BELL CITY — When Steve Hamra was looking for a way to justify farming full- time, he turned to new technology.

The former teacher and Sikeston resident looked into hydroponics — growing plants without soil. For the past five years, he and other staff at Hamra Farms have dabbled in the process and this year, took the operation up in quantity. “We wanted to do something with the farm to retain cash flow in the offseason,” said Hamra, owner of Hamra Farms. The farm’s greenhouses are located near Bell City.