Mindy Ward

Marthasville

Executive Editor, Missouri Ruralist at Farm Progress

Executive Editor at Missouri Ruralist

Editor-Missouri Ruralist covering all things agriculture, shepherd, Momof2, MU Tiger, barn enthusiast

Articles

Missouri farm income rises in 2025, experts warn of 2026 downturn

1 week ago | farmprogress.com | Mindy Ward

Direct government payments — expected to reach $1.3 billion — are pulling Missouri agriculture out of the red in 2025. But as farmers prepare for what could be a stronger year on paper, Alejandro Plastina urges them to brace for potential setbacks in 2026. The Rural and Farm Finance (RaFF) Policy Analysis Center projects Missouri’s net farm income to rise from $4.3 billion in 2024 to $4.7 billion in 2025.
Tips for city and country drivers

1 week ago | farmprogress.com | Mindy Ward

A bright red Ford Mustang weaved in and out of traffic, passing one car at a time to the left and then the right on a busy Missouri highway. I could tell my husband was about to let loose. While not the most outspoken man, my husband is passionate about how others drive. He often rants about it in the car to anyone who will listen. Thankfully, his frustration never leaves the car. Others, however, aren’t so reserved.
Missouri FFA member's winning essay highlights no-till farming benefits

2 weeks ago | farmprogress.com | Mindy Ward

More than 30 years ago, then-editor Larry Harper launched the Missouri Ruralist Young Writers Contest to encourage young people to use their words to articulate the importance of agriculture to their generation. Today, that legacy continues.
Drones, ground rigs and planes

3 weeks ago | farmprogress.com | Mindy Ward |Curt Arens

Everything has its time and place. That could be said for modern drone-spraying equipment, high-clearance ground rigs and traditional airplane aerial spraying. There is a time and situation for each. Skyles Kinkaid, a farmer near Hartington, Neb., and owner of Kinkaid AgriSpray, knows plenty about these spraying systems and their proper uses.
Winter canola emerges as promising crop for Midsouth farmers

3 weeks ago | farmprogress.com | Tom Bechman |Mindy Ward

“My neighbors kept asking, “How can you capture seed that small?” says Jed Clark, a farmer in western Kentucky. “As it turns out, we harvested canola without major issues in 2024. We are growing more acres this year.”Thanks to Clark and other farmers who piloted winter canola in the Midsouth and southern reaches of the Corn Belt in 2024, the crop is off and running. Through the program, Corteva Agriscience offers growers improved hybrid varieties plus agronomic advice.
Seed treatments boost double-crop soybean yields

4 weeks ago | farmprogress.com | Mindy Ward

Is there ever a case for seed treatments on double-crop soybeans? Yes. And here’s why it matters in 2025. Mindy Ward, Editor, Missouri RuralistWith soybean prices tight and the ag economy under pressure, every bushel counts — even on your double-crop acres. One way to counter lower market prices is high yield, says Scott Dickey, regional agronomist with Beck’s Seed, and seed treatments help. His No. 1 priority? Get the crop out of the ground.
Critical farm program decisions due by April 15

1 month ago | farmprogress.com | Mindy Ward

Mindy Ward, Editor, Missouri RuralistIf there’s one thing you should put on your to-do list this weekend, it’s looking into your ARC and PLC payments. That might not sound like the most thrilling way to spend your Saturday, but it could be the difference between leaving money on the table or infusing the farm balance sheet.
Cut Costs, Keep Family Happy

1 month ago | farmprogress.com | Mindy Ward |Curt Arens

Rachel Hopkins is the first to admit that the 15-mile trip to town often includes a stop at the convenience store to grab a soda or snack. Like many young farm moms, she has a 10-year-old in the back seat, repeating comments and questions like, “I’m hungry. I’m thirsty. Are we stopping?”For farm families trying to reduce their family living costs, these off-budget stops can really add up.
Beef industry makes most of red meat

1 month ago | farmprogress.com | Mindy Ward

Talk of a yield-grading system change puts the emphasis on actual saleable meat from a carcass. Mindy Ward, Editor, Missouri RuralistBeef producers can make more money while meeting consumer demands, but it will take a change in industry focus away from dressing percentage to red meat yield. After 35 years in packinghouses grading cattle, James Henderson noticed that existing grading methods didn’t effectively distinguish red meat yield — the actual amount of saleable meat from a carcass.
What's up with your big belt buckle?

1 month ago | farmprogress.com | Mindy Ward |Sarah McNaughton-Peterson |Shelley E. Huguley

+1Belt buckles might seem like just another item to keep your pants up, but for farmers and ranchers, they’re so much more. Each Western buckle tells a story — of hard work, victory and sometimes even loss. Our latest slideshow gives you a glimpse into the lives of farmers, ranchers and industry leaders and their affection for the buckle. Some buckles are hard-earned trophies from rodeos and livestock shows, the result of years of dedication and determination.