By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/noahgrabianski/">Noah Grabianski</a>

Cattle farms and feedlots in Missouri today are populated by cows that are a far cry from those that roamed pastures 80 or 90 years ago.

Cattle back then were referred to as “buckle cows” – named that way because they only went about as high as a rancher’s belt buckle. But in the 1950s, when cattle herd numbers were low, cattlemen began putting more emphasis on cows’ “frame size,” or their height.

In the past few decades, with improvements in genetic technology, farmers have been able to measure extremely specific qualities in their cattle. This has led to a shift from increasing the frame size of cattle to increasing the “performance,” or weight, of cattle. That means cattle aren’t getting taller, but heavier.

The U.S. cattle inventory&nbsp;<a href="https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/h702q636h/6108x003v/kk91h696g/catl0124.pdf" target="_blank">hit its lowest level in 73 years</a>&nbsp;in 2024,&nbsp;largely as a result of recent droughts. The solution isn’t as simple as just breeding more cows, because cattle producers have to balance the amount of cattle they hold back to reproduce, and the amount they sell off to feedyards to generate revenue.

Don Close, a senior animal protein analyst at agriculture publication Terrain Ag, said the industry has been shifting breeding practices to mitigate the recent cattle shortage.

“Being the lowest we’ve been since 1951, the industry has elected to make cattle bigger, to compensate in pounds what we’re losing in head count,” Close said.

Close estimated that the average live weight of U.S. cattle increases by about eight pounds a year. The carcass weight, or how much cattle weigh once the hide, bone and other inedible parts are removed, increases by about five pounds a year.

But there has been a particularly noticeable spike in the past decade or so, caused by incentives from meatpacking plants.

This trend can be seen through what’s known as the hot carcass weight discount, which is the payout reduction cattle producers receive when carcasses exceed a meatpacking plant’s maximum weight. As a result, producers try to get their cattle as close to that weight limit as possible without exceeding it.

Jamie Courter, the state beef genetics specialist at University of Missouri Extension, said that when she first started in the industry about 10 years ago, that weight limit was 1,000 pounds. It’s been creeping up ever since. The limit went up to 1,050 pounds, then 1,100, and now some plants have improved their technology enough to accept 1,200-pound carcasses.

“We keep pushing what we’re willing to accept, as far as size of feedyard steers, higher and higher,” Courter said. “The packers are incentivizing the feedyards and the commercial cattlemen to do so, and — right, wrong or indifferent — commercial cattlemen are going to chase that incentive because that impacts their bottom line.”

Higher cattle weights also have an effect on consumers down the line. Certain beef cuts, namely ribeye and loin, are getting too big to be easily packaged. Because the cows are bigger, these cuts are larger, meaning they have to be cut thinner and with more surface area than they used to be to maintain a consistent weight.

But Close said these high cattle weights are, in large part, a good thing for beef consumers.

“If we were to limit weights on the cattle, it would limit the total of beef production, limiting supply, that would drive price higher,” Close said. “So in a backwards kind of way, yes, it’s actually supporting … consumers, because it keeps more product available to the counter.”

Beef is getting more expensive, with the average price of ground beef hitting a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalbeefwire.com/beef-prices-soar-to-record-highs-in-june" target="_blank">record high of $6.12 per pound</a>&nbsp;in June. However, bigger cows also means better quality. Bigger size leads to higher fat content and better marbling. Close estimated that 82% to 84% of all beef is of choice or prime grade, which lines up with consumer tastes.

However, researchers and cattle producers have said the current trajectory of beef performance isn’t sustainable. Courter said it’s important to consider the economic factors of farming cattle when trying to breed for size.

“We can’t have 2,000-pound mature-weight cows, because those cows eat more, which means you need more acres to raise that cow in a year,” Courter said. “Which means, if you don’t buy more land, you have to decrease the number of cows you have, or you have to increase how much hay or corn or whatever you’re buying to sustain that 2,000-pound cow.”

Doug Frank, co-owner of the Frank/Hazelrigg Cattle Co., said that cattle performance is reaching a threshold. In recent years, this has led farmers to start analyzing other significant traits.

“Maintenance costs are going up, and maybe we’re past the point of the most efficiency there,” Frank said. “We’re probably at the limit of what our commercial customers have for resources, and we’re a lot more interested in other traits.”

Where farmers used to look towards breeding for weight, some are now beginning to place importance in feeding efficiency. Farmers are tracking relative feed intake, which measures how much weight a cow gains from a certain amount of feed. Those that need less food to gain weight are more profitable for farmers.

Cattle performance may be starting to even out, but Frank highlighted the industry’s ability to continue delivering product, even during a downturn in inventory.

“Beef is not cheap today, but … we’ve increased production pretty substantially in the U.S. beef industry,” Frank said, “and we’ve done it with the lowest cow numbers that we’ve had in (decades).”

This story originally appeared in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.missouribusinessalert.com/" target="_blank">Missouri&nbsp;Business&nbsp;Alert</a>, a digital newsroom covering&nbsp;businessand the economy in&nbsp;Missouri.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753957064006.png" alt=" Cows are pictured at the University of Missouri South Farm. Cattle weight may be approaching a tipping point, experts say (Noah Grabianski/Missouri Business Alert)" />
 <figcaption> Cows are pictured at the University of Missouri South Farm. Cattle weight may be approaching a tipping point, experts say (Noah Grabianski/Missouri Business Alert)</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/noahgrabianski/">Noah Grabianski</a>Cattle farms and feedlots in Missouri today are populated by cows that are a far cry from those that roamed pastures 80 or 90 years ago.Cattle back then were referred to as “buckle cows” – named that way because they only went about as high as a rancher’s belt buckle. But in the 1950s, when cattle herd numbers were low, cattlemen began putting more emphasis on cows’ “frame size,” or their height.In the past few decades, with improvements in genetic technology, farmers have been able to measure extremely specific qualities in their cattle. This has led to a shift from increasing the frame size of cattle to increasing the “performance,” or weight, of cattle. That means cattle aren’t getting taller, but heavier.The U.S. cattle inventory&nbsp;<a href="https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/h702q636h/6108x003v/kk91h696g/catl0124.pdf" target="_blank">hit its lowest level in 73 years</a>&nbsp;in 2024,&nbsp;largely as a result of recent droughts. The solution isn’t as simple as just breeding more cows, because cattle producers have to balance the amount of cattle they hold back to reproduce, and the amount they sell off to feedyards to generate revenue.Don Close, a senior animal protein analyst at agriculture publication Terrain Ag, said the industry has been shifting breeding practices to mitigate the recent cattle shortage.“Being the lowest we’ve been since 1951, the industry has elected to make cattle bigger, to compensate in pounds what we’re losing in head count,” Close said.Close estimated that the average live weight of U.S. cattle increases by about eight pounds a year. The carcass weight, or how much cattle weigh once the hide, bone and other inedible parts are removed, increases by about five pounds a year.But there has been a particularly noticeable spike in the past decade or so, caused by incentives from meatpacking plants.This trend can be seen through what’s known as the hot carcass weight discount, which is the payout reduction cattle producers receive when carcasses exceed a meatpacking plant’s maximum weight. As a result, producers try to get their cattle as close to that weight limit as possible without exceeding it.Jamie Courter, the state beef genetics specialist at University of Missouri Extension, said that when she first started in the industry about 10 years ago, that weight limit was 1,000 pounds. It’s been creeping up ever since. The limit went up to 1,050 pounds, then 1,100, and now some plants have improved their technology enough to accept 1,200-pound carcasses.“We keep pushing what we’re willing to accept, as far as size of feedyard steers, higher and higher,” Courter said. “The packers are incentivizing the feedyards and the commercial cattlemen to do so, and — right, wrong or indifferent — commercial cattlemen are going to chase that incentive because that impacts their bottom line.”Higher cattle weights also have an effect on consumers down the line. Certain beef cuts, namely ribeye and loin, are getting too big to be easily packaged. Because the cows are bigger, these cuts are larger, meaning they have to be cut thinner and with more surface area than they used to be to maintain a consistent weight.But Close said these high cattle weights are, in large part, a good thing for beef consumers.“If we were to limit weights on the cattle, it would limit the total of beef production, limiting supply, that would drive price higher,” Close said. “So in a backwards kind of way, yes, it’s actually supporting … consumers, because it keeps more product available to the counter.”Beef is getting more expensive, with the average price of ground beef hitting a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalbeefwire.com/beef-prices-soar-to-record-highs-in-june" target="_blank">record high of $6.12 per pound</a>&nbsp;in June. However, bigger cows also means better quality. Bigger size leads to higher fat content and better marbling. Close estimated that 82% to 84% of all beef is of choice or prime grade, which lines up with consumer tastes.However, researchers and cattle producers have said the current trajectory of beef performance isn’t sustainable. Courter said it’s important to consider the economic factors of farming cattle when trying to breed for size.“We can’t have 2,000-pound mature-weight cows, because those cows eat more, which means you need more acres to raise that cow in a year,” Courter said. “Which means, if you don’t buy more land, you have to decrease the number of cows you have, or you have to increase how much hay or corn or whatever you’re buying to sustain that 2,000-pound cow.”Doug Frank, co-owner of the Frank/Hazelrigg Cattle Co., said that cattle performance is reaching a threshold. In recent years, this has led farmers to start analyzing other significant traits.“Maintenance costs are going up, and maybe we’re past the point of the most efficiency there,” Frank said. “We’re probably at the limit of what our commercial customers have for resources, and we’re a lot more interested in other traits.”Where farmers used to look towards breeding for weight, some are now beginning to place importance in feeding efficiency. Farmers are tracking relative feed intake, which measures how much weight a cow gains from a certain amount of feed. Those that need less food to gain weight are more profitable for farmers.Cattle performance may be starting to even out, but Frank highlighted the industry’s ability to continue delivering product, even during a downturn in inventory.“Beef is not cheap today, but … we’ve increased production pretty substantially in the U.S. beef industry,” Frank said, “and we’ve done it with the lowest cow numbers that we’ve had in (decades).”This story originally appeared in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.missouribusinessalert.com/" target="_blank">Missouri&nbsp;Business&nbsp;Alert</a>, a digital newsroom covering&nbsp;businessand the economy in&nbsp;Missouri.

Thinning herd, heavier cattle reshape Missouri’s beef supply chain

It was a lighter day at practice for the Kansas City Chiefs after three consecutive days of padded practices in the heat, with cooler temperatures today as well. 

Back at full strength in this year's camp has been defensive end Charles Omenihu.  Injuries have limited Omenihu during his time with the Chiefs, but for the first time in Kansas City, he'll be on the field in week one. 

For Omenihu, he says it will be exciting to be able to be on the field week one.

"It is going to be the first time I play in Week 1 since my fourth year in the league. So, I have definitely, these last two years have understood the fact of not taking things for granted. Understood the fact that you got to cherish everything in this game. Because I have been on the end where you’ve had to sit and wait for different reasons," Omenihu tells reporters. "So, I’ll be excited, I’ll be geeked (and) I’ll be ready to rock and ready to go help us get a win.”

Omenihu had just one sack in six games for the Chiefs last year, first hitting the field in week 13. 

With a very young receiving group, when asked who the leader in that room is, Head Coach Andy Reid quickly said it was ninth year receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. 

Smith-Schuster says that's a responsiblility he does not take lightly

"We’ve got a bunch of young guys in the room, different ages; and you know, for me it’s a big responsibility,"  Smith-Schuster says. "I take full control. I think I lead by, you know, not just by my words, but by my actions. And, you know, like I said there’s a lot of guys, a lot of experience, different ages, and everyone’s coachable, so, you know, I’m glad to take (on) that responsibility.”

After returning to practice yesterday (Tues), Xavier Worthy was out of practice today, and it was reported he is in concussion protocol, putting the Chiefs down three receivers with injuries to Skyy Moore and Hollywood Brown

The Chiefs are getting a little break after a tough stretch of practices, with three straight days of padded practices in pretty extreme heats. 

Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo says he felt like the team held up pretty well through that tough stretch

"What will be really interesting to me, you know, we had the three hard days, we had today was 10-10-10 – we get the day off. The tough day to come back is the next one, you know after you’ve had the day off so I’m looking for them – if we can ramp it up on that day, I’ll be pretty happy," Spagnuolo says.

The “10-10-10” specifically refers to the team cycling through 10 offensive plays, 10 defensive plays and 10 minutes of special teams work during the duration of the practice session. 

The Chiefs practiced for an hour and a half.  They are off tomorrow and will practice again on Friday at 9:15.

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753903544787.jpeg" alt="JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) warms up before a lighter 10-10-10 practice alongside Nikki Remigio (81) and Jason Brownlee (89)/ Photo by Justin Peacock" />
 <figcaption>JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) warms up before a lighter 10-10-10 practice alongside Nikki Remigio (81) and Jason Brownlee (89)/ Photo by Justin Peacock</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKEIt was a lighter day at practice for the Kansas City Chiefs after three consecutive days of padded practices in the heat, with cooler temperatures today as well. Back at full strength in this year's camp has been defensive end Charles Omenihu. Injuries have limited Omenihu during his time with the Chiefs, but for the first time in Kansas City, he'll be on the field in week one. For Omenihu, he says it will be exciting to be able to be on the field week one."It is going to be the first time I play in Week 1 since my fourth year in the league. So, I have definitely, these last two years have understood the fact of not taking things for granted. Understood the fact that you got to cherish everything in this game. Because I have been on the end where you’ve had to sit and wait for different reasons," Omenihu tells reporters. "So, I’ll be excited, I’ll be geeked (and) I’ll be ready to rock and ready to go help us get a win.”Omenihu had just one sack in six games for the Chiefs last year, first hitting the field in week 13. With a very young receiving group, when asked who the leader in that room is, Head Coach Andy Reid quickly said it was ninth year receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. Smith-Schuster says that's a responsiblility he does not take lightly"We’ve got a bunch of young guys in the room, different ages; and you know, for me it’s a big responsibility," Smith-Schuster says. "I take full control. I think I lead by, you know, not just by my words, but by my actions. And, you know, like I said there’s a lot of guys, a lot of experience, different ages, and everyone’s coachable, so, you know, I’m glad to take (on) that responsibility.”After returning to practice yesterday (Tues), Xavier Worthy was out of practice today, and it was reported he is in concussion protocol, putting the Chiefs down three receivers with injuries to Skyy Moore and Hollywood BrownThe Chiefs are getting a little break after a tough stretch of practices, with three straight days of padded practices in pretty extreme heats. Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo says he felt like the team held up pretty well through that tough stretch"What will be really interesting to me, you know, we had the three hard days, we had today was 10-10-10 – we get the day off. The tough day to come back is the next one, you know after you’ve had the day off so I’m looking for them – if we can ramp it up on that day, I’ll be pretty happy," Spagnuolo says.The “10-10-10” specifically refers to the team cycling through 10 offensive plays, 10 defensive plays and 10 minutes of special teams work during the duration of the practice session. The Chiefs practiced for an hour and a half. They are off tomorrow and will practice again on Friday at 9:15.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753903613835.jpeg" alt="Charles Omenihu (90) walks down the hill with rookie Ashton Gillotte (97) for practice on Wednesday/ Photo by Justin Peacock" />
 <figcaption>Charles Omenihu (90) walks down the hill with rookie Ashton Gillotte (97) for practice on Wednesday/ Photo by Justin Peacock</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Chiefs get relief from heat with lighter practice on Wednesday

ATCHISON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating an injury accident that occurred at&nbsp;5p.m. on Tuesday in Atchison.

Isaiah Williams, 24, Atchison, was riding his electric scooter eastbound in the 1800 block Main Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Williams lost control of the scooter and crashed. There were no other vehicles involved.&nbsp; A private vehicle transported Williams to Amberwell Hospital&nbsp; for treatment of injuries. Police were then notified and an investigation followed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753888339864.png" alt="Photo of the scooter involved -Atchison Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo of the scooter involved -Atchison Police</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating an injury accident that occurred at&nbsp;5p.m. on Tuesday in Atchison.Isaiah Williams, 24, Atchison, was riding his electric scooter eastbound in the 1800 block Main Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Williams lost control of the scooter and crashed. There were no other vehicles involved.&nbsp; A private vehicle transported Williams to Amberwell Hospital&nbsp; for treatment of injuries. Police were then notified and an investigation followed.

Police: Kansas man injured in electric scooter crash

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/sauravrahman/">Saurav Rahman</a>

Nonprofit organizations that provide refugee services in Missouri are pivoting to diversified financial strategies to reduce their dependency&nbsp;on government funding. These organizations are now focusing more on expanding community-based crowdfunding and scaling up revenue-generating programs to address anticipated financial gaps and ensure continued support for refugees.

City of Refuge, a Columbia-based nonprofit that provides services for refugees resettled in mid-Missouri, was notified that 40% of its federal and state funding might dry up by October 2026.

Jackson Efuta, a former refugee and now a staff member at City of Refuge, said witnessing the ongoing funding cuts is deeply painful.

“I have personally experienced how vital these resources are during the most vulnerable time in a person’s life, when they are trying to adjust, heal and survive in a completely new environment,” Efuta said. “It is life-changing, providing emotional, practical and community based help that gives individuals the chance to thrive, not just survive.”

Garrett Rucinski, director&nbsp;of engagement at City of Refuge, said the organization is making plans in case its funding dries up.

“We already have a plan now,” Rucinski said. “It’s to grow the revenue producers, grow the monthly donors.”

Hilary Cohen Singer, executive director at Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City, said it’s hard to determine a specific number of funds lost, as some programs have been discontinued permanently, others temporarily paused and some funding has fluctuated between being frozen and unfrozen.

“We are increasingly looking to our local community to help provide the vital services for refugees and immigrants to help them integrate into the community,” Cohen Singer said. “We are certainly affected in significant ways by the loss of federal funding.”

David Gonzalez, vice president of development at the International Institute of St. Louis, thinks the future for these service providers is going to be less reliant on government funding, and that is the direction his organization is moving in.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://moora.org/data-reports" target="_blank">Missouri Office of Refugee Administration reported</a>&nbsp;3,272 refugee arrivals in Missouri during the 2024 fiscal year, which extended from Oct. 1, 2023 to Sept. 30, 2024 — the highest number in the past eight years. According to the American Immigration Council, the&nbsp;<a href="https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/missouri/" target="_blank">total number of refugees in Missouri</a>&nbsp;is estimated to be around 24,600.

City of Refuge launched a campaign to recruit 1,000 donors contributing $50 per month. According to Rucinski, it has reached 20% of that goal within just a couple of months.

The organization is also focusing on its three revenue-generating initiatives — City Boutique, City Cuisine and City Preschool. City Boutique is a thrift shop that sells goods from local donors and refugee artisans; City Cuisine operates a food truck and provides catering services; and the preschool program supports young children’s social and language development.

Together, these initiatives help fund the larger organization, with revenue from the boutique funding 15% of the total annual budget, Rucinski said.

“We are knocking on every door possible, asking for monthly gifts, asking for end-of-year gifts. That’s what every nonprofit is doing right now,” Rucinski said. “We have the benefit of having those three revenue generators, and those revenue generators are going to help&nbsp;us.”

Amid news of future funding cuts, an unexpected opportunity arose for City of Refuge — the building next to its location was listed for sale. The organization purchased it using previously awarded American Rescue Plan Act funds to expand on its services.

“When the building came up, we realized that we could put down the down payment,” Rucinski said. “With tenants still in the building next door, we can continue to operate as we were, while affording the building next door to us, so it is self-sustaining.”

City of Refuge is now planning to use the remaining space in that new building for youth programming and a commercial kitchen, which it hopes will generate additional revenue for the organization, Rucinski said.

“If we keep getting more monthly donors and end-of-year donors, if we keep getting more visitors to the Boutique, Cuisine and people attending our preschool, more sponsors and we continue on the pace that we are at, I feel very positive about October 2026,” Rucinski said.

Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City continues to support refugees despite the ongoing challenges caused by the federal funding cuts. The organization has adapted by reducing staff and expanding its search for alternative funding sources.

Katie Norman, communication manager at JVS, said that the organization supports approximately 7,500 refugees and immigrants each year, with community integration, health and education.

“We do receive quite a bit of funding&nbsp;from the federal government, so we have been impacted by the cuts and freezes to federal funds,” Norman said. “But we also receive funding from private foundations and the state as well.”

Due to federal funding cuts, JVS has already reduced its services and is now seeking and has received new funding to continue much of its work, Cohen Singer said.

“We did have to make staff reductions, and so we have done that,” Cohen Singer said. “We anticipate being able to continue with our operations at the size and scale that we are certainly into next fiscal year, and that is probably as far as we are able to plan for.”

Agencies like JVS have traditionally been closely involved in the initial resettlement period of refugees. That program has now stopped, and there are no new arrivals associated with it. Following that, there is no funding available for refugee resettlement, said Cohen Singer.

“But that doesn’t mean that our work stops, because the work that we do provides support to people who have been here one year, but also three years or five years or 10 years, depending on what their needs are,” she said.

According to Cohen Singer, the organization now reaches the local community, individuals, foundations, and state and local governments that have programs to support people’s wellbeing, even if the funding is not specifically for refugees and immigrants.

“The people that we serve can benefit from funding that is targeted towards employment or education or youth services or mental health, or any number of things,” Cohen Singer said. “So we are talking to folks that provide funding in all of those areas so that we can bring additional resources into the organization.”

The International Institute of St. Louis, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping refugees, has been forced to make staff reductions and a renewed push for community and private-sector support to adapt to the federal funding cuts.

The organization has been a government contractor since the 70s, working to safely and legally bring refugees to the area and support them by providing housing, education and employment. Last year, the organization served over 3,500 individuals. However, since&nbsp;January, things have been tough due to a roughly $500,000 funding cut.

Gonzalez said that even when federal funding was frozen, the organization still had an agreement with the federal government to bring refugees to the St. Louis region and provide support.

“We immediately found a shortfall of about half a million dollars that we had to come up with,” Gonzalez said. “This money would be used for things like housing.”

To continue that support, the International Institute of St. Louis launched a campaign in February called Keeping Our Promise, aiming to raise $500,000. The organization also made workforce reductions in areas that didn’t have much direct client access, Gonzalez said.

“We had about 125 people here locally, and we had to cut about 60% of those,” Gonzalez said. “So we were down to under 60 staff in February and March.”

Gonzalez said the organization has now been able to bring some staff back, bringing the current team size to around 70 to 75, with some community support.

The annual budget of the International Institute of St. Louis is roughly $24 to $25 million, with 70% to 80% of that coming from federal funding, Gonzalez said.

“That is not a long-term solution for funding, particularly when our funding is at the whims of whoever’s in&nbsp;the White House,” he said. “So we have looked at&nbsp;re-establishing or establishing alternative sources of funding.”

Gonzalez outlined three key strategies for future financing: increasing support from the corporate sector by making&nbsp;them understand the importance of new people in the local economy; uncovering new grant opportunities from organizations that are new but interested&nbsp;in the program outcomes; and engaging the broader community, which values the long-term impact of this work.

“They understood the cuts, they understood what was happening. And so we had a tremendous response to the Keeping Our Promise campaign,” Gonzalez said. “I will say now we’ve had more individual donors already, at this point, halfway through the year, than we had all of last year.”

Last year, the International Institute of St. Louis increased its non-governmental fundraising by 33%, which amounted to over a million dollars, Gonzalez said.

Kindness Begins with Me supports refugee women in the greater St. Louis area, providing English lessons and driving instruction. The organization serves 225 refugees each week.

Half of its annual budget comes from federal funding through the Missouri Office of Refugee Administration, which is about $125,000.

Jessica Pachak, executive director at Kindness Begins with Me, said its funding was temporarily frozen, then came back after the freeze. But it’s still unstable.

“We are going to have to be a mixture of fundraising initiatives, which will be individual donors and then additional foundations,” Pachak said. “So in the past, we relied 50% on federal funds, and now that 50% of federal funds, potentially, is going to need to be replaced with foundation donors.”

Pachak thinks that Kindness Begins with Me is going to be able to raise most of that money but not all.

KC for Refugees, an organization that supports refugees in the Kansas City metro area, is mostly funded by donations from the community and friends. It has not received any federal funding since 2019.

Linda Zemke, president of the Board of Directors at KC for Refugees, said it is planning to expand its program in the coming days.

“We’d like to have more to be able to help the refugees with more things, maybe with rent and emergency assistance,” Zemke said. “But right now we don’t have the money for that. So that would be a good thing to be able to get donations for that, for grants for that.”

Carson Myers, interim executive director at Refuge KC, said its programs are funded 100% by donations from individuals and churches.

“We have experienced an increased bandwidth for operations and support and future planning in the midst of a time of deep need,” Myers said in an email.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753872060905.png" alt=" Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City helps refugees integrate into the local community (photo submitted)." />
 <figcaption> Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City helps refugees integrate into the local community (photo submitted).</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/sauravrahman/">Saurav Rahman</a>Nonprofit organizations that provide refugee services in Missouri are pivoting to diversified financial strategies to reduce their dependency&nbsp;on government funding. These organizations are now focusing more on expanding community-based crowdfunding and scaling up revenue-generating programs to address anticipated financial gaps and ensure continued support for refugees.City of Refuge, a Columbia-based nonprofit that provides services for refugees resettled in mid-Missouri, was notified that 40% of its federal and state funding might dry up by October 2026.Jackson Efuta, a former refugee and now a staff member at City of Refuge, said witnessing the ongoing funding cuts is deeply painful.“I have personally experienced how vital these resources are during the most vulnerable time in a person’s life, when they are trying to adjust, heal and survive in a completely new environment,” Efuta said. “It is life-changing, providing emotional, practical and community based help that gives individuals the chance to thrive, not just survive.”Garrett Rucinski, director&nbsp;of engagement at City of Refuge, said the organization is making plans in case its funding dries up.“We already have a plan now,” Rucinski said. “It’s to grow the revenue producers, grow the monthly donors.”Hilary Cohen Singer, executive director at Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City, said it’s hard to determine a specific number of funds lost, as some programs have been discontinued permanently, others temporarily paused and some funding has fluctuated between being frozen and unfrozen.“We are increasingly looking to our local community to help provide the vital services for refugees and immigrants to help them integrate into the community,” Cohen Singer said. “We are certainly affected in significant ways by the loss of federal funding.”David Gonzalez, vice president of development at the International Institute of St. Louis, thinks the future for these service providers is going to be less reliant on government funding, and that is the direction his organization is moving in.The&nbsp;<a href="https://moora.org/data-reports" target="_blank">Missouri Office of Refugee Administration reported</a>&nbsp;3,272 refugee arrivals in Missouri during the 2024 fiscal year, which extended from Oct. 1, 2023 to Sept. 30, 2024 — the highest number in the past eight years. According to the American Immigration Council, the&nbsp;<a href="https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/missouri/" target="_blank">total number of refugees in Missouri</a>&nbsp;is estimated to be around 24,600.<h2>Expanding revenue-generating services</h2>City of Refuge launched a campaign to recruit 1,000 donors contributing $50 per month. According to Rucinski, it has reached 20% of that goal within just a couple of months.The organization is also focusing on its three revenue-generating initiatives — City Boutique, City Cuisine and City Preschool. City Boutique is a thrift shop that sells goods from local donors and refugee artisans; City Cuisine operates a food truck and provides catering services; and the preschool program supports young children’s social and language development.Together, these initiatives help fund the larger organization, with revenue from the boutique funding 15% of the total annual budget, Rucinski said.“We are knocking on every door possible, asking for monthly gifts, asking for end-of-year gifts. That’s what every nonprofit is doing right now,” Rucinski said. “We have the benefit of having those three revenue generators, and those revenue generators are going to help&nbsp;us.”Amid news of future funding cuts, an unexpected opportunity arose for City of Refuge — the building next to its location was listed for sale. The organization purchased it using previously awarded American Rescue Plan Act funds to expand on its services.“When the building came up, we realized that we could put down the down payment,” Rucinski said. “With tenants still in the building next door, we can continue to operate as we were, while affording the building next door to us, so it is self-sustaining.”City of Refuge is now planning to use the remaining space in that new building for youth programming and a commercial kitchen, which it hopes will generate additional revenue for the organization, Rucinski said.“If we keep getting more monthly donors and end-of-year donors, if we keep getting more visitors to the Boutique, Cuisine and people attending our preschool, more sponsors and we continue on the pace that we are at, I feel very positive about October 2026,” Rucinski said.<h2>Leaning on community support</h2>Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City continues to support refugees despite the ongoing challenges caused by the federal funding cuts. The organization has adapted by reducing staff and expanding its search for alternative funding sources.Katie Norman, communication manager at JVS, said that the organization supports approximately 7,500 refugees and immigrants each year, with community integration, health and education.“We do receive quite a bit of funding&nbsp;from the federal government, so we have been impacted by the cuts and freezes to federal funds,” Norman said. “But we also receive funding from private foundations and the state as well.”Due to federal funding cuts, JVS has already reduced its services and is now seeking and has received new funding to continue much of its work, Cohen Singer said.“We did have to make staff reductions, and so we have done that,” Cohen Singer said. “We anticipate being able to continue with our operations at the size and scale that we are certainly into next fiscal year, and that is probably as far as we are able to plan for.”Agencies like JVS have traditionally been closely involved in the initial resettlement period of refugees. That program has now stopped, and there are no new arrivals associated with it. Following that, there is no funding available for refugee resettlement, said Cohen Singer.“But that doesn’t mean that our work stops, because the work that we do provides support to people who have been here one year, but also three years or five years or 10 years, depending on what their needs are,” she said.According to Cohen Singer, the organization now reaches the local community, individuals, foundations, and state and local governments that have programs to support people’s wellbeing, even if the funding is not specifically for refugees and immigrants.“The people that we serve can benefit from funding that is targeted towards employment or education or youth services or mental health, or any number of things,” Cohen Singer said. “So we are talking to folks that provide funding in all of those areas so that we can bring additional resources into the organization.”<h2>Less reliance on government funding</h2>The International Institute of St. Louis, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping refugees, has been forced to make staff reductions and a renewed push for community and private-sector support to adapt to the federal funding cuts.The organization has been a government contractor since the 70s, working to safely and legally bring refugees to the area and support them by providing housing, education and employment. Last year, the organization served over 3,500 individuals. However, since&nbsp;January, things have been tough due to a roughly $500,000 funding cut.Gonzalez said that even when federal funding was frozen, the organization still had an agreement with the federal government to bring refugees to the St. Louis region and provide support.“We immediately found a shortfall of about half a million dollars that we had to come up with,” Gonzalez said. “This money would be used for things like housing.”To continue that support, the International Institute of St. Louis launched a campaign in February called Keeping Our Promise, aiming to raise $500,000. The organization also made workforce reductions in areas that didn’t have much direct client access, Gonzalez said.“We had about 125 people here locally, and we had to cut about 60% of those,” Gonzalez said. “So we were down to under 60 staff in February and March.”Gonzalez said the organization has now been able to bring some staff back, bringing the current team size to around 70 to 75, with some community support.The annual budget of the International Institute of St. Louis is roughly $24 to $25 million, with 70% to 80% of that coming from federal funding, Gonzalez said.“That is not a long-term solution for funding, particularly when our funding is at the whims of whoever’s in&nbsp;the White House,” he said. “So we have looked at&nbsp;re-establishing or establishing alternative sources of funding.”Gonzalez outlined three key strategies for future financing: increasing support from the corporate sector by making&nbsp;them understand the importance of new people in the local economy; uncovering new grant opportunities from organizations that are new but interested&nbsp;in the program outcomes; and engaging the broader community, which values the long-term impact of this work.“They understood the cuts, they understood what was happening. And so we had a tremendous response to the Keeping Our Promise campaign,” Gonzalez said. “I will say now we’ve had more individual donors already, at this point, halfway through the year, than we had all of last year.”Last year, the International Institute of St. Louis increased its non-governmental fundraising by 33%, which amounted to over a million dollars, Gonzalez said.<h2>Urge for more support</h2>Kindness Begins with Me supports refugee women in the greater St. Louis area, providing English lessons and driving instruction. The organization serves 225 refugees each week.Half of its annual budget comes from federal funding through the Missouri Office of Refugee Administration, which is about $125,000.Jessica Pachak, executive director at Kindness Begins with Me, said its funding was temporarily frozen, then came back after the freeze. But it’s still unstable.“We are going to have to be a mixture of fundraising initiatives, which will be individual donors and then additional foundations,” Pachak said. “So in the past, we relied 50% on federal funds, and now that 50% of federal funds, potentially, is going to need to be replaced with foundation donors.”Pachak thinks that Kindness Begins with Me is going to be able to raise most of that money but not all.KC for Refugees, an organization that supports refugees in the Kansas City metro area, is mostly funded by donations from the community and friends. It has not received any federal funding since 2019.Linda Zemke, president of the Board of Directors at KC for Refugees, said it is planning to expand its program in the coming days.“We’d like to have more to be able to help the refugees with more things, maybe with rent and emergency assistance,” Zemke said. “But right now we don’t have the money for that. So that would be a good thing to be able to get donations for that, for grants for that.”Carson Myers, interim executive director at Refuge KC, said its programs are funded 100% by donations from individuals and churches.“We have experienced an increased bandwidth for operations and support and future planning in the midst of a time of deep need,” Myers said in an email.This story originally appeared in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.missouribusinessalert.com/" target="_blank">Missouri&nbsp;Business&nbsp;Alert</a>, a digital newsroom covering&nbsp;businessand the economy in&nbsp;Missouri.

Missouri refugee service providers adjust financial strategies amid federal funding uncertainty

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.

Just after 8:30p.m. July 27, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Cadillac sedan on U.S. Highway 75 near 126th Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 Jennifer Ann Bailey-Johnson, 41, of Atchison, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and felony interference with law enforcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753809678169.png" alt="Bailey-Johnson-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Bailey-Johnson-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.Just after 8:30p.m. July 27, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Cadillac sedan on U.S. Highway 75 near 126th Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. Jennifer Ann Bailey-Johnson, 41, of Atchison, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and felony interference with law enforcement.

Kan. woman accused of interference with deputy during arrest

The Kansas City Chiefs held their longest training camp practice today at Missouri Western State University in temperatures that felt upwards of 110 degrees with the heat index.  

Transitioning to a new position in camp is offensive lineman Kingsley  Suamataia, moving from left tackle to a position he's played just once left guard.  

Head Coach Andy Reid says now that players have had pads on for a few days now, he's seen good things from Suamataia 

“He’s done a nice job. He really battled in there, (he) looks solid. (I) really like what we see,” Reid tells reporters following practice 

Suamataia says while the move is going well, it's still a learning process, with things moving much faster at the guard position 

"It’s all just taking my mind from out here to in here and working it from in there and getting the work from Trey (Smith) and the inside guys,” Suamataia says.  “So, it’s been good.” 

Things did get chippy today in the heat with rookies Josh Simmons and Ashton Gillotte going at each other.     

With a packed running back room, Kansas City Chiefs seventh round pick Brashard Smith is trying to find whatever way he can to make the team and make an impact 

Smith spent his career at SMU as a pass catching back, which he could do with the Chiefs, but he has to work his way past Elijah Mitchell and Kareem Hunt first. Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub also likes Smith's potential as a punt and kick returner.  

For Smith, who didn't spend much time on special teams in college, he says he likes the possibility of being a returner.  

"I love the ball in my hands, and I feel like I can make explosive plays,” Smith says.  “So, I’d love to play punt return, kick return, it doesn’t matter just to help the team win I’ll do whatever for sure.” 

Practice at Chiefs Training Camp went just about two hours today.  The Chiefs will have one more practice tomorrow at 9:15 before an off day on Thursday. 

The heat at camp brought a slew of injuries with some leaving practice. Reid reported that linebacker Jeffrey Bassa was out with an ankle sprain. Tight end Jake Briningstool was out with a hamstring injury as was safety Deon Bush. Cornerback Kristian Fulton remains on the PUP list with a knee injury, and cornerback Darius Rush was out with a hamstring injury, 

Cornerback Eric Scott also had a hamstring injury. Wide receiver Xavier Worthy had a rough fall during practice and left for the medical tent, but did return to practice, however fellow wide receivers Hollywood Brown and Skyy Moore left practice in a cart, Moore with a hamstring injury and Brown with an ankle injury. Linebacker Cooper McDonald was out of practice with an illness. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753827674364.jpeg" alt="Kingsley Suamataia walks down the hill alongside offensive guard Trey Smith/ Photo by Alexis Starks" />
 <figcaption>Kingsley Suamataia walks down the hill alongside offensive guard Trey Smith/ Photo by Alexis Starks</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKEThe Kansas City Chiefs held their longest training camp practice today at Missouri Western State University in temperatures that felt upwards of 110 degrees with the heat index. Transitioning to a new position in camp is offensive lineman Kingsley Suamataia, moving from left tackle to a position he's played just once left guard. Head Coach Andy Reid says now that players have had pads on for a few days now, he's seen good things from Suamataia “He’s done a nice job. He really battled in there, (he) looks solid. (I) really like what we see,” Reid tells reporters following practice Suamataia says while the move is going well, it's still a learning process, with things moving much faster at the guard position "It’s all just taking my mind from out here to in here and working it from in there and getting the work from Trey (Smith) and the inside guys,” Suamataia says. “So, it’s been good.” Things did get chippy today in the heat with rookies Josh Simmons and Ashton Gillotte going at each other. With a packed running back room, Kansas City Chiefs seventh round pick Brashard Smith is trying to find whatever way he can to make the team and make an impact Smith spent his career at SMU as a pass catching back, which he could do with the Chiefs, but he has to work his way past Elijah Mitchell and Kareem Hunt first. Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub also likes Smith's potential as a punt and kick returner. For Smith, who didn't spend much time on special teams in college, he says he likes the possibility of being a returner. "I love the ball in my hands, and I feel like I can make explosive plays,” Smith says. “So, I’d love to play punt return, kick return, it doesn’t matter just to help the team win I’ll do whatever for sure.” Practice at Chiefs Training Camp went just about two hours today. The Chiefs will have one more practice tomorrow at 9:15 before an off day on Thursday. The heat at camp brought a slew of injuries with some leaving practice. Reid reported that linebacker Jeffrey Bassa was out with an ankle sprain. Tight end Jake Briningstool was out with a hamstring injury as was safety Deon Bush. Cornerback Kristian Fulton remains on the PUP list with a knee injury, and cornerback Darius Rush was out with a hamstring injury, Cornerback Eric Scott also had a hamstring injury. Wide receiver Xavier Worthy had a rough fall during practice and left for the medical tent, but did return to practice, however fellow wide receivers Hollywood Brown and Skyy Moore left practice in a cart, Moore with a hamstring injury and Brown with an ankle injury. Linebacker Cooper McDonald was out of practice with an illness. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753827733978.jpeg" alt="Bailey Zappe hands the ball off to Brashard Smith/ Photo by Alexis Starks" />
 <figcaption>Bailey Zappe hands the ball off to Brashard Smith/ Photo by Alexis Starks</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Suamataia settling into new position as Chiefs tackle practice on hot day

Maryville has
gotten a $4 million boost from the state.

The Missouri
Department of Natural Resources has awarded a $4.1 million loan to the city of
Maryville to plan and design its drinking water improvement project. The money
will finance early engineering and administrative costs while the city and the DNR
work to secure a larger financial package for its drinking water project.

The Maryville
water upgrade is expected to cost of total of $48 million. The city hopes to
begin construction next year.

The DNR loan is
designed to help in the early phase of the project. It comes with no interest.

“MoDNR provides
crucial financing and technical assistance to help communities build public
infrastructure that protects public health and the environment,” DNR Director, Kurt
Schaefer, said in a written statement released by DNR. “Investing in the
wellbeing of Missouri’s infrastructure is also a catalyst to economic growth
and prosperity.”

The Drinking Water
State Revolving Fund finances improvements to water treatment plants,
distribution systems, water storage and supply facilities, and for
interconnection or consolidation projects, according to DNR.

By BRENT MARTINMaryville PostMaryville has
gotten a $4 million boost from the state.The Missouri
Department of Natural Resources has awarded a $4.1 million loan to the city of
Maryville to plan and design its drinking water improvement project. The money
will finance early engineering and administrative costs while the city and the DNR
work to secure a larger financial package for its drinking water project.The Maryville
water upgrade is expected to cost of total of $48 million. The city hopes to
begin construction next year.The DNR loan is
designed to help in the early phase of the project. It comes with no interest.“MoDNR provides
crucial financing and technical assistance to help communities build public
infrastructure that protects public health and the environment,” DNR Director, Kurt
Schaefer, said in a written statement released by DNR. “Investing in the
wellbeing of Missouri’s infrastructure is also a catalyst to economic growth
and prosperity.”The Drinking Water
State Revolving Fund finances improvements to water treatment plants,
distribution systems, water storage and supply facilities, and for
interconnection or consolidation projects, according to DNR.

Maryville receives $4M state loan for water project

Missouri has a long history of struggling to process MO HealthNet applications in a timely manner. As states prepare for new federal work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP, advocates worry about what the workload will mean for people receiving benefits in Missouri

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

Kevin Wehner has been there for Missourians as they have dealt with unanswered questions, long wait times and the confusion as they enrolled for government insurance.

He was there as the Affordable Care Act marketplace came online, and as Missouri slowly expanded its Medicaid program, known as MO HealthNet.

He’s witnessed Missouri struggling for years to process benefits applications in a timely manner.

Now,&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/07/11/medicaid-mo-healthnet-kancare-changes-2025/" target="_blank">under President Donald Trump’s new budget plan</a>, Americans aged 19 to 64 who are enrolled in Medicaid will be required to show proof of 80 hours of work, school, caregiving or volunteering a month to be eligible for coverage.

Wehner worries about what new Medicaid work requirements might mean for the people he assists on a day-to-day basis.

“It’s going to directly affect the Medicaid expansion (group),” said Wehner, a benefits enrollment counselor at Missouri Connections for Health in Columbia. “I think tangentially, it will affect the other populations, just because of the amount of resources that will be needed to see if these people are putting in 80 hours.”

For years, Missouri has struggled to process social services applications in a timely manner, drawing the ire of advocates and the courts. Federal regulations require states to process Medicaid applications based on income in 45 days, but Missouri has&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/22/missouri-medicaid-application-delays-exceed-federal-limits-for-third-straight-month/">repeatedly violated the time frame requirements</a>.

Wehner anticipates more confusion with the new rules, which are slated to begin in December 2026, after the midterm elections.

<a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/politifact-healthcheck-fact-check-scott-jennings-medicaid-work-requirements/" target="_blank">Research</a>&nbsp;in states that have put work requirements in place confirms that suspicion. Enrollees found it difficult to fulfill the requirements and submit the proper documentation, leading to people losing coverage.

“I imagine I’m going to get a lot of people asking for help,” Wehner said. “You get your yellow letter in the mail. It’s several pages. Even when I’m working with people, I get a highlighter and I go through and find, ‘OK, here’s what we need to do.’ It’s not really obvious what you need to do.”

New estimates from KFF found that the Trump administration’s budget package would reduce federal Medicaid spending by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/allocating-cbos-estimates-of-federal-medicaid-spending-reductions-across-the-states-enacted-reconciliation-package/" target="_blank">$911 billion over the next 10 years</a>&nbsp;and increase the number of uninsured Americans by 10 million. The largest portion of savings would come from work requirements on the Affordable Care Act expansion group – totaling about $326 billion saved over the next decade.

In Missouri, that would amount to an estimated 130,000 people losing access to Medicaid as their form of health insurance.

How the state may shift to handle increased eligibility checks&nbsp;

For years, Missouri has looked to update its technology to better handle the administrative burden as advocates demanded solutions to the delays across Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications.

“It really is going to be a new system to implement,” said Lucas Caldwell-McMillan, the chief of policy at Empower Missouri, an anti-poverty advocacy group. “Right now we’ve got a pretty outdated system that is struggling. I think the frontline agency staff are working their hardest to implement it now, but they’re falling short.”

Under the new framework for Medicaid, states will need to process proof of the 80 hours of work, school, caregiving or volunteering, and will need to check eligibility for enrollment twice a year, rather than the current standard of once annually.

“These are six-month eligibility checks, so essentially doubling the work there,” said Caldwell-McMillan. “Both on the participant, but also the agency. And instituting these work requirements in Medicaid will require a whole new system to verify information that’s never been verified by the Medicaid agency before.”

According to Timothy McBride, a health economist and professor at the Washington University School of Public Health, states and enrollees have struggled to keep track of the documentation required to track whether people are working.

“The recipient has to actually interact with the program and make sure they get the paperwork filled out and submitted and it doesn’t get lost,” McBride said. “And that’s where it has broken down in states like Missouri, and where this has caused problems in our past.”

The increased burden for the state could come at a high cost, with not much savings. Research shows that both in Missouri and at the national level,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/5-key-facts-about-medicaid-work-requirements/" target="_blank">about 90% of adults</a>&nbsp;on Medicaid already have a job or would be considered exempt from work requirements.

States like Arkansas and Georgia have looked to put work requirements in place for years, but both have struggled.

Arkansas briefly put 20-hour per week work requirements in place from 2018 to 2019 for childless adults aged 30 to 49. After a federal court blocked the requirements, Arkansas stopped the program.

But in the brief time those requirements were in place, about 18,000 enrollees in the state lost their coverage. The state spent more than $26 million in administrative costs on eligibility checks and to put the program in place.

<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7497731/" target="_blank">A study</a>&nbsp;found that half of those in Arkansas who had lost Medicaid as part of the requirements reported serious problems paying off medical debt, while 56% delayed some form of medical care due to the cost and 64% delayed medication due to the cost.

The study also found that the work requirements did little to increase the number of enrollees who were employed. More than 95% of those in the work requirement group were either already working or qualified for an exemption. There did not appear to be any significant upticks in employment as a result of the requirements.

<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/understanding-the-intersection-of-medicaid-and-work-an-update/" target="_blank">In 2023,</a>&nbsp;44% of the adults 19-64 enrolled in Medicaid were working full time, while 20% were working part time. Another 12% didn’t work due to caregiving, while 10% didn’t work due to illness and 7% didn’t work because they were enrolled in school, leaving only 8% not working due to another reason.

In an interview with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2025-07-24/missouri-medicaid-director-todd-richardson-requirements-seamless-enrollees" target="_blank">St. Louis Public Radio</a>, Todd Richardson, the director of Missouri’s Medicaid program, said the state would look into using an online portal to streamline the process for enrollees.

“Our goal is to make sure that people who are eligible and entitled to be on the program have the easiest path to get access to those benefits, while at the same time ensuring that those who are not eligible for the program are not on the program,” he told the outlet.

“If they’re working and we can verify that they’re working through income data, then that’s a verification right there,” Richardson added. “Now, there are other exceptions to the work requirements that probably will require a participant to send some documentation or to involve a human. But I think there’s a lot of that income verification that can be done electronically.”

Reduction of federal support for the program and the ways that states can fund Medicaid will leave Missouri lawmakers with a&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/07/14/missouri-governor-budget-cuts-kansas-city/" target="_blank">tricky budget situation</a>&nbsp;in the years to come. Because the state’s expansion came through a voter-approved constitutional amendment, lawmakers won’t be able to easily undo the expansion, and the state is on the hook to pay for the full cost of the program.

States may turn to other programs to find ways to recoup the costs.

Missouri offers benefits through Medicaid beyond what is required by the federal government. Things like dental coverage, some mental health coverage, long-term care or Missouri’s recent expansion of Medicaid for postpartum women could be targets for cuts.

“I imagine they’re pretty nervous about this,” McBride said. “Frankly, those of us who just want the state to function are nervous for them because we want them to be able to do this. It’s really potentially catastrophic for the state.”

Otherwise, McBride said, programs like education, roads or prison funding would be likely places for the state to turn.

“The other options are to cut spending elsewhere,” McBride said. “They would cut Medicaid in places where they can cut Medicaid, and I’m pretty sure the state would have to cut from all of the above.”

How could work requirements look in rural Missouri?&nbsp;

New work requirements pose hurdles in rural parts of the state that urban areas may not face. Completing the necessary paperwork with unreliable internet or technology access could add another layer of difficulty.

Things like access to transportation, or a job with enough hours, could set Missourians back from obtaining coverage, said Caldwell-McMillan.

“It’s finding a job, and finding a job that is going to give you enough hours all of the time when they’re checking eligibility requirements,” Caldwell-McMillan said. “Retail workers, cashiers, cooks, those shifts can change. All of those folks are very much at risk — although they’re working — of not exactly meeting the hourly requirements and at risk of losing coverage.”

Navigators like Wehner will have to consider ways to help people report their work or caregiving when they may not have much access to technology.

“A lot of people I work with live out in rural areas. They may not even have a smartphone and definitely not internet access,” Wehner said. “So just to report things online is going to be really burdensome.”

Other trickle-down impacts could also hit rural Missouri the hardest. Rural hospitals, for example, rely heavily on Medicaid reimbursements to keep their doors open. Most&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/a-closer-look-at-the-50-billion-rural-health-fund-in-the-new-reconciliation-law/?utm_campaign=KFF-Medicaid&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz--27paKCYlJEiAcVd9I52rdx8tOb2rJWYbIOiclkFMsYdG1ueFy_iwhfaouA4C0I6eBdmMHi8wZMbuk7OzDbAW3JSj6bg&amp;_hsmi=371627437&amp;utm_content=371627437&amp;utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">recent data</a>&nbsp;show 44% of rural hospitals have negative margins.

The budget package includes $50 billion for a rural hospital fund, which is equal to about one-third of the estimated loss of federal Medicaid funding in rural communities. The budget provides $10 billion a year for five years for the fund, but health economists and Medicaid experts say the federal spending will be finished before many of the losses to Medicaid funding are fully realized.

Coupled with cuts to SNAP, the potential loss of a hospital in a rural area could be damaging to local economies, Caldwell-McMillan said.

“Many of those counties are the folks who are facing perhaps a closure of a clinic or the closure of the closest hospital because of cuts to Medicaid,” Caldwell-McMillan said. “So it really is a perfect storm of folks — working families — who need the support, and then two big sources of support are going to be taken away.”

“There’s going to be really tough choices and really tough consequences.”

This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/07/25/missouri-work-requirements-medicaid-mo-healthnet/" 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>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753817239739.png" alt=" Federal regulations require states to process Medicaid applications based on income in 45 days, but Missouri has repeatedly violated the time frame requirements (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Federal regulations require states to process Medicaid applications based on income in 45 days, but Missouri has repeatedly violated the time frame requirements (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Missouri has a long history of struggling to process MO HealthNet applications in a timely manner. As states prepare for new federal work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP, advocates worry about what the workload will mean for people receiving benefits in Missouri</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/megcunningham/">Meg Cunningham</a>&nbsp;Kevin Wehner has been there for Missourians as they have dealt with unanswered questions, long wait times and the confusion as they enrolled for government insurance.He was there as the Affordable Care Act marketplace came online, and as Missouri slowly expanded its Medicaid program, known as MO HealthNet.He’s witnessed Missouri struggling for years to process benefits applications in a timely manner.Now,&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/07/11/medicaid-mo-healthnet-kancare-changes-2025/" target="_blank">under President Donald Trump’s new budget plan</a>, Americans aged 19 to 64 who are enrolled in Medicaid will be required to show proof of 80 hours of work, school, caregiving or volunteering a month to be eligible for coverage.Wehner worries about what new Medicaid work requirements might mean for the people he assists on a day-to-day basis.“It’s going to directly affect the Medicaid expansion (group),” said Wehner, a benefits enrollment counselor at Missouri Connections for Health in Columbia. “I think tangentially, it will affect the other populations, just because of the amount of resources that will be needed to see if these people are putting in 80 hours.”For years, Missouri has struggled to process social services applications in a timely manner, drawing the ire of advocates and the courts. Federal regulations require states to process Medicaid applications based on income in 45 days, but Missouri has&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/22/missouri-medicaid-application-delays-exceed-federal-limits-for-third-straight-month/">repeatedly violated the time frame requirements</a>.Wehner anticipates more confusion with the new rules, which are slated to begin in December 2026, after the midterm elections.<a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/politifact-healthcheck-fact-check-scott-jennings-medicaid-work-requirements/" target="_blank">Research</a>&nbsp;in states that have put work requirements in place confirms that suspicion. Enrollees found it difficult to fulfill the requirements and submit the proper documentation, leading to people losing coverage.“I imagine I’m going to get a lot of people asking for help,” Wehner said. “You get your yellow letter in the mail. It’s several pages. Even when I’m working with people, I get a highlighter and I go through and find, ‘OK, here’s what we need to do.’ It’s not really obvious what you need to do.”New estimates from KFF found that the Trump administration’s budget package would reduce federal Medicaid spending by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/allocating-cbos-estimates-of-federal-medicaid-spending-reductions-across-the-states-enacted-reconciliation-package/" target="_blank">$911 billion over the next 10 years</a>&nbsp;and increase the number of uninsured Americans by 10 million. The largest portion of savings would come from work requirements on the Affordable Care Act expansion group – totaling about $326 billion saved over the next decade.In Missouri, that would amount to an estimated 130,000 people losing access to Medicaid as their form of health insurance.<h2>How the state may shift to handle increased eligibility checks&nbsp;</h2>For years, Missouri has looked to update its technology to better handle the administrative burden as advocates demanded solutions to the delays across Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications.“It really is going to be a new system to implement,” said Lucas Caldwell-McMillan, the chief of policy at Empower Missouri, an anti-poverty advocacy group. “Right now we’ve got a pretty outdated system that is struggling. I think the frontline agency staff are working their hardest to implement it now, but they’re falling short.”Under the new framework for Medicaid, states will need to process proof of the 80 hours of work, school, caregiving or volunteering, and will need to check eligibility for enrollment twice a year, rather than the current standard of once annually.“These are six-month eligibility checks, so essentially doubling the work there,” said Caldwell-McMillan. “Both on the participant, but also the agency. And instituting these work requirements in Medicaid will require a whole new system to verify information that’s never been verified by the Medicaid agency before.”According to Timothy McBride, a health economist and professor at the Washington University School of Public Health, states and enrollees have struggled to keep track of the documentation required to track whether people are working.“The recipient has to actually interact with the program and make sure they get the paperwork filled out and submitted and it doesn’t get lost,” McBride said. “And that’s where it has broken down in states like Missouri, and where this has caused problems in our past.”The increased burden for the state could come at a high cost, with not much savings. Research shows that both in Missouri and at the national level,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/5-key-facts-about-medicaid-work-requirements/" target="_blank">about 90% of adults</a>&nbsp;on Medicaid already have a job or would be considered exempt from work requirements.States like Arkansas and Georgia have looked to put work requirements in place for years, but both have struggled.Arkansas briefly put 20-hour per week work requirements in place from 2018 to 2019 for childless adults aged 30 to 49. After a federal court blocked the requirements, Arkansas stopped the program.But in the brief time those requirements were in place, about 18,000 enrollees in the state lost their coverage. The state spent more than $26 million in administrative costs on eligibility checks and to put the program in place.<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7497731/" target="_blank">A study</a>&nbsp;found that half of those in Arkansas who had lost Medicaid as part of the requirements reported serious problems paying off medical debt, while 56% delayed some form of medical care due to the cost and 64% delayed medication due to the cost.The study also found that the work requirements did little to increase the number of enrollees who were employed. More than 95% of those in the work requirement group were either already working or qualified for an exemption. There did not appear to be any significant upticks in employment as a result of the requirements.<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/understanding-the-intersection-of-medicaid-and-work-an-update/" target="_blank">In 2023,</a>&nbsp;44% of the adults 19-64 enrolled in Medicaid were working full time, while 20% were working part time. Another 12% didn’t work due to caregiving, while 10% didn’t work due to illness and 7% didn’t work because they were enrolled in school, leaving only 8% not working due to another reason.In an interview with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2025-07-24/missouri-medicaid-director-todd-richardson-requirements-seamless-enrollees" target="_blank">St. Louis Public Radio</a>, Todd Richardson, the director of Missouri’s Medicaid program, said the state would look into using an online portal to streamline the process for enrollees.“Our goal is to make sure that people who are eligible and entitled to be on the program have the easiest path to get access to those benefits, while at the same time ensuring that those who are not eligible for the program are not on the program,” he told the outlet.“If they’re working and we can verify that they’re working through income data, then that’s a verification right there,” Richardson added. “Now, there are other exceptions to the work requirements that probably will require a participant to send some documentation or to involve a human. But I think there’s a lot of that income verification that can be done electronically.”Reduction of federal support for the program and the ways that states can fund Medicaid will leave Missouri lawmakers with a&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/07/14/missouri-governor-budget-cuts-kansas-city/" target="_blank">tricky budget situation</a>&nbsp;in the years to come. Because the state’s expansion came through a voter-approved constitutional amendment, lawmakers won’t be able to easily undo the expansion, and the state is on the hook to pay for the full cost of the program.States may turn to other programs to find ways to recoup the costs.Missouri offers benefits through Medicaid beyond what is required by the federal government. Things like dental coverage, some mental health coverage, long-term care or Missouri’s recent expansion of Medicaid for postpartum women could be targets for cuts.“I imagine they’re pretty nervous about this,” McBride said. “Frankly, those of us who just want the state to function are nervous for them because we want them to be able to do this. It’s really potentially catastrophic for the state.”Otherwise, McBride said, programs like education, roads or prison funding would be likely places for the state to turn.“The other options are to cut spending elsewhere,” McBride said. “They would cut Medicaid in places where they can cut Medicaid, and I’m pretty sure the state would have to cut from all of the above.”<h2>How could work requirements look in rural Missouri?&nbsp;</h2>New work requirements pose hurdles in rural parts of the state that urban areas may not face. Completing the necessary paperwork with unreliable internet or technology access could add another layer of difficulty.Things like access to transportation, or a job with enough hours, could set Missourians back from obtaining coverage, said Caldwell-McMillan.“It’s finding a job, and finding a job that is going to give you enough hours all of the time when they’re checking eligibility requirements,” Caldwell-McMillan said. “Retail workers, cashiers, cooks, those shifts can change. All of those folks are very much at risk — although they’re working — of not exactly meeting the hourly requirements and at risk of losing coverage.”Navigators like Wehner will have to consider ways to help people report their work or caregiving when they may not have much access to technology.“A lot of people I work with live out in rural areas. They may not even have a smartphone and definitely not internet access,” Wehner said. “So just to report things online is going to be really burdensome.”Other trickle-down impacts could also hit rural Missouri the hardest. Rural hospitals, for example, rely heavily on Medicaid reimbursements to keep their doors open. Most&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/a-closer-look-at-the-50-billion-rural-health-fund-in-the-new-reconciliation-law/?utm_campaign=KFF-Medicaid&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz--27paKCYlJEiAcVd9I52rdx8tOb2rJWYbIOiclkFMsYdG1ueFy_iwhfaouA4C0I6eBdmMHi8wZMbuk7OzDbAW3JSj6bg&amp;_hsmi=371627437&amp;utm_content=371627437&amp;utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank">recent data</a>&nbsp;show 44% of rural hospitals have negative margins.The budget package includes $50 billion for a rural hospital fund, which is equal to about one-third of the estimated loss of federal Medicaid funding in rural communities. The budget provides $10 billion a year for five years for the fund, but health economists and Medicaid experts say the federal spending will be finished before many of the losses to Medicaid funding are fully realized.Coupled with cuts to SNAP, the potential loss of a hospital in a rural area could be damaging to local economies, Caldwell-McMillan said.“Many of those counties are the folks who are facing perhaps a closure of a clinic or the closure of the closest hospital because of cuts to Medicaid,” Caldwell-McMillan said. “So it really is a perfect storm of folks — working families — who need the support, and then two big sources of support are going to be taken away.”“There’s going to be really tough choices and really tough consequences.”This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/07/25/missouri-work-requirements-medicaid-mo-healthnet/" 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>.

Looming Medicaid work requirements could worsen Missouri backlogs in social services

By limiting large-scale water exports from the state, experts and farmers said Missouri has taken forward-thinking measures to protect one of its most vital resources. According to them, it will benefit agriculture, industry and municipal services in the coming years.

Governor Mike Kehoe&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=193" target="_blank">signed new legislation into law</a>&nbsp;on July 14 that limits large-scale water exports from Missouri. The law, which takes effect Aug. 28, requires a permit for water exports and restricts withdrawals for export to within 30 miles of the state border. It also mandates annual reporting of water usage to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

David Borrok, dean of the College of Engineering and Computing at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, said that a number of other states in the U.S have been taking similar measures as demand for water grows.

“Missouri is a water-rich state, and I’d say, arguably, water is our most valuable resource as a state,” Borrok said. “It’s the engine that sort of underpins all economic development and things in the state.”

Missouri is home to more than&nbsp;<a href="https://dnr.mo.gov/water/hows-water/state/interstate#:~:text=The%20Missouri%20River%20is%20a,transecting%20several%20major%20metropolitan%20areas." target="_blank">110,000 miles of rivers and streams</a>. Each year, rainfall creates more than&nbsp;<a href="https://dnr.mo.gov/document-search/missouri-water-resources-plan-update-2020-executive-summary" target="_blank">15 trillion gallons of runoff</a>&nbsp;that flows into these rivers, lakes and streams. About 38 trillion gallons come into the state through the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. It is&nbsp;<a href="https://dnr.mo.gov/water/hows-water/monitoring-data/levels/groundwater#:~:text=More%20than%2080%25%20of%20Missouri's,resulting%20in%20water%2Dlevel%20decline." target="_blank">estimated that the state</a>&nbsp;has about 500 trillion gallons of usable-quality groundwater.

Daniel Downing, a water quality specialist with the University of Missouri Extension, believes the motivation behind this legislation is the preservation of Missouri’s abundant water supplies.

“On the state borders, especially the western border, there may be parties harvesting or considering harvesting water from Missouri and pumping it into Oklahoma and/or Kansas, where they have restrictive water allotments,” Downing said in an email.

Missouri has very few, if any, restrictions on the quantity of water one can harvest in compliance with Missouri’s Riparian Rights water law, Downing said.

“Missouri water law allows the use of reasonable amounts of water as long as it does not deprive others of what they need,” Downing said. “In the Western states, water quantity and use are regulated under allotment and/or appropriation systems that tightly control how much water they can access.”

The Ogallala Aquifer is a very important underground water source for many states, like Kansas, Nebraska and others. However, it does not extend into Missouri. Increased populations, development and droughts have created more demand for water in these states, Downing said.

<a href="https://kgs.ku.edu/sites/kgs/files/files/TechSeriespdfs/TS25.pdf" target="_blank">Research shows that</a>, due to pumping water for irrigation, the aquifer is now dangerously close to running dry. To mitigate that,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2025-01-28/could-an-aqueduct-bring-water-to-western-kansas-or-is-it-a-pipedream" target="_blank">there was a plan proposed</a>&nbsp;to move water from the Missouri River in eastern Kansas, near Kansas City, to help refill the Ogallala Aquifer in western Kansas.

“The use and apparent gradual depletion of the aquifer has been a topic of research and discussion for many years, resulting in limitations on the use of water from it,” Downing said. “These circumstances, as well as other influences and restrictions, make it inviting to look across the state line and covet the abundance of water we have.”

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2172/" target="_blank">signed a bill in July</a>&nbsp;establishing a water conservation task force to tackle the state’s water issues. The task force will identify water-related risks, determine what constitutes a sustainable water supply and explore funding options for future water projects. Additionally, a Water Planning Work Group will work to update and modernize the State Water Resources Planning Act.

According to the&nbsp;<a href="https://dnr.mo.gov/document-search/missouri-water-resources-plan-update-2020-executive-summary" target="_blank">Missouri Water Resources Plan</a>, updated in 2020, the state’s residents and businesses use an average of 3.2 billion total gallons of water each day. Of that total, 78% comes from groundwater sources, while the remaining 22% is supplied by surface water.

Borrok emphasized that water security is essential for the state’s long-term economic growth.

“All the manufacturing that we might want to attract to the state,” Borrok said. “All data centers, all these sorts of things use massive, massive amounts of water, and no major company will move to a state that doesn’t have the water resources necessary to expand.”

Agricultural irrigation accounts for the largest share of the state’s consumptive water withdrawals at 65%. Major water systems contribute another 25%, while all other sectors combined make up the remaining 10% of annual withdrawals.

Tom Waters is a seventh-generation farmer from Orrick, Missouri and also serves as a consultant at the Missouri Water Center. He and his family raise corn, soybeans and wheat.

Although Waters doesn’t do any irrigation on the land he farms, he said that in southeast Missouri, particularly in the Bootheel area, the practice is quite common.

“Keeping that water to irrigate Missouri crops is important versus sending it to other states,” Waters said. “The difference between an irrigated crop and a non-irrigated crop always depends on the weather and drought conditions and those sorts of things. But, traditionally, the irrigation more than pays for itself.”

David Waller, board president and national director at the Missouri Rural Water Association, said every drop Missouri exports outside the state is lost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753784043233.png" alt=" The Mississippi River in Hannibal (Courtesy of Rebecca Smith)." />
 <figcaption> The Mississippi River in Hannibal (Courtesy of Rebecca Smith).</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/sauravrahman/">Saurav Rahman</a>By limiting large-scale water exports from the state, experts and farmers said Missouri has taken forward-thinking measures to protect one of its most vital resources. According to them, it will benefit agriculture, industry and municipal services in the coming years.Governor Mike Kehoe&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=193" target="_blank">signed new legislation into law</a>&nbsp;on July 14 that limits large-scale water exports from Missouri. The law, which takes effect Aug. 28, requires a permit for water exports and restricts withdrawals for export to within 30 miles of the state border. It also mandates annual reporting of water usage to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.David Borrok, dean of the College of Engineering and Computing at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, said that a number of other states in the U.S have been taking similar measures as demand for water grows.“Missouri is a water-rich state, and I’d say, arguably, water is our most valuable resource as a state,” Borrok said. “It’s the engine that sort of underpins all economic development and things in the state.”Missouri is home to more than&nbsp;<a href="https://dnr.mo.gov/water/hows-water/state/interstate#:~:text=The%20Missouri%20River%20is%20a,transecting%20several%20major%20metropolitan%20areas." target="_blank">110,000 miles of rivers and streams</a>. Each year, rainfall creates more than&nbsp;<a href="https://dnr.mo.gov/document-search/missouri-water-resources-plan-update-2020-executive-summary" target="_blank">15 trillion gallons of runoff</a>&nbsp;that flows into these rivers, lakes and streams. About 38 trillion gallons come into the state through the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. It is&nbsp;<a href="https://dnr.mo.gov/water/hows-water/monitoring-data/levels/groundwater#:~:text=More%20than%2080%25%20of%20Missouri's,resulting%20in%20water%2Dlevel%20decline." target="_blank">estimated that the state</a>&nbsp;has about 500 trillion gallons of usable-quality groundwater.Daniel Downing, a water quality specialist with the University of Missouri Extension, believes the motivation behind this legislation is the preservation of Missouri’s abundant water supplies.“On the state borders, especially the western border, there may be parties harvesting or considering harvesting water from Missouri and pumping it into Oklahoma and/or Kansas, where they have restrictive water allotments,” Downing said in an email.Missouri has very few, if any, restrictions on the quantity of water one can harvest in compliance with Missouri’s Riparian Rights water law, Downing said.“Missouri water law allows the use of reasonable amounts of water as long as it does not deprive others of what they need,” Downing said. “In the Western states, water quantity and use are regulated under allotment and/or appropriation systems that tightly control how much water they can access.”The Ogallala Aquifer is a very important underground water source for many states, like Kansas, Nebraska and others. However, it does not extend into Missouri. Increased populations, development and droughts have created more demand for water in these states, Downing said.<a href="https://kgs.ku.edu/sites/kgs/files/files/TechSeriespdfs/TS25.pdf" target="_blank">Research shows that</a>, due to pumping water for irrigation, the aquifer is now dangerously close to running dry. To mitigate that,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2025-01-28/could-an-aqueduct-bring-water-to-western-kansas-or-is-it-a-pipedream" target="_blank">there was a plan proposed</a>&nbsp;to move water from the Missouri River in eastern Kansas, near Kansas City, to help refill the Ogallala Aquifer in western Kansas.“The use and apparent gradual depletion of the aquifer has been a topic of research and discussion for many years, resulting in limitations on the use of water from it,” Downing said. “These circumstances, as well as other influences and restrictions, make it inviting to look across the state line and covet the abundance of water we have.”Kansas Governor Laura Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2172/" target="_blank">signed a bill in July</a>&nbsp;establishing a water conservation task force to tackle the state’s water issues. The task force will identify water-related risks, determine what constitutes a sustainable water supply and explore funding options for future water projects. Additionally, a Water Planning Work Group will work to update and modernize the State Water Resources Planning Act.According to the&nbsp;<a href="https://dnr.mo.gov/document-search/missouri-water-resources-plan-update-2020-executive-summary" target="_blank">Missouri Water Resources Plan</a>, updated in 2020, the state’s residents and businesses use an average of 3.2 billion total gallons of water each day. Of that total, 78% comes from groundwater sources, while the remaining 22% is supplied by surface water.Borrok emphasized that water security is essential for the state’s long-term economic growth.“All the manufacturing that we might want to attract to the state,” Borrok said. “All data centers, all these sorts of things use massive, massive amounts of water, and no major company will move to a state that doesn’t have the water resources necessary to expand.”Agricultural irrigation accounts for the largest share of the state’s consumptive water withdrawals at 65%. Major water systems contribute another 25%, while all other sectors combined make up the remaining 10% of annual withdrawals.Tom Waters is a seventh-generation farmer from Orrick, Missouri and also serves as a consultant at the Missouri Water Center. He and his family raise corn, soybeans and wheat.Although Waters doesn’t do any irrigation on the land he farms, he said that in southeast Missouri, particularly in the Bootheel area, the practice is quite common.“Keeping that water to irrigate Missouri crops is important versus sending it to other states,” Waters said. “The difference between an irrigated crop and a non-irrigated crop always depends on the weather and drought conditions and those sorts of things. But, traditionally, the irrigation more than pays for itself.”David Waller, board president and national director at the Missouri Rural Water Association, said every drop Missouri exports outside the state is lost.“So a municipality that might need water within the state, if it was being exported in large quantities outside the state, they might not have water for their usage,” Waller said. “I don’t know that is happening anywhere, but that is one possibility.”Waller said the Department of Natural Resources didn’t previously have a way of tracking water that was being transported outside the state, nor a way of regulating it.“This at least gives the department the authority to monitor and make those decisions so that they know what’s going on,” Waller said.In northern Missouri, the groundwater is very salty, so a lot of their water comes from surface water. Borrok said those municipalities need to keep their water for drinking purposes.“It’s the same way as agriculture, you just want it not to overdraft your bank of water,” Borrok said. “Recreation-wise, that’s a huge one too. There’s gotta be massive amounts of tourism dollars coming in from Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake and the Scenic Riverways here and if you start taking water and pumping it somewhere else, you could potentially, over time, negatively impact some of those resources.”Missouri’s statewide consumptive water demand is expected to rise by 18%, or by approximately 583 million gallons per day, by 2060, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://dnr.mo.gov/document-search/missouri-water-resources-plan-update-2020-executive-summary" target="_blank">Missouri Water Resources Plan</a>.While the law does restrict exports, Borrok said it doesn’t completely close the door to out-of-state water sharing. Now, exporting water would have to go through a permit process, evaluating potential financial benefits or losses.“A small farmer could possibly export a little bit of water through a canal to another place, and maybe we don’t know about that,” Borrok said. “But the real impact that it’s trying to avoid is a massive export of water, like hundreds of millions of gallons a month, or three million gallons a day or some massive amount and that would be noticed in terms of the monitoring.”This story originally appeared in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.missouribusinessalert.com/" target="_blank">Missouri&nbsp;Business&nbsp;Alert</a>, a digital newsroom covering&nbsp;business&nbsp;and the economy in&nbsp;Missouri.

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