Business Notebook: Missouri jobless rate stands at 5.5 percent

February's statewide unemployment rate was 5.5 percent, and Missouri's nonfarm payroll has increased by 40,400 jobs over the past year, the Missouri Department of Economic Development reported last week.

In February, the state gained 8,400 jobs, down from the 11,200 gained in January.

The 5.5 percent rate is nine-tenths of a point below the February 2014 rate, according to a news release.

Employment areas with the most job growth included education and health services; construction; trade, transportation and utilities; and real estate, rental and leasing.

USDA tool helps tally yields, likely profits

A new spreadsheet tool to help farmers and landowners make decisions about whether to add cover crops to their systems is available from the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The free tool helps farmers consider the benefits of incorporating cover crops into rotations versus the costs, according to a news release from the USDA. Farmers can enter their own data, generate scenarios and see results represented in dollars and graphs, according to the release. The spreadsheet is available for download at nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/mo/soils/health/.

New website offers agricultural news

The Missouri Department of Agriculture has a new website for market news. AgMarketNews.mo.gov features current market information for agriculture in the state, according to a news release.

It is updated daily with price information on commodities and livestock.

The site offers daily and weekly audio, video and text format updates, 10 years of historical data and customizable graphs of seasonal and historical price data.

The website is compatible with mobile devices.

Abstract and Title Co. awarded license office

The Missouri Department of Revenue and Office of Administration awarded the contract for the Marble Hill License Office in Marble Hill, Missouri, to Bollinger County Abstract and Title Co. Inc., according to a news release.

The company has operated the office since 2011.

License offices issue driver's licenses and vehicle registrations on behalf of the Missouri Department of Revenue.

Voelker becomes Nationwide Insurance

Voelker Insurance Agency in Cape Girardeau now is known as Nationwide Insurance. John Nowak operates the agency.

Carol Voelker is the insurance agent, and the agency has expanded offerings to include automobile, home, business and life insurance through Nationwide, Voelker said.

The agency is at 1749 Independence St.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3632