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Groups rally to show support for farm bill override

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Twenty-one agricultural and small business groups mailed a letter to the legislature yesterday that will be received before veto session in support of overriding HB1326 and SB506 vetoes.

Representatives from the organizations penned the letter. The intent of the letter was to reinforce the importance of these two omnibus agriculture bills, which are very similar, and encourage support in overriding the vetoes.

“These two bills passed the legislature with tremendous bipartisan support. Outside of the legislature, these bills are supported by every major farm-driven organization in the state and many other trade associations,” penned the authors of the letter. “We stand together in full support of overriding the vetoes of these two bills that will advance Missouri agriculture on several fronts.”

The groups outlined several components of the omnibus bills that will advance Missouri’s top economic driver. The bills include:

• Enacts the Missouri Dairy Revitalization Act (MDRA), which is an innovative program that dovetails in with the new Dairy Title of the Farm Bill;

• Increases the hauling limits for livestock on Missouri highways;

• Extends the equine liability waiver to all livestock;

• Modifies provisions relating to evidence of financial responsibility for certified commercial pesticide applicators;

• Clarifies the process for insuring title transfers of farm and ranch property;

• Enables Missouri cattle producers the opportunity to vote whether or not to increase their investment in the Missouri beef check off; and

• Continues the large animal veterinarian student loan program.

The groups endorsing the letter are united in their efforts to override the vetoes. Missouri Cattlemen’s Association (MCA) Executive Vice President Mike Deering said the overwhelming support for these two bills should solidify the importance of the omnibus bills to elected leaders in both the Missouri House and Missouri Senate.

Mike Deering
Mike Deering

“You have 21 organizations joined together in support of an override of both H.B. 1326 and S.B. 506,” Deering said. “When have you ever seen this type of support for an override of a veto? The governor made a mistake and representatives and senators can either right the wrong or duplicate Governor Nixon’s error. I have to believe that our elected leaders will stand firmly in support of Missouri’s farmers and ranchers.”

This letter comes on the heels on a press conference regarding the bills, led by Sen. Mike Kehoe and Reps. Casey Guernsey and Bill Reiboldt. Guernsey told The Missouri Times that the voters are there for an override.

Guernsey told The Missouri Times earlier this summer the dairy industry direly needs the bill to pass in order to reverse the decline in the state.

It is unknown whether or not Gov. Nixon will campaign to sustain his veto, but events in Ferugson have somewhat overshadowed the override efforts, putting Nixon at somewhat of a disadvantage. The governor spoke to the Missouri Conservation Commission in early July regarding his veto, focusing on how the bills redefine “livestock” to include captive deer.

In addition to Missouri Cattlemen Association, the letter was signed by FCS Financial; Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association; Missouri Agribusiness Association; Missouri Bankers Association; Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Missouri Corn Growers Association; Missouri Dairy Association; Missouri Dairy Products Association; Missouri Deer Association; Missouri Egg Council; Missouri Elk Farmers Association; Missouri Farm Bureau; Missouri Federation of Animal Owners; Missouri Land Title Association; Missouri Livestock Marketing Association; Missouri Pork Producers Association; Missouri Soybean Association; Missouri Veterinary Medical Association; MFA Incorporated; and The Poultry Federation.

MCA stated that the groups represent thousands of farmers and small businesses.

Missouri’s veto session is Sept. 10, 2014.