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McGaugh, legislators recognized by Missouri Corn Growers

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Last week, the Missouri Corn Growers held their annual meeting at their headquarters in Jefferson City and took time to honor a group of legislators that have supported the industry with their time in office.

Sen. Mike Kehoe and Rep. Jay Houghton were given the Corn Growers’ Public Servant Award, and Sen. Dan Hegeman and Reps. Denny Hoskins, Caleb Jones and Joe Don McGaugh received the Friend of Corn Growers Award.

McGaugh said it was nice to be honored by people who were committed to agriculture.

“I appreciate working with the corn guys and the things that they work on for the state, especially for agriculture,” he said. “I have an ethanol plant in my hometown of Carrollton, and I can see the ethanol plant in Malta Bend from Carrollton, it’s across the river. Ethanol production in my part of the world has been really successful. Lots of jobs, good for the farmers.

MCGA President Morris Heitman said it was important to honor those who had helped the corn industry in the state, which is the most produced crop in Missouri.

“As we look at our accomplishments, it is only fitting we recognize those who have made our progress possible,” Heitman said at the ceremony. “Our friends in the legislature are essential as we consider issues that affect corn producers in this state. Together alongside our partners and hardworking growers, we are working to move our industry forward.”

McGaugh cited his sponsorship of HB 882 last year with the recognition he received. The bill, which made its way through the House, would have established the Agri-Ready County Designation Program, designed to spur agriculture in certain counties. While the bill did not make it out of the Senate, the private sector has started to implement something similar.

“Missouri Farmers Care, which is a coalition of the agricultural groups in the state, have picked that up and they’re implementing it on private side,” McGaugh said. “What they’re doing is going out to counties and trying to work with counties who are ag-friendly who want to promote agriculture in those counties.”

McGaugh said he is not working with the MCGA as much this year, aside from the already successful move to strike down a proposed farmland tax increase by the State Tax Commission.