It may be a new year, but the scammers are still out there to steal your money.  

The Buchanan County Sheriff's Department is continuing to advise the public to stay alert for scams, even putting flyers onto social media to keep people alert.  

Sheriff Bill Puett says one of the most common scams happening currently has to do with officials 

“Or somebody wants to call and say well you’ve missed a court date or you’ve missed jury duty, or you did this, you did that, because it’s really easy to get somebody’s name in the Sheriff’s office or whatever,” Puett says on the KFEQmunnity show.  “And then use that name and official.” 

Puett says it's important to never give out your personal information 

“Unless you initiate and you know you’re calling your credit card company or you know you’re calling the Sheriff’s office, Police Department, Highway patrol, no one is going to call and want a debit card over the phone,” Puett explains.  “And they absolutely are not, not, going to ask you to get gift cards.” 

Puett also reminds residents when it comes to the Sheriff's Department, they will never contact you, so never give out personal information unless you're sure you made the call.  

Puett says many people fall for these scams, because scammers utilize those triggers 

"That threat of the official and arrest or losing your freedom or however you want to say it, and these are people that go out here to Walmart or Walgreens and get a handful of gift cards, and once those are called and those numbers, that stuff is gone,” Puett says. 

Puett says to call and verify if what the scammer is saying is true, saying his department would rather you make sure something is true rather than lose your money because many scammers are from other countries and are hard to track. 

If you suspect you have been scammed, you should contact the Sheriff's Department.    

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.

It's a new year, but scams remain as prevalent as ever

The Gene Field Road Bridge over I-29 is one step closer to reopening.

Monday, the Missouri Department of Transportation awarded a contract worth $5, 564,370.23 to Clarkson Construction Company, of Kansas City.

MoDOT is now working with Clarkson to create a project timeline. The notice to proceed date, the earliest day work can begin, is this Friday, January 16th.

More information can be found from MoDOT <a href="https://www.modot.org/projects/gene-field-road-bridge-replacement-over-interstate-29-buchanan-county">here</a>.

MoDOT contracts repairs for Gene Field Road Bridge

Way of Greater St. Joseph will host its annual meeting and luncheon at 11:45 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, at the Fulkerson Center on the Missouri Western State University campus.

The event, located at 4525 Downs Drive, offers the community a chance to reflect on the organization’s 2025 impact and preview upcoming initiatives. The program features a review of the past year’s financials, the recognition of retiring board members, and the election of new board members by the organization’s membership.

Organizers will highlight progress made through the contributions of thousands of donors and hundreds of volunteers. The luncheon will also honor annual award recipients and individuals who provided leadership through committee service and other volunteer roles throughout the year.

Following the general program, the organization will conduct its first board of directors meeting of 2026 to elect board officers.

Tickets are $30 per person, or $225 for a table of eight. A buffet lunch is included in the cost. Community members can register in advance at <a href="https://www.stjosephunitedway.org/events">stjosephunitedway.org/events</a> or by calling 816-364-2381.

United Way of Greater St. Joseph to host annual meeting and awards luncheon

The North Central Missouri College campus will be closed next Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. day.

The closing includes all buildings and offices at all sites and locations, and no classes will be held. The Ketcham Community Center will also be closed.&nbsp; NCMC and the Ketcham Center will reopen on Tuesday, January 20th for regular hours of business.

NCMC campuses closed next Monday to honor Martin Luther King Jr day

Here is a list of general highway maintenance and construction work the Missouri Department of Transportation has planned in the Northwest Missouri region for the week of Jan. 12 - 18.

Route F –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Rock Creek Bridge for a bridge rehabilitation project through January 2026.

Gene Field Road Bridge –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;due to damage from being struck by an oversized load. The bridge is scheduled to be let for contractor bidding in January 2026.&nbsp;

Route 752 (Alabama Street) –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;from U.S. Route 59 to Sherman Street for an intersection improvement project through early 2026.&nbsp;

Route D –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for a bridge replacement project at the Shoal Creek Bridge through March 2026.&nbsp;

Route CC –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for a culvert replacement from County Road 250 to County Road 260, Jan. 12, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Route W – Brush cutting from Route T to U.S. Route 65, Jan. 12-16, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. The road will be narrowed to one lane with flaggers guiding motorists through the work zone.

Route PP –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Mid-Fork Chariton River Bridge and Chariton River Overflow Bridge for replacement projects through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through March 2026.

Route KK –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Puzzle Creek Bridge for a replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through mid-March 2026.

Route O –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Bee Creek Bridge for a replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through April 2026.

Route KK –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Little Chariton River Bridge, north of Glasgow, for a deck replacement project through March 2026.

Route 11 –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Badger Creek Bridge, north of New Boston, for a bridge replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through May 2026.

Route 139 -&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Parson Creek Bridge, north of Meadville, for a bridge replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through May 2026.

Route 136 – Bridge maintenance at the bridge over Weldon River, Jan. 12-13. The bridge will be narrowed to one lane with temporary traffic signals in place to guide motorists through the work zone.

Route A – Shoulder work/edge rut repair from U.S. Route 71 to the Holt County line, Jan. 12-16, 7am to 3 p.m. daily. The road will be narrowed to one lane at various locations with flaggers guiding motorists through the work zone.

Route U –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for shoulder work/ditching from Route N to Keystone Road, Jan. 12-13, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

U.S. Route 136 – Pothole patching both directions from U.S. Route 71 to Route YY, Jan. 13-14.

U.S. Route 71 – Pothole patching both directions from the Iowa State line to Route FF, Jan. 14-15.

Route T –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the East Locust Creek bridge due to deterioration. The bridge is scheduled to be replaced in the spring of 2026 through the Northwest Bridge Bundle.&nbsp;

U.S. Route 169 –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for a bridge deck replacement project at the Middle Fork Grand River Bridge through January 2026.

Route W –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for a bridge replacement at the West Fork Grand River Bridge through January 2026.

Planned roadwork for Northwest Missouri, Jan. 12 - 18

The Missouri Department of Transportation, in partnership with Evergy, will host an open-house public meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 21, to discuss proposed improvements to the intersection of U.S. Route 71 and 340th Street. 

The meeting will take place from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. at the Maryville Public Safety training room, located at 101 N. Vine St.

The project is designed to improve traffic flow and safety in anticipation of a new natural gas plant being constructed south of Maryville. MoDOT officials recommend replacing the existing crossover at the intersection with J-turns. This design is intended to reduce crash points and accommodate the increased volume of traffic expected during the plant's construction.

J-turns improve safety by preventing motorists from having to cross multiple lanes of fast-moving traffic. Instead, drivers at a J-turn intersection turn right in the same direction as traffic, merge into the passing lane, and then make a U-turn in the direction they intend to travel.

The meeting will follow an open-house format with no formal presentation. Members of the public are invited to arrive at any time during the two-hour window to view project plans and speak directly with project leaders from MoDOT and Evergy.

Community members are encouraged to share their thoughts or concerns and may provide comments directly to staff or via written comment forms. For those unable to attend the meeting in person, MoDOT will continue to accept public comments through Wednesday, Feb. 4.

The project is currently scheduled to be made available for contractor bids as part of MoDOT’s April 2026 letting.

MoDOT and Evergy to hold public meeting for U.S. 71 safety improvements near Maryville

Hundreds of people gathered in St. Joseph on Sunday afternoon for a peaceful protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a deadly shooting by ICE agents in Minnesota.

The protest was held at the intersection of Belt Hwy and Frederick Ave.

The event, organized by Persisterhood, called for accountability and questioned the use of force in the shooting. Protesters highlighted the diverse immigrant community in St. Joseph and expressed concerns about the political divide affecting people's perceptions of facts. 

Many attendees also participated in a vigil in Kansas City, emphasizing the need for solidarity and awareness of potential injustices.

Hundreds attend ICE protest in St. Joseph

KFEQ Morning Sports

KFEQ News 01/12/2026

The Office of Childhood submitted documentation of pending child care requests to access payments for the 53% of Missouri providers impacted by the federal delay

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/squinn/">Steph Quinn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ahanshaw/">Annelise Hanshaw</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Missouri has submitted “detailed justification” required to access&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/01/09/missouri-waiting-on-25-7-million-payment-from-feds-to-reimburse-child-care-providers/">federal funding</a>&nbsp;owed to almost 2,000 child care providers across the state for services rendered in December, according to a Friday&nbsp;<a href="https://dese.mo.gov/communications/missouri-submits-justification-federal-child-care-payments" target="_blank">press release</a>.

The Office of Childhood in the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which found it could not access the funds earlier this week, had been unable to explain the delay to child care providers because it had not received communication from the federal government before Thursday evening.

“We know how important these payments are to providers, and this is our utmost priority,” said Office of Childhood Assistant Commissioner Deidre Anderson-Barbee in the press release.

The department submitted a “comprehensive breakdown” Friday morning to meet the requirements of a federal initiative called “Defend the Spend,” its spokesman told The Independent. Defend the Spend, a system created by the now-dissolved Department of Government Efficiency, requires recipients of federal funds to justify each transaction before they can receive payment.

Although the state office has submitted the required documentation, child care providers still don’t know when they can expect to receive payment.&nbsp;

Lisa Scheer, director of Baden Christian Child Care in St. Louis, told The Independent that the message from the state office brings little relief.

“It’s an answer, but it’s not an answer anyone wants to hear,” Scheer said. “To be honest, there’s not going to be an answer until they say, ‘We’re paying you.”

Scheer said her child care center relies heavily on the federal funds because each of the 45 children the center serves participates in the subsidy program. Families in Missouri must earn no more than 150% of the federal poverty level to qualify.

“Our families really rely on our services for food, for safety,” Scheer said. “We provide area transportation and really just a safe haven for our neighborhood and community.”

U.S. Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill on Dec. 30 announced in a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/HHS_Jim/status/2006152183863972241?s=20" target="_blank">social media post</a>&nbsp;that all states would be&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/01/02/repub/after-minnesota-fraud-allegations-hhs-orders-states-to-justify-child-care-spending/">required to justify their child care expenses</a>&nbsp;in order to access support from the federal Child Care and Development Fund.

On Monday the federal department froze child care payments to&nbsp;<a href="https://acf.gov/media/press/2026/hhs-freezes-child-care-family-assistance-grants-five-states" target="_blank">five states</a>&nbsp;— all with Democrat-led governments.

The state’s Office of Childhood said Friday that the federal request for information about Missouri’s child care subsidy program indicates “Missouri child care funds have not been frozen.”

Before that communication, the cause of the delay wasn’t clear.&nbsp;

Casey Hanson, deputy director of Kids Win Missouri, told The Independent that the uncertainty has made the funding disruption more painful for child care providers who operate on very tight margins.

In a meeting of around 160 providers Wednesday, Hanson said, many were “frustrated and upset.”

Some providers who mostly serve families who receive subsidies “are at a point to be turning [those families] away, especially if they don’t have reserves, and a lot of small providers really don’t,” Hanson said.

Scheer, who was in the meeting, said she’s trying to delay costs where she can. She agreed with her husband that she won’t draw a paycheck until federal funding comes through.&nbsp; But she realizes her employees, who are mostly single women, can’t do that.

While Scheer said she is committed to keeping her doors open, she’s not sure how long the center would be able to operate without subsidy payments.

“It’s trying to make sure my employees’ needs are met so that they can still show up for children, so children’s needs are met, so that parents can still go to work and be parents for their children,” Scheer said.

Feds demand Missouri justify child care expenses to receive delayed funding

The secretary of state’s attorney told a judge Friday that the original ballot summary is “inherently argumentative” and should be revised

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>

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins admitted Friday that he wrote a ballot summary “likely to create prejudice” against a possible referendum on Missouri’s&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/12/gerrymandered-congressional-map-initiative-petitions-limits-sent-to-missouri-governor/">gerrymandered congressional district map</a>.

Hoskins’ lawyer, Kathleen Hunker of the attorney general’s office, made the admission during a hearing in a court case challenging the ballot summary and said it would be revised in negotiations with sponsors of the referendum.

“On a further reflection of the ballot title, the secretary has come to believe that the language, though defensible, does come close enough to the line of being inherently argumentative and likely to create prejudice,” Hunker told Cole County Circuit Judge Brian Stumpe. “That means we can do better, and so we are going to withdraw our opposition to the plaintiff’s claim about how the language is inherently argumentative.”

A political action committee called People Not Politicians on Dec. 9 turned in&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/12/09/missouri-gerrymander-congressional-map-referendum/">more than 300,000 signatures</a>&nbsp;to force a statewide vote on the redistricting plan Republicans muscled through a September special session. The PAC objected to the ballot summary&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/11/06/referendum-backers-reject-ballot-title-for-vote-on-gerrymandered-missouri-congressional-map/">as soon as it became public</a>&nbsp;and filed a lawsuit on Nov. 20.&nbsp;

Chuck Hatfield, attorney for People Not Politicians, told Stumpe that Hoskins will have to admit more — that the language he wrote is insufficient and unfair — to meet the standards for revising the summary.

“Your honor can’t enter an order just because it’s close to the line,” Hatfield said. “We’re going to have to have a finding that it’s insufficient and unfair. And I’m asking them to agree to that, and if they don’t, then we need a trial.”

The case before Stumpe was scheduled for a trial next Friday. He set a new date, Feb. 9, in case there is no agreement on what the revised summary should say.

The ballot summary written by Hoskins asks if voters approve the law, “which repeals Missouri’s existing gerrymandered congressional plan that protects incumbent politicians, and replaces it with new congressional boundaries that keep more cities and counties intact, are more compact, and better reflects statewide voting patterns?”

People Not Politicians objects to the characterization of the reapportionment made in 2022 as a “gerrymandered congressional plan that protects incumbents” and the factual basis for saying it keeps more cities and counties intact. The bill itself is just a list of voting districts and counties assigned to each district and the summary Hoskins wrote cannot be found in its contents, the PACs court filings state.

The summary’s statement about statewide voting patterns also brought objections. Recent elections gave Republicans about 60% of the vote and Democrats about 40%. The new map would give Democrats 12.5% of the state delegation instead of one-quarter.

Republicans want the new congressional map to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/25/trump-white-house-pressing-missouri-republicans-to-redraw-congressional-map/">please President Donald Trump</a>, who demanded the changes as a means to protect the GOP’s slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Using the new map, Republicans hope to win seven of the state’s eight congressional seats by adding enough GOP votes to flip the 5th District, currently held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Kansas City. Republicans currently hold six of the eight seats.

If People Not Politicians and Hoskins’ office can agree on the factual basis for changing the summary, it would end the case but not litigation over the special session and the congressional map.

There are at least eight other lawsuits, six in state court and two in federal court, directly or indirectly related to the actions of the legislature or People Not Politicians.

The most recently filed case challenges assertions by Hoskins and Attorney General Catherine Hanaway that the map passed in September&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/12/09/missouri-gerrymander-congressional-map-referendum/">took effect on Dec. 11</a>, 90 days after the end of the special session.

In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=25AC-CC09120&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0004_CT19#docket" target="_blank">that case</a>, filed by the ACLU of Missouri, the state is accusing People Not Politicians and Hatfield of encouraging a lawsuit the PAC could not bring on its own. It has subpoenaed Hatfield, People Not Politicians Director Richard von Glahn and the PAC for records the state believes will show the connection.

“The state believes that PNP, Von Glahn or their agents recruited (the ACLU plaintiffs) as proxies to bring this lawsuit,” Solicitor General Louis Capozzi wrote in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Defendants%20Suggestions%20in%20Support%20of%20Motion%20to%20Dismiss.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3771307" target="_blank">one filing in the case</a>.

And the state is seeking sanctions against Hatfield in a federal case dismissed in early December that sought to block the petition drive entirely. In the federal filing, Capozzi argued that Hatfield admitted in federal court that the map would take effect even if signatures were submitted to force a vote.

“Yet during the following days, defendants and Mr. Hatfield personally have aggressively and repeatedly communicated the opposite position to the media, stating unambiguously that their mere act of submitting referendum signatures immediately froze (the redistricting law) and prevented it from going into effect,” Capozzi wrote.

In the Friday hearing before Stumpe, Hatfield noted that Capozzi is seeking sanctions and making accusations that he or People Not Politicians is sponsoring the case over when the map takes effect. The order from Stumpe directing Hoskins to revise the ballot summary needs to settle all legal issues in the case, he said.

“Mr. Capozzi sought sanctions against me in federal court, and he’s either confused about what happened in federal court, or he’s intentionally misrepresenting what happened in federal court,” Hatfield said. “I’m assuming he’s confused about what happened, and I don’t want any confusion here.”

There is also confusion over which of the more than 300,000 signatures will be checked to see if the referendum petition meets the threshold of approximately 110,000 signatures spread over six congressional districts.&nbsp;

In court, and in media statements, Hoskins and his attorneys have said only signature pages with at least one signature dated Oct. 14 or later will be checked. Hoskins approved the form of the petition on Oct. 13.

Of the 49,773 pages with signatures, 33,068 have been sent to local election authorities to verify whether the signatures are from registered voters. The rest, Hoskins’ office said Friday in a statement to The Independent, “having invalid dates were scanned, retained, and organized separately.”

Speaking on&nbsp;<a href="https://podnews.net/podcast/idvil/episodes" target="_blank">KMOX radio on Wednesday morning</a>, Hoskins repeated the statement that signatures aren’t being checked.

“We’re not counting those,” Hoskins said. “And, you know, unless a judge issues a court order and says, hey, yes, you must count these. But otherwise, we’ve set those aside. They should not count toward that referendum.“

But in statements to People Not Politicians, Chrissy Peters, Hoskins’ director of elections, said the pages retained in the secretary of state’s office are being checked for signature verification.

In a statement intended to clarify the confusion, Rachael Dunn, spokeswoman for Hoskins, said Friday that no signature checks are being made in Hoskins to determine if the petition has sufficient signatures to be placed on the ballot.&nbsp;

She said only signatures on pages sent to local election authorities will be counted.

“The secretary of state’s office is not,” Dunn wrote, “utilizing any lines reviewed on pages dated Oct. 13 and earlier for determination towards sufficiency.”

Denny Hoskins admits writing flawed ballot summary for Missouri gerrymandering referendum

March corn down 24 1/4 cents per bushel, March soybeans were down 13 1/2 cents, March KC wheat was down 3 1/2 cents, March Chicago wheat was down 6 cents and March Minneapolis wheat was down 1 1/4 cents.

Corn, soybeans and wheat all fell hard at midday following the shockingly bearish yield, production, stocks and acreage reports from the USDA. Corn and soy yields hit records, with corn production and December 1 stocks reaching the same milestone. Harvested corn acres also surged by an unexpected 1.3 million acres, while both soybean and wheat ending stocks also rose.

The live cattle complex was mostly higher moving into Monday's closing bell, as traders were pleased to see that after Friday's close, the fed cash cattle market did see higher prices in the South. It seems as though traders have been reluctant to overly advance the contracts without seeing more robust fundamental support. Monday's WASDE report shared mostly supportive news for the cattle and beef markets of 2026. Beef production for 2026 was increased by 10 million pounds as carcass weights continue to grow bigger. Beef imports for 2026 were increased by 75 million pounds as shipments from Oceania and South America are expected to continue. Beef exports for 2026 were decreased by 60 million pounds as the price of beef remains a limiting export factor. Boxed beef prices are higher: choice up $1.64 ($357.27) and select up $3.17 ($355.34) with a movement of 22 loads (14.54 loads of choice, 3.46 loads of select, zero loads of trim and 3.95 loads of ground beef).

The feeder cattle complex also traded mostly higher into Monday's close, despite the fact that some of the furthest deferred months were trading slightly lower. Much like the live cattle complex, the feeder cattle complex again seems willing to advance the contracts -- but is hungry to see more fundamental support as the market is facing some new resistance. Thankfully feeder cattle demand was strong last week and hopefully buyers will meet sales with the same level of enthusiasm as they did last week.

The lean hog complex continued to trade lower as the market simply hasn't seen enough fundamental support for traders to feel comfortable pushing the market back up to its resistance threshold. Last week packers weren't very aggressive in the cash market, so one would assume they'll need to be more active this week. But so far they aren't showing much interest.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2026/01/12142023/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Commodity markets daily recap

Agriculture policy analysts say 2026 could mark the end of the traditional five-year U.S. farm bill era, as lawmakers struggle to produce comprehensive legislation. The most recent farm bill provisions expired in 2023 and Congress has extended them annually since, leaving perennial programs in limbo. Experts say shifting political priorities and partisan divides have complicated efforts to craft a broad farm policy package that addresses commodity supports, conservation, nutrition and rural development. 

Without a full farm bill, many programs are funded through short-term fixes, delaying long-term planning for producers. Agriculture advocates warn that prolonged uncertainty could impact crop insurance, disaster assistance and trade programs. Some lawmakers are calling for scaled-down legislation focusing on critical elements, while stakeholders stress the need for stability in federal agricultural policy.

Uncertainty grows over future of U.S. farm bill legislation

State officials are warning livestock producers after a confirmed case of New World screwworm was found about 215 miles from the Texas border in Mexico. The parasitic pest, which can cause serious livestock injury and economic loss, was detected in a 7-year-old bovine, according to the Texas Department of Agriculture. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said there’s no evidence the pest has established a breeding population, but producers along the border should inspect animals daily for open wounds and report suspicious cases immediately. 

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is collaborating with Mexican animal health officials in monitoring and response efforts, Miller added. While the screwworm hasn’t yet been detected in the U.S., rapid reporting and early intervention remain critical to preventing spread, officials said. Livestock owners are encouraged to review biosecurity protocols and contact vets if concerned.

New world screwworm detected near Texas border

March corn closed down 1/4 cents and May corn was down 1/4 cents. March soybeans closed up 1 1/4 cents and May soybeans were up 1 1/4 cents. March KC wheat closed unchanged, 0 cents, March Chicago wheat was down 3/4 cents and March Minneapolis wheat was down 3 3/4 cents.

March corn closed up 8 1/4 cents and May corn was up 8 1/4 cents. March soybeans closed up 16 3/4 cents and May soybeans were up 16 cents. March KC wheat closed up 15 1/4 cents, March Chicago wheat was up 10 3/4 cents and March Minneapolis wheat was down 3 1/4 cents.

Row crop markets ratcheted moderately higher through the first full trading week of 2026, on much higher volume compared to the Holiday weeks, as was expected to be the case. Trade was subdued on Friday, which was not surprising to see with a flurry of USDA data due out on Monday morning, which will set the tone for the first quarter of 2026 and shed light on what to expect for crop prices. Outside markets continued to be mostly positive to close the week, with equities heading higher despite a mixed December labor report, which showed weak job creation, but lower overall unemployment as compared to the prior report. Energy markets finished the week with a sharp turn higher, specifically for crude oil futures, which hit their highest mark in over a month, primarily on growing unrest in Iran, combined with the ongoing situation in Venezuela. The U.S. Dollar Index, meanwhile, is higher now in ten of the past eleven sessions, also trading to the highest level in a month. Lastly, the Supreme Court on Friday chose not to issue a ruling on the tariff case, as had been reported as a possibility through the week.

Although the fed cash cattle market has shown traders that the market's trend is most likely going to be higher, the live cattle contracts slowly traded lower through Friday's session. Bids were on the table for the fed cash cattle market, with offers of $232 live being offered in Texas, Kansas and Nebraska. So far, feedlot managers appear firm in their asking price of $235 to $237 for live cattle, and $367 or more in the North. No new trade has developed today following the light business that developed on Thursday in the North, where dressed cattle traded at mostly $365, which is $5.00 higher than the previous week's weighted average. Boxed beef prices are lower: choice down $1.55 ($355.24) and select down $0.62 ($351.44) with a movement of 86 loads (67.09 loads of choice, 4.94 loads of select, 3.90 loads of trim and 10.36 loads of ground beef).

And once again, in keeping with the same trend as the live cattle complex, the feeder cattle contracts also traded lower throughout Friday's session. And unless the live cattle complex turns higher, the feeder cattle contracts will likely stay on the lower-side too.

The lean hog complex traded mixed on Friday, as the nearby contracts dipped lower, while the far-deferred contracts traded slightly higher. Absorbing the behavior of the lean hog complex takes a mixed approach, as one could logically point to the uptick in pork cutout values and say that prices should be trading higher. However, when you look at the futures complex and note the resistance pressure the market is facing, we see there hasn't been enough widespread, stable fundamental support this week to encourage traders to challenge that technical barrier.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2026/01/09142939/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

A coalition of more than 70 biofuel and agricultural organizations sent a letter to congressional leadership calling for immediate passage of legislation to allow the year-round nationwide sales of an American-made E15 fuel blend. It would benefit drivers with savings of ten to 30 cents per gallon and improve markets for American farmers. “The USDA projects a record 16.8-billion-bushel corn harvest in 2025, up roughly 13 percent from 2024, which intensifies pressure on corn prices and farm incomes,” the groups wrote.

 “Expanding E15 access is one of the most immediate and practical ways to address this imbalance.” The groups point out that when it’s fully-scaled, year-round, nationwide E15 is poised to create new domestic demand for billions of bushels of corn and sorghum, help stabilize markets, support farmers, and deliver consumer savings at the pump. The letter was led by Growth Energy, the American Farm Bureau, the National Corn Growers Association, and the Renewable Fuels Association.

Groups continue pushing for year-round E15

Agricultural economists are predicting that the slide in the U.S. farm economy will stop in the new year. However, an indepentdent report said that doesn’t mean the ag economy will be whole again. The December Ag Economists’ Monthly Monitor showed monthly sentiment is getting stronger, but there are challenges remaining, especially in the row crop sector. AgWeb said there’s “cautious optimism,” but most economists don’t believe that 2026 will usher in a strong rebound without relief from the high costs of inputs or stronger commodity demand in other markets. 

Fifty-four percent of the economists surveyed, said the economy is better than a month ago. Compared to last year, 42 percent say conditions are worse, and 33 percent say things are better. Looking ahead to the next year, 46 percent expect conditions won’t change, 38 percent expect things to improve, and 15 percent expect economic conditions to get worse. 

Economists predict the farm economy will stabilize in 2026

March corn closed down 3/4 cents and May corn was unchanged. March soybeans closed down 5 3/4 cents and May soybeans were down 5 1/2 cents. March KC wheat closed down 1 1/4 cents, March Chicago wheat was unchanged, March Minneapolis wheat was up 3/4 cents.

Row-crop markets were choppy in quiet action Thursday, with traders clearly not wanting to get ahead of themselves to the bullish side with USDA input due out next Monday morning. Outside markets were again mixed influence on agriculture prices on Thursday, with higher energy futures but also a higher U.S. Dollar Index for the ninth time in the past ten sessions potentially taking some wind out of the wheat markets sails with a high degree of world competition to begin 2026. In macroeconomic news, reports are that the Supreme Court could potentially issue a ruling on the legality of the Trump administration's tariff efforts. The U.S. trade deficit of $29.4 billion for October was reported as a 16-year low on Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The live cattle complex traded mixed into Thursday's noon hour and traders reluctantly pushed the entire complex higher, but weren't exactly willing to do so in the nearby contracts until late in the session, as they wait to see what's going to develop fundamentally this week. Still no cash cattle trade has developed, but a single bid is currently on the table in Nebraska at $228. Asking prices are noted at $235 to $238 in the South but are still not clearly established in the North. Trade could begin to develop at any point in time now. Boxed beef prices are higher: choice up $2.42 ($356.70) and select up $2.47 ($351.75) with a movement of 115 loads (73.63 loads of choice, 12.35 loads of select, 4.07 loads of trim and 24.51 loads of ground beef).

The feeder cattle complex was trading in the exact opposite direction of the live cattle complex, as most of its nearby contracts were trading higher, but the deferred months (from August 2026 onward) were trading lower for the bulk of the session, but managed to finish fully higher. Demand in the countryside remains strong as buyers are busying filling orders, as the market was quiet over the last two weeks.

Seeming to be a bit braver today, the lean hog complex traded higher into Thursday's closing bell, despite technical pressure still being a barrier and pork demand still pulling the cutout value lower. The real test will come Friday, and whether or not traders can keep the contracts higher through the the close with minimal fundamental support.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2026/01/08141431/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Sinograin, China’s state-run commodity buyer, recently bought ten U.S. soybean cargoes. Three traders told Reuters that the world’s biggest buyer of soybeans is continuing to purchase the commodity from the United States following a late October trade truce. ‘The cargoes total almost 600,000 metric tons and will be shipped between March and May,” Reports said. “That timeframe happens to also be the peak season for Brazil, a rival supplier of the U.S.” 

The total amount of soybeans China has bought from the U.S. is estimated between 8.5 million and almost ten million tons. That number represents almost 80 percent of the 12 million metric tons that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said China had promised to purchase by February 28. In late November, reports cited a shipping schedule saying two cargoes would carry the first soybean shipments since May. However, those cargoes haven’t arrived yet as they aren’t on the customs website.

China buys ten million tons of U.S. soybeans

The total demand for U.S. ethanol has grown steadily since 2016. The blend rate, ethanol’s percentage of finished motor gasoline volume, is one indicator of gasoline blenders’ demand for ethanol in vehicle fuel. March 2025 data showed the U.S. average blend rate was 10.1 percent, the ninth-consecutive month above the implied minimum federal blend rate of ten percent. The 12-month moving average blend rate stood at 10.2 percent. 

The average blend rate has largely been at ten percent or higher since 2020. Increasing blend rates have helped maintain domestic ethanol consumption at a steady level despite reduced demand for finished motor gasoline. Since 2023, international demand for ethanol has steadily risen and provided additional support for U.S. ethanol fuel production. Elevated blend rates and rising ethanol exports both support growing demand for corn. To meet the March 2025 demand for fuel ethanol required about 465 million bushels of corn, a 60 million bushel increase over the monthly demand from ten years ago.

U.S. ethanol blend rate continues climbing

The Great Plains Growers Conference returns to return to St. Joseph this week, offering a three-day event dedicated to farming, community, and the stewardship of the land. 

The 2026 conference will be held from Jan. 8–10 on the campus of Missouri Western State University.

The program begins Thursday, Jan. 8, with a series of full-day workshops. These include CSA School, Small Farm Livestock management, and FSMA Training via the Produce Safety Alliance Growers Training Course. The sessions are designed to provide deep dives into foundational agricultural practices and safety regulations.

A highlight of this year’s event is the keynote address by Curtis Millsap, owner of Millsap Farms in Springfield, Missouri. His presentation, titled “Farming as a Sacred Trust: Building Community at the Intersection of Land, Food &amp; People,” will anchor the conference's mission of connecting sustainable agriculture with community well-being.

Following the workshops, Friday and Saturday will feature a diverse array of specialized conference tracks.

Registration for the 2026 conference is currently open. For more information or to sign up, you can contact the Buchanan County Extension at (816) 279-1691.

Great Plains Growers Conference returns to St. Joseph with focus on stewardship and community

KANSAS CITY — Kansas man has been charged for his role in a fatal shooting that occurred on East Interstate 70 Highway in 2022.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2797/Daimon-Benson-Complaint--PC">Daimon Benson</a>&nbsp;faces one count of 2nd Degree Murder, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Shoot at/from Motor Vehicle, at Person, Motor Vehicle or Building, Resulting in Death or Injury, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

On October 21, 2022, Kansas City police responded to a shooting on East Interstate 70 at Interstate 29 and located a crashed white Toyota Camry. Officers found a female victim in the driver’s seat suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the head. She was later pronounced deceased at a nearby hospital, according to court records.

Based on several investigative leads, detectives determined a gray Dodge Charger began chasing the Toyota at a high rate of speed after the Toyota cut off the Charger. An individual in the passenger seat of the Charger, later determined to be Benson allegedly fired into the Toyota. The Toyota crashed and the Charger fled the scene.

Benson told detectives he did not remember having any involvement in the 2022 shooting but estimated to have shot about 400 people. He estimated he has shot about ten people every month from inside a vehicle.&nbsp;

The defendant was a juvenile at the time of the shooting and was certified&nbsp; in Family Court.

He is being held on a $100,000 cash-only bond. The defendant is a SAVE KC client and did not attend a call-in.&nbsp;

Kansas man shot and killed woman driver on I-70 

MIAMI COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas felon on multiple drug allegations after a drug bust at a property in northeast Kansas.

Just before 8:30a.m. January 8, police executed a narcotics search warrant at 140 14th Street in Osawatomie, according to a media release from police. The residence had been under investigation for several months following reports to law enforcement alleging the sale of narcotics by an individual who lived at the residence.

After establishing probable cause that narcotics were sold on the property, investigators, with their approved search warrant, took 61-year-old Gary L. Burnett into custody. He was living in the detached garage located behind the main residence.&nbsp;

A search of the garage resulted in the seizure of meth, scales, a firearm, drug paraphernalia and additional items related to the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;pachaging and sale of narcotics.

Barnett is being held in the Miami County Jail on requested charges that include distribution of meth within 1000 feet of a school, using a phone to arrange the sale of narcotics, no drug tax stamp affixed,&nbsp; possession of meth with intent to distribute, felony possession of a firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;

Police: Kan. felon was selling drugs from garage on property

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s feud with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has escalated into a Department of Justice investigation, raising alarm bells among some Republicans in the Senate, where Trump will need broad backing from GOP lawmakers to get his choice for the next Fed chairman approved after Powell’s term ends in May.

Retiring North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, who sits on the narrowly divided Banking Committee that will hold hearings on the next nominee, wrote in a statement he won’t approve anyone to fill Powell’s seat if Trump or administration officials try to further erode its independence.&nbsp;

“If there were any remaining doubt whether advisers within the Trump Administration are actively pushing to end the independence of the Federal Reserve, there should now be none,” Tillis wrote. “It is now the independence and credibility of the Department of Justice that are in question.”

Tillis added he plans to “oppose the confirmation of any nominee for the Fed—including the upcoming Fed Chair vacancy—until this legal matter is fully resolved.”

Trump has criticized Powell repeatedly since retaking the Oval Office in January, pressing him to reduce interest rates faster and signaling he wanted to fire him.&nbsp;

Powell said in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/powell20260111a.htm" target="_blank">a video</a>&nbsp;released this weekend that Justice Department officials on Friday “served the Federal Reserve with grand jury subpoenas, threatening a criminal indictment related to my testimony before the Senate Banking Committee last June.”

Powell alleged the DOJ investigation is not purely about oversight of the multi-year renovation project at the Fed’s offices in Washington, D.C., but “a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the president.”

“This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions—or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political pressure or intimidation,” Powell said.

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-nomination-jerome-powell-chairman-board-governors-federal-reserve-system/" target="_blank">first nominated</a>&nbsp;Powell to be chairman of the Federal Reserve in November 2017 for a four-year term that began in February 2018, writing in a statement that Powell had “demonstrated steady leadership, sound judgment, and policy expertise.”

“Mr. Powell will bring to the Federal Reserve a unique background of Government service and business experience,” Trump wrote. “He previously served as Under Secretary at the Department of Treasury in the administration of President George H.W. Bush. Mr. Powell also has nearly three decades of business experience.”

The Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1152/vote_115_2_00019.htm" target="_blank">voted 84-13</a>&nbsp;in January 2018 to confirm Powell to the role.&nbsp;

President Joe Biden re-nominated Powell in November 2021 for another four-year term that began in May 2022 after the Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1172/vote_117_2_00176.htm" target="_blank">voted 80-19</a>&nbsp;to confirm him for a second time.&nbsp;

Trump hasn’t said publicly whom he will nominate to succeed Powell as Fed chairman, but whoever he picks will need to move past the Senate Banking Committee in order to receive a confirmation vote on the floor and actually take on the role.&nbsp;

The Banking Committee holds 13 Republicans and 11 Democrats, giving Tillis considerable leverage to block any Trump nominee from advancing if all of the Democrats on the panel also vote against reporting that person to the floor.&nbsp;

Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, ranking member on the committee, wrote in a statement that “Trump is abusing the authorities of the Department of Justice like a wannabe dictator so the Fed serves his interests, along with his billionaire friends.”&nbsp;

“As Donald Trump prepares to nominate a new Fed Chair, he wants to push Jerome Powell off the Fed Board for good and install another sock puppet to complete his corrupt takeover of America’s central bank,” Warren wrote. “This Committee and the Senate should not move forward with any Trump nominee for the Fed, including Fed Chair.”

Chairman Tim Scott, R-S.C., had not released any public statements about the Department of Justice investigation into Powell as of Monday morning.&nbsp;

Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who isn’t on the committee, released a written statement after speaking with Powell on Monday morning, saying “it’s clear the administration’s investigation is nothing more than an attempt at coercion.”&nbsp;

“If the Department of Justice believes an investigation into Chair Powell is warranted based on project cost overruns—which are not unusual—then Congress needs to investigate the Department of Justice,” Murkowski wrote. “The stakes are too high to look the other way: if the Federal Reserve loses its independence, the stability of our markets and the broader economy will suffer. My colleague, Senator Tillis, is right in blocking any Federal Reserve nominees until this is resolved.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote in a statement the Justice Department’s actions represent “the kind of bullying that we’ve all come to expect from Donald Trump and his cronies.”&nbsp;

“Anyone who is independent and doesn’t just fall in line behind Trump gets investigated,” Schumer wrote. “Jay Powell and the Fed aren’t the reason Trump’s economy and his poll numbers are in the toilet. If he’s looking for the person who caused that he should look in the mirror.”

Former Federal Reserve chairmen, Treasury secretaries and White House economic advisers released&nbsp;<a href="https://jointstatement.substack.com/p/statement-on-the-federal-reserve" target="_blank">a written statement</a>&nbsp;that the Fed’s “independence and the public’s perception of that independence are critical for economic performance, including achieving the goals Congress has set for the Federal Reserve of stable prices, maximum employment, and moderate long-term interest rates.”

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