For Missouri Farm Bureau, the 2015 Legislative session will be remembered for early successes and late disappointments. Top priorities were approved and signed by Governor Jay Nixon well before the session ended and proposals that Farm Bureau believed to be detrimental to Missouri agriculture were defeated. However, some important measures will be considered missed opportunities as a result of legislative gridlock.
"We are grateful that agriculture's priorities were addressed early in the legislative session," said Blake Hurst, president of Missouri Farm Bureau. "But we are extremely disappointed legislation was not approved to at least provide some additional funding for Missouri's deteriorating highways and bridges. This is a problem that will keep getting worse and needs to be addressed soon."
Missouri agriculture will be strengthened with the passage of legislation successfully ushered through the General Assembly this year. The primary agriculture bill, SB 12, was signed by Governor Nixon on April 10. Provisions included in this legislation allow for an increase in the maximum weight for trucks hauling livestock and for trucks hauling grain during harvest, add livestock to the equine liability waiver and allow for Missouri beef producers to take a vote on whether to institute a state beef check off.
The Dairy Revitalization Act, HB 259, was also signed by the Governor on April 10. The legislation aids Missouri dairy producers with their Federal Margin Insurance Premium payment; authorizes up to eighty $5,000 scholarships for students intending to return to the dairy industry; and requires an annual report by the University of Missouri on innovations for the dairy industry.
Farm Bureau also supported the legislature's passage of a resolution urging the federal Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw their proposed "Waters of the U.S." regulation.
Like in years past, many ideas were floated that Farm Bureau believes would not have been in the best interests of Missouri farmers and ranchers. One proposal would have created a state-wide elected position called "Secretary of Agriculture" to replace the Director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture which is a position now appointed by the Governor. Farm Bureau members feel strongly that a state-wide elected Secretary of Agriculture could result in a leader who does not have Missouri agriculture's best interest at heart. Also not passing was legislation legalizing a "pilot program" for the production of industrial hemp in Missouri. Missouri Farm Bureau opposed the legislation because it did not comply with provisions in the federal Farm Bill that allows for research of industrial hemp.
Missouri Farm Bureau was disappointed legislation was not approved to better fund Missouri's highways and bridges. This is a situation that will not fix itself and the state is nearing a point where it will be unable to match funds available at the federal level.
Unfortunately, another bill that included several agricultural provisions passed by the House never received Senate floor time in the session's final days due to the impasse on other legislation.
Community on 05/21/2015