my campaign for governor,” Masterson said. “Anyone suggesting otherwise is either lying or misinformed.”

In addition, Masterson said, he was guided by deep Christian faith and possessed a record of condemning hateful and violent rhetoric.

“I am personally disgusted by the comments attributed to individuals in the article, as such behavior is utterly counter to Christ’s message that life is valuable and we are all equal in God’s eyes, and my unwavering commitment to these values has not changed,” the statement said.

A collection of Kansas Republicans and a Democratic candidate for governor denounced contents of this trove of Telegram messages logged under “RESTOREYR WAR ROOM,” or Restore Young Republicans.

The communications chronicled by Politico covered a period between January and August, and involved state Republican leaders in Kansas, Vermont, Arizona and New York. Included in the thousands of comments was this insight: “If we ever had a leak on this chat, we will be cooked.”

“The viewpoints expressed in this chat are not representative of Kansans. Period,” said former Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer, who is seeking the GOP nomination for governor. “Our state was founded on the belief that all of us are created equal under God — and anyone who mocks those principles dishonors the very spirit of Kansas.”

Vicki Schmidt, the state’s insurance commissioner and a Republican candidate for governor, said Dwyer and Hendrix should formally resign from their Young Republicans positions because “their actions are disgusting and disgraceful and they tarnish the reputation of Kansas nationally.”

Sen. Cindy Holscher, a Johnson County Democrat also running for governor, said she was disgusted by messages shared by Kansas GOP political operatives that promoted overt racism, extremism, antisemitism and sexual violence. She said the extremist language was encouraged from the top down by politicians who seek to divide voters rather than bring them together.

“Let’s be clear: These aren’t kids joking around,” Holscher said. “These are 20- and 30-something adults with leadership roles in the Republican Party. The chair of the Kansas Young Republicans, who participated in these messages, is nearly 30 years old. Unfortunately, this type of rhetoric is not isolated. For too long in Kansas, the Republican Party has been dominated by extremists who see no room for moderation or bipartisanship, let alone unity or mutual respect.”

Danedri Herbert, chair of the Kansas Republican Party, said the organization’s leadership was disgusted by comments by young Kansas Republicans contained in the Politico story. In March, Herbert was elected state party chair. She is Black.

“Their comments do not reflect the beliefs of Republicans and certainly not of Kansas Republicans at large,” she said. “Republicans believe that all people are created in the image of God.”

She said the state party platform stated: “We welcome Kansans of every ethnicity into our party as we work together to preserve our heritage of political equality, religious freedom and strong moral values. We strive to eliminate racism and we condemn all racist acts and groups.”

Michael Austin, chief executive of the Kansas Black Republican Council, said the organization unequivocally rebuked the behavior and language revealed in Politico’s report.

“Such conduct is not merely offensive. It is a betrayal of the very principles upon which our party was founded: the defense of liberty, the abolition of slavery and the belief in the inherent worth and dignity of every human being,” Austin said. “Let there be no confusion. These few individuals do not represent Kansas, nor do they reflect the values of Kansas Republicans.”

He said all Republicans should in this moment “uphold the standard of integrity, moral courage and respect that has long defined our party’s proud history.”

Kansas Young Republicans shut down after Politico report on racist, violent encrypted chat

JOHNSON COUNTY —The driver who died in a weekend 2-vehicle crash has been identified as&nbsp;Mike Farran, of Olathe, according to Overland Park Police officer John Lacy.

&nbsp;The crash occurred just after 11:50 p.m. at 151st and Switzer in Overland Park.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Farran was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver involved in the crash remained on scene and is cooperating with the investigation.

No other injuries were reported. Anyone with information is asked to call the Overland Park Police Traffic Unit at (913) 327-6731.

Police ID Kansas driver who died in 2-vehicle crash

Little progress has been made to end&nbsp;the government shutdown&nbsp;as it enters its third week. On Tuesday, Senate chaplain, Retired Rear-Admiral Barry Black, asked&nbsp;the Lord to bring a ceasefire to "our legislative combat."

The shutdown&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-congress-trump-health-care-54b2a584657a0b619bc8326708a05604">began on Oct. 1</a>&nbsp;after Democrats rejected a short-term funding fix and demanded that the bill include an extension of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-subsidies-congress-shutdown-democrats-republicans-bb3464820a347fd2c0399e78e335881e">federal subsidies for health insurance</a>&nbsp;under the Affordable Care Act. Trump and other Republican leaders have said the government must reopen before they will negotiate with Democrats on the health subsidies.

🎥Senate chaplain prays for "ceasefire" to end government shutdown

KANSAS CITY—A child died in an accident just before 7:30a.m. Tuesday in Kansas City, Missouri.

KCPD investigators determined white Ford Transit van was northbound on Food Lane Drive and was turning westbound onto Longview Road at the intersection, according KCPD Sergeant Jake Becchina. At the same time, a girl was riding her bicycle within the marked crosswalk and had a green signal.

 The van struck the bicyclist, causing her to fall to the roadway.. EMS transported the girl to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased by medical staff.&nbsp;

Girl on bicycle killed after van hits her in Kansas City crosswalk

CALLAWAY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 2:30p.m. Tuesday in Callaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Ford Expedition driven by a 68-year-old Holts Summit man was northbound on U.S. 63 just north of Renz Farm Road. The SUV rear-ended a 2019 Kenworth semi that had just entered the highway. After impact the SUV rotated counter clockwise and came to rest under the trailer of the semi.

The SUV driver was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Millard Family Chapel in Jefferson City. The 82-year-old semi driver was not injured.&nbsp; The SUV driver was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The&nbsp; Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri man killed after SUV rear-ends a semi

JOHNSON COUNTY — A man who admitted intentionally contaminating food at a Kansas steak house is going to prison.

Earlier this month, Judge Kelly Ryan sentenced Jace Christian Hanson, 22, of Kansas City, to 136 months in prison, according to Johnson County District Attorney's office.

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