Search for Missouri's Century Farms continues

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The search is on again for Missouri farms that have been in the same family 100 years or more.

These farms will be recognized in the Missouri Century Farm program, which was launched in the bicentennial year of 1976 as the Missouri Centennial Farm program at the University of Missouri-Columbia. In the 1976 program, 2,850 Missouri farm owners were recognized as owning a centennial farm.

In 1986 the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and University of Missouri Extension planned a Century Farm program in which 1,080 more farms were recognized. Due to continued interest in the program annual updates are now given each year. Since 1987, an additional 2,725 farms have been recognized. In 2005 family farms that joined the program numbered 255.

To qualify as a Missouri Century Farm, farms must meet the following guidelines. The same family must have owned the farm for 100 consecutive years or more as of Dec. 31, 2006. The family shall consist of direct descendants only. The farm must be at least 40 acres of the original land acquisition and make a financial contribution to the overall farm income. A Web site -- http://extension.missouri.edu/centuryfarm -- includes the history of the program, guidelines, application form, and highlights several farms from previous years.

Applicants certified as owners of a 2006 Missouri Century Farm will be recognized by their local University of Missouri Extension office in the county where the farm is located.

Application forms and information are available through Extension Publications, 2800 Maguire Blvd., Columbia, MO 65211, through your local Extension office or on the Web site from Feb. 1 through June 1.

A $25 fee is required to cover the cost of certificates, farm signs, and booklets for approved applicants if you apply by May 15. If applying between May 16 and June 1, the cost increases to $35.

Applications must be postmarked by June 1, 2006.

The Missouri Century Farm program is jointly administered by the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and University of Missouri Extension.

For further information or to request an application, call your local Extension office or the University of Missouri Century Farms office at (800) 292-0969.