WASHINGTON - A leading national farming group has recognized U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill's consistent advocacy for Missouri's farmers and ranchers, presenting her with the Golden Triangle Award-the group's highest legislative achievement awarded to sitting members of Congress.

"Anyone growing up in rural Missouri like I did recognizes how critical our farmers and ranchers are to our economy and way of life," said McCaskill, who was born in Rolla. "I'm humbled to receive this award and will continue fighting in every way I know how to promote the interests and livelihood of our rural ag communities."

The Golden Triangle Award is an official honor given by the National Farmers Union to members of Congress "in recognition of outstanding leadership on issues affecting family farmers and rural America."

McCaskill has made fighting for Missouri's farmers and ranchers a top priority, particularly during the period of drought and hardship currently ongoing in Missouri. She recently wrote to President Obama and Senate leaders seeking additional emergency aid for Missouri's agriculture community, and helped to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill in the Senate to reauthorize essential livestock disaster assistance programs, support agriculture jobs, strengthen resources for family farms and ranches, and reduce the national deficit by more than $23 billion.

McCaskill recently received a letter of support from Missouri's top sportsman's groups for her leadership on the Farm Bill, which has been held up by House Republicans.

McCaskill also launched an online resource center last week on her website to provide a place Missourians can go for information ranging from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency office locations across the state, to a drought monitoring map updated weekly. Additionally, the page offers a direct link for farmers and ranchers to apply for water supply assistance through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The drought online resource center is available on McCaskill's website, HERE.

McCaskill's Fight for Missouri's Farmers and Ranchers

Claire McCaskill has consistently fought to ensure Missouri's farm and ranch families have the resources they need to succeed, and to prevent and overturn unreasonable rules and regulations on producers.

• McCaskill helped pass a bipartisan Farm Bill to support agriculture jobs, strengthen resources for family farms and ranches, and reduce the national deficit by more than $23 billion.

• McCaskill delivered a victory for rural communities, successfully forcing the U.S. Labor Department to withdraw proposed rules that would affect the ability of young adults to work on family farms and ranches.

• McCaskill helped lead a bipartisan group of Senators in successfully demanding an exemption to allow the transportation of all farm supplies from any distribution point to a local farm retailer or to the consumer during planning and harvest seasons.

• McCaskill confronted the Environmental Protection Agency in opposition to proposed rules over farm dust, forcing the EPA to abandon any such rules.

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