Agriculture was the focus of a program presented to the Trenton Rotary Club during its April 9 meeting.

Program Chairman Gary Dolan introduced fellow Rotarian Phil Hoffman, who shared information about agriculture in Grundy County. Hoffman said 75% of the world’s food comes from 11 plants and five animals. He noted that Grundy County has 453 farms producing soybeans, corn, wheat and milo, along with beef, pork, poultry and sheep.

Hoffman said 50 of those farms produce about 80% of the county’s crops, with soybeans and corn leading production. He also discussed who purchases the crops and how they are used.

Smithfield was identified as the largest purchaser of corn, along with Ray-Carroll and Consumers Cooperative. Cargill and Ray-Carroll also purchase much of the county’s soybean crop.

Hoffman said corn is used for products such as animal feed and ethanol, noting that Missouri has six ethanol plants. Several of these began as farmer cooperatives. Soybeans, he said, are used for livestock feed, human consumption and bio-diesel fuel.

Dolan and Hoffman also shared stories from their memories of Hoffman-Reed, which was a longtime fixture in the community before being sold by the Hoffman family.

During the business meeting, members were reminded that April 16 is the deadline for shoe and cash donations for the Shoes for Orphan Souls project. The shoes will be packed April 16 and delivered April 21.

The program for the April 16 meeting will be presented by representatives of the Third Judicial Circuit Court Treatment Program.