Articles & News
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Federal Policy
US Farmers Struggle Through Drought To Bring Food To the Table but Face More Challenges Ahead
MRCC member and farmer, Darvin Bentlage, and other farmers spoke with Forbes earlier this month about the drought...
Bi-Partisan Beef Bill Still Not Passed
Remember the "American Beef Labeling Act", a bipartisan bill that would let us know where beef on grocery store...
How Farmers are Being Shafted by Monopolies
Remember when Robert Reich visited MRCC in 2015 during his "Saving Capitalism" book tour? Well, here he is again...
MRCC Mid-Year Activities Update Summer 2022
2022 Mid-Year UpdateBuilding Power to Win Support Missouri Farms, Food, Communities & Democracy In 2022, MRCC has...
MRCC and Campaign for Family Farms Testified before Congress about CAFOs
"The sophisticated CAFO industry is highly dependent on cheap feed and avoiding environmental regulations — pushing...
Petition to Support Country of Origin Labeling
Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for meat was passed in the 2008 Farm Bill and was immediately opposed by the...
Bolster Regenerative Practices Not CAFOs
On Tuesday, July 19th, Doug Doughty, MRCC member, and livestock and grain farmer from Livingston County, MO, testified...
KC Area Farmers and rural communities feel impact of inflation
Missouri Rural Crisis Center blames corporate greed for high-cost farmers and consumers pay and say [we need]...
Policies, Technology Change and the Agriculture Industry
Corporate control of our food system by way of corporate control of our democratic process is bad for farmers and...
Bill Would Impose Moratorium on Large Ag Business Mergers
More 👏 Of 👏 THIS!👏 Here's what Senator Jon Tester (family farmer from Montana) has to say...
Help for Ranchers as Beef Costs Rise Draws Backlash
For the last three decades, roughly 40 U.S. family cattle operations went out of business every day, and the proposed...
USDA Would Reform Tournament System for Poultry
Today, the United States Department of Agriculture released a proposed rule that would provide some basic transparency...
Family Farmers Applaud Biden’s Commitment to National Agriculture Day
Family Farmers Applaud Biden's Commitment to National Agriculture Day and Urge Further Action for Independent...
Corporate Ag at odds with American Farmers OP Ed with Darvin Bentlage
Cattle and grain farmer and MRCC member Darvin Bentlage explain the negative consequences of the corporate...
Country of Origin Labeling American Beef Labeling Act on the Table
Farmer and MRCC member Susan Williams' letter-to-the-editor in the Boonville Daily News. "In the US Senate, a...
Petition to Support Country of Origin Labeling
Take Action to Support Country of Origin Labeling TODAY! Sign Our Petition!Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for meat...
The Devil is in the Details: USDA Owes Independent Processors Clear Commitments
The risks of our highly consolidated processing system may have come to light for many during the pandemic, but these...
Local Farmers Not Seeing Return on Inflated Meat Prices
So where is the money consumers are paying going, if not back to the farmers? Gibbons said he knows exactly where the...
Opinion: Corporate Meat Lobby Claims They’re the Scapegoat When They’re Really the Problem
Recently, in a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, the North American Meat Institute (NAMI), a mouthpiece for...
Opinion: Your View Executive Order Needs to Become Real Policy
Finally, some good news for the agriculture and food industries. President Joe Biden issued an executive order that...
Opinion: Will Joe Biden’s Executive Order Spark Real Change in Food Production?
President Joe Biden recently signed an executive order aimed at increasing competition across all sectors of the...
Biden Executive Order is Just One Move to ‘Level Playing Field’ in Livestock Industry
President Biden recently issued an executive order that seeks to increase competition in the agriculture industry and...
Executive Order to Promote Competition in Agriculture Good First Step
MRCC Executive Director and 5th generation cattle and grain farmer's Op-Ed was published by multiple media across our...
The Meat of the Matter with Tim Gibbons and Patty Lovera
MRCC's own Tim Gibbons and Patty Lovera, Policy Director for Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment, explain...
President Biden Issues Executive Order to Promote Competition in American Economy and Agriculture and Food
Media Statement; July 9, 2021 Contact: Tim Gibbons, Missouri Rural Crisis Center, (573) 449-1336,...
Federal Senate Ag Committee Holds Hearing on Lack of Competition in Cattle Markets
Missouri Rural Crisis Center recently sent in comments to the Biden Administration and USDA in response to their requ...
Missourians need to make their voices heard about the future of farm and food systems
“And through that cycle, the big corporate packers get filthy rich, and we squeeze out the small guy,” said Justi...
Country of Origin Labeling Resolutions Introduced by Missouri House and Senate… Contact Your Representatives Now!
SCR 10 & HCR 33 Senate Concurrent Resolution 10 (introduced by Senator Doug Beck) and House Concurrent Resolution...
President Biden, Don’t Make the Same Mistakes in Rural America
MRCC member and 4th generation cattle and grain farmer, Darvin Bentlage, penned this opinion. “In 2011, I helped wr...
We Need Change, Not Corporate Ag’s Best Friend as the Secretary of Agriculture
President Biden Picked Tom Vilsack as the new Secretary of Agriculture. Vilsack is known as the Dairy Checkoff-funded...
Multinational Meatpacking Corporations Cash-In During Covid
MRCC member Jeff Jones co-wrote this op-ed with other producer members within the Campaign for Family Farms & the...
Is Market Based Farm Prosperity Possible?
The laws governing our food and how it’s produced are dictated by corporate Ag lobbyists at the expense of both...
As Meat Plants Close Due to Covid-19 People Question the Safety of the Corporate Controlled System of Huge Producers
Monopolistic corporate control is harmful to our national security and exploits family farmers. When such a large por...
You, Family Farmers & Consumers, Helped Defeat Bad Trade Deal
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will not be moving forward in Congress because everyday people like us raised our...
TPP Action Alert
STOP Secret “Free Trade” Corporate Sell-Outs Stop the Trans-Pacific Partnership! Congress is currently considerin...
What Corporate Concentration Looks Like
The pork industry is a prime example—an industry that in one generation (30 years) has become vertically integrated...
Beef Industry Lobby Groups Attempt to Get More Taxes from Cattle Farmers
The Beef Checkoff is a $1 tax on every head of cattle sold. The money is supposed to support the promotion and resear...
Healthcare
MRCC Mid-Year Activities Update Summer 2022
2022 Mid-Year UpdateBuilding Power to Win Support Missouri Farms, Food, Communities & Democracy In 2022, MRCC has...
Medicaid Minute with Iva Shepard
For this MRCC Medicaid Minute, we are joined by Iva Shepherd from Missouri Primary Care Center to talk about the...
Treat to Traditional Medicare with Dr. Ed Weisbart
Learn more about the current threat to Traditional Medicare from our expert guest Dr. Ed Weisbart with the recording...
Missouri Governor Parson Refuses to Fund Medicaid Expansion
Governor Parson ignores the State Constitution after a referendum of the people indicating that they wanted Medicaid ...
Missouri Rural Crisis Center Puts Pressure on Senators to Support Medicaid Expansion
As the Missouri Republican-held senate considered whether to finance the voter-approved expansion program MRCC did no...
As Missourian’s Lose their Jobs, They Also Lose Health Insurance
As the pandemic continues to impact families and communities across the state, continued unemployment means more indi...
Letter to the Editor Pleads for Heath Care Access
Health care and loving others As seen in The Southeast Missourian Thursday, July 23, 2020 I appeal to you as a member...
Can Medicaid Help Families Stay together?
This letter to the Editor of the Missourian shows how Medicaid services are helping to keep this family together. Whe...
Can Medicaid Help People Get Care & Help Care Centers Stay Open
Letters to the Editor as seen in the Springfield News-Leader June 27th, 2020 Medicaid ensures people get health ...
Advocates Cheer Missouri’s Medicaid Expansion – We Did it
US News and World Report covers the Missouri Medicaid Expansion Win August 5th, 2020 The people spoke and Medicaid Ex...
Missouri Divided over Medicaid Expansion
As resistance to Medicaid continues to crumble in red and blue states Missouri faces its decision. While many represe...
Mo HealthNet Provides Prenatal Care
Lack of prenatal care is the biggest contributor to low infant birth weight and it’s associated risks of health...
Can Medicaid Save Lives and Reduce Crime?
Medicaid will Save Lives and Reduce Crime Joe Poor of Columbia, Missouri writes a Letter to the Editor on July 17th 2...
Director of Missouri Rural Crisis Center Speaks Out
Rhonda Perry speaks out in this letter to the editor in Columbia Missourian. Medicaid Expansion Will Strengthen Healt...
Does your zip code determine how long you live? This Letter to the Editor Says So
Missourians need Medicaid expansion as seen in The Joplin Globe July 26th, 2020 Right now, where you live determines ...
Missouri Rural Health Care Senior – Ask Me Anything
Meet Janie Shelburn and Christi Lero, who are senior are managers. Ask anything and learn more about services, options...
Medicare Expansion is what Missouri Needs
“[Medicaid Expansion] is not only what our state needs; it’s what we deserve.” “If my parents had...
Rural Missouri Residents Need Medicaid Expansion Now
Covid-19 further proves that rural Missouri needs medicaid expansion now. The lack of services, lack of testing and l...
State/Factory Farm
Tim Gibbons OP ED Mergers Bad for Farmers and Consumers
MRCC Op-Ed in The Joplin Globe:For decades, MRCC members, farmers, and consumers across Missouri and our country have...
Merger of Sanderson Farms and Cargill is a Bad Deal
"Mergers like these lead to increased market share for fewer companies, and the opportunity for anticompetitive...
Bi-Partisan Beef Bill Still Not Passed
Remember the "American Beef Labeling Act", a bipartisan bill that would let us know where beef on grocery store...
MRCC Mid-Year Activities Update Summer 2022
2022 Mid-Year UpdateBuilding Power to Win Support Missouri Farms, Food, Communities & Democracy In 2022, MRCC has...
Bolster Regenerative Practices Not CAFOs
On Tuesday, July 19th, Doug Doughty, MRCC member, and livestock and grain farmer from Livingston County, MO, testified...
KC Area Farmers and rural communities feel impact of inflation
Missouri Rural Crisis Center blames corporate greed for high-cost farmers and consumers pay and say [we need]...
This Summer Family Farmers Will Need More Than Lip Service to Survive
From a farmer member of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Barb Kalbach. "My husband and I have been running our...
Policies, Technology Change and the Agriculture Industry
Corporate control of our food system by way of corporate control of our democratic process is bad for farmers and...
Destroying Family Farms, Rural Communities and Our Democracy
"I love farming and have been doing it all my life, but I told my kids not to come back to the farm, because there’s...
Help for Ranchers as Beef Costs Rise Draws Backlash
For the last three decades, roughly 40 U.S. family cattle operations went out of business every day, and the proposed...
The Devil is in the Details: USDA Owes Independent Processors Clear Commitments
The risks of our highly consolidated processing system may have come to light for many during the pandemic, but these...
Opinion: Corporate Meat Lobby Claims They’re the Scapegoat When They’re Really the Problem
Recently, in a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, the North American Meat Institute (NAMI), a mouthpiece for...
Opinion: Your View Executive Order Needs to Become Real Policy
Finally, some good news for the agriculture and food industries. President Joe Biden issued an executive order that...
Federal Senate Ag Committee Holds Hearing on Lack of Competition in Cattle Markets
Missouri Rural Crisis Center recently sent in comments to the Biden Administration and USDA in response to their requ...
JBS Cyberattack Shines A Spotlight on the Biggest Risk to Big Meat: Consolidation
Many of you have probably heard in the media about the cyberattack on JBS, a Brazilian corporation and the biggest me...
All Things Considered: Massive Livingston County Hog Operation Plan Highlights CAFO Growth in Missouri
Listen to the All Things Considered Focusing on the CAFO growth in Missouri. Get informed and make sure you know what...
Missouri eases rules for massive industrial hog farms, despite pollution concerns
Missouri State Legislature is relaxing CAFO regulations. This will impact people living near CAFOs their health and t...
Family Farms are the solution corporate agriculture is the problem
Tim Gibbons, the communications director of the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, tackles just how Corporate Agriculture ...
CAFO Application Withdrawn Victory
"While we do not know the exact reasons why they withdrew their application, we remain vigilant about the importance...
Significant Lagoon Breaches are just one problem northern Missouri hog farmers face
There’s just this sort of Wild West of Class II operations, that they can do anything they want and nobody knows ab...
Missouri County Ground Zero for Factory Farming Debate, as Regulations Vanish
We’re seeing agribusiness corporations getting even more concentrated, so concentrated that they own and control hu...
Electronic Tracking of Livestock Has Many Opponents in the US
MRCC member Darvin Bentlage argues in an interview with Nebraska Public Media, that even though he doesn’t plan to ...
Tim Gibbons: Corporate Factory Farming Threatens Missouri Water
MRCC written op-ed about a proposed JBS hog factory farm in Livingston County. “This is also the story of countless...
Missouri Department of Natural Resources Sells out to Foreign Factory Farms
Doug Doughty, MRCC member, and livestock and grain farmer from Livingston County MO, discusses the Missouri Departmen...
Is Market Based Farm Prosperity Possible?
The laws governing our food and how it’s produced are dictated by corporate Ag lobbyists at the expense of both...
Senator Jon Tester Supports Senate Bill 3693
Senate Bill 3693 would be a step in the right direction to help address the massive corporate concentration problem i...
JBS just purchased the 2nd Largest Lamb Processing Facility in USA.
JBS, a Brazilian company and biggest meat processor in the world, recently purchased the second largest lamb processi...
Pandemic Disastrous to Family Cattle Farmers
Missouri cattle producer and MRCC board member, Darvin Bentlage, describes the threat to Missouri’s cattle indu...
MRCC on The Check-In Towns Getting By on KBIA
We had the opportunity to discuss the challenges facing rural communities, family farms and our food supply, a few so...
UPDATE: Momentum is building–Autumn Organizing for Family Farms & Local Control.
2019 saw the most egregious attack ever on local control with the fight against and passage of Senate Bill 391. Our v...
We need Local Control, not corporate control.
We need Local Control, not corporate control. Why? Corporate Ag and their public relations and campaign firms want us...
Senate Bill 391 eliminates local control, putting our farms, families, water & air and property rights at risk
Senator Mike Bernskoetter, the new Chair of the Senate Ag Committee, sponsored and is advancing a bill (Senate Bill...
The Farm Bill Farce–Darvin Bentlage, MRCC Board Member, in The Hill
Farm bill farce: Corporate ag reports huge profits while farmers struggle to feed their families BY Darvin Bentlage,&...
Stop Factory Farms in Missouri-Support Family Farms, Clean Water & Democracy
There are numerous factory farms trying to set up shop in our state. Factory farms pollute our environment, create si...
Family Farm Groups Applaud Competition Rules to Benefit Independent Livestock Producers
Family Farm Groups Applaud USDA GIPSA Rules that Benefit Independent Livestock Producers Groups Call Out NPPC Respons...
We the “Corporations”?–TPP Threatens Family Farms & Our Democracy–Call Senators Blunt & McCaskill TODAY!
The TPP is Dangerous & A Direct Attack on America’s Independent Livestock Producers Our Senators should be ...
Run to Support Independent Livestock Producers: Call MO Senators TODAY–Tell Them To Support Senator Grassley’s Bill to Ban Packers Owning Livestock
Want to help curb corporate control of agriculture?–Of course you do! and it only takes a few seconds of your t...
Missouri’s Cattle Producers Overwhelmingly Reject New Missouri Beef Checkoff
April 25th, 2016 Today, the Missouri Rural Crisis Center (MRCC) is pleased to announce a stunning victory for Missour...
Stop the New Missouri Beef Checkoff!
STOP the New Missouri Beef Checkoff Tax In order to Vote NO on this corporate money grab— Cattle Producers Must Re...
Former Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich, visited Roger and Rhonda’s family livestock and grain farm in Howard County Sunday Afternoon
“That’s why organizations like the Missouri Rural Crisis Center are so important,” said Secretary...
YOU Helped Preserve Local Control & Protect Family Farms
We all have had some very important and major wins in the 2015 Legislative Session protecting LOCAL CONTROL and pres...
The Beef Checkoff—It’d be funny if it weren’t so deceitful and out of touch.
It’d be funny if it weren’t so deceitful and out of touch—and could cost Missouri cattle producers a lot of mon...
Stop the “RACE to the BOTTOM”! Tell Congress–VOTE NO on Fast-Track!
Yesterday, Senator’s Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) introduced Fast-Track le...
It was a Big Week!!! MRCC Meets with Willie! Call Governor Nixon–Veto SB 12!
MRCC Meets with Willie Nelson! Family Farm & Democracy Day at the Capitol! It was a BIG week but there’s st...
STOP The Corporate Ag Bill
Senate Bill 12 further entrenches foreign ownership of Missouri farmland and moves forward a very unpopular and unnec...
2014 End of Year Update
MRCC members continue to fight for family farms and rural communities. Read our 2014 End of Year update by clicking o...
Fast Track, Free Trade Agreements Bad for Farmers, Consumers, Democracy
In July, MRCC farmer members & staff traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with allies and MO Congresspeople to dis...
MRCC Leads in Fight Against “Right to Farm”
On Tuesday, August 4th, half a million Missourians agreed with MRCC—that the “Right to Farm” constitutional ame...
Sustainable Food Supply
Rising Costs and Who is Behind Them Telephone Town Hall
Click here to listen to the recording of our "Rising Costs and Who's Behind Them" telephone town hall from September...
MRCC Third Annual Auction Starts October 11th at 3:00pm
Mark your calendars for MRCC's 2022 Annual Online Auction. We kick off the fun at 3 PM on Tuesday, October 11th, but...
US Farmers Struggle Through Drought To Bring Food To the Table but Face More Challenges Ahead
MRCC member and farmer, Darvin Bentlage, and other farmers spoke with Forbes earlier this month about the drought...
How Farmers are Being Shafted by Monopolies
Remember when Robert Reich visited MRCC in 2015 during his "Saving Capitalism" book tour? Well, here he is again...
MRCC Mid-Year Activities Update Summer 2022
2022 Mid-Year UpdateBuilding Power to Win Support Missouri Farms, Food, Communities & Democracy In 2022, MRCC has...
Gaby Patch Kids Cooking Program
The Gaby Patch Kids program is a collaboration between MRCC, Windsor Street Montesorri School, Chef Gaby,...
Growing the Local Food Chain Recipe Book
MRCC wrote a youth local food recipe book! Get your own FREE copy of our fun and colorful Growing the Local Food Chain...
KC Area Farmers and rural communities feel impact of inflation
Missouri Rural Crisis Center blames corporate greed for high-cost farmers and consumers pay and say [we need]...
Farms are for Everyone Camp
On Saturday, MRCC and United People St. Louis brought together over 60 people for our “Farms are for Everyone Farm...
MRCC’s Local Food Youth Cooking Video Episode 3 with Tsokolate Working With Chocolate
From tree to treat! Watch students learn how chocolate is made in Episode 3 of MRCC's Local Food Youth Cooking Video...
Half Hog Raffle
MRCC is holding our first-ever half-hog raffle! Don't miss your chance to stock up on Patchwork Family Farms'...
MRCC Celebration of Local Farmers, Local Businesses and Mid Missouri Community of Delicious Food.
On April 21st, 250 people showed up in MRCC's parking lot to celebrate local farmers, local food businesses, the...
Patchwork Family Farms – The Importance of Buying Local
Patchwork Family Farms is in Feast Magazine! Check out our #BuyLocalCoMo local food highlight in the March edition. ...
The Devil is in the Details: USDA Owes Independent Processors Clear Commitments
The risks of our highly consolidated processing system may have come to light for many during the pandemic, but these...
Local Farmers Not Seeing Return on Inflated Meat Prices
So where is the money consumers are paying going, if not back to the farmers? Gibbons said he knows exactly where the...
Opinion: Corporate Meat Lobby Claims They’re the Scapegoat When They’re Really the Problem
Recently, in a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, the North American Meat Institute (NAMI), a mouthpiece for...
Opinion: Your View Executive Order Needs to Become Real Policy
Finally, some good news for the agriculture and food industries. President Joe Biden issued an executive order that...
Opinion: Will Joe Biden’s Executive Order Spark Real Change in Food Production?
President Joe Biden recently signed an executive order aimed at increasing competition across all sectors of the...
Biden Executive Order is Just One Move to ‘Level Playing Field’ in Livestock Industry
President Biden recently issued an executive order that seeks to increase competition in the agriculture industry and...
Is this a joke, or does the National Pork Producers Council think we are stupid?
Is this a joke, or does the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) think we’re stupid? Once again, NPPC is lobb...
Columbia Brewery Serves Free Farm Dinner to Community
Curing the Covid-19 Lockdown Columbia’s own Broadway Brewery bought together area organizations to serve free f...
Feeding a Community in Crisis
MRCC and Patchwork Farms partnered with local businesses to help the community in need. With community support we have...
Broadway Diner Helps Feed Hungry Children During Covid-19
The iconic Broadway Diner did its part helping to feed Columbia's hungry school children during the Covid-19 outbreak....
Covid-19
Feeding a Community in Crisis
MRCC and Patchwork Farms partnered with local businesses to help the community in need. With community support we have...
Covid-19 Relief Efforts Must Support Family Farming
September 9th,2020 This opinion piece by Jeff Jones was in the Columbia Tribune and calls out the crisis as it effects...
What COVID-19 has Spotlighted with MRCC
Join Tim Gibbons for a Q&A talking about the positives that have resulted form the pandemic for Missouri Farmers....
Missouri’s C&C Produce, a Restaurant Supplier, Sent Out up to 140,000 Boxes Weekly for Covid-19 Food Relief Program
When the pandemic hit C&C Produce began a program to get food out to those in need. Joining the USDA’s Farm...
MRCC’s Immediate & Long-term Response to COVID-19
MRCC’s Response to COVID-19 Coming Together to Make A Difference MRCC is working harder than ever to offset the...
