Missouri agriculture

American cheese manufacturers produced more than 1.26 billion pounds of cheese in March 2026, according to newly released figures from the United States Department of Agriculture, highlighting the continued strength of the country’s dairy processing industry.

The latest USDA data showed total cheese production, excluding cottage cheese, increased 1.2 percent compared with March last year and rose 8.1 percent from February 2026 levels.

Italian-style cheeses remained the largest category by volume, with production reaching 542 million pounds during March. That represented an increase of 2.3 percent compared with the same month last year. [Read more…] about US cheese production rises as Italian varieties continue to dominate market growth

The Missouri Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for a new round of grants designed to support specialty crop production across the state, with funding available for projects involving fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, honey, nursery crops and other nontraditional agricultural products.

State officials said applications for the 2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program must be submitted by May 28. Individual producers, universities, nonprofits, research institutions and community organizations are eligible to apply for projects intended to strengthen Missouri’s specialty crop sector.

The program, funded through the US Department of Agriculture, offers grants of up to $50,000 for projects running over a two-year period. [Read more…] about Missouri opens applications for specialty crop grants as state seeks to expand fruit and vegetable production