Scott Pham

When a cow is stressed from the heat, it affects a producer’s bottom line. The animal eats less, meaning less mass in beef cattle. For dairy farmers, the hurt comes in the form of a 10 to 20 percent loss in milk. Researchers at the University of Missouri think we can change this trend by putting information in the hands of producers. They’ve built a tool that can detect the threat of heat stress in specific animals before it starts.

Big budget deficits and low ridership keep the Columbia Transit system searching for new ways to boost support.  One unusual place they’re looking is the League of Innovators, a group of tech-oriented entrepreneurs.

Compared to the rest of the country, Columbia’s economy is pretty good.  Unemployment is well below the national average.  But the numbers can also tell a different story, one where massive changes are already underway.