McCaskill Launching 13-Stop Missouri Agriculture Tour, Hearing From Farmers, Ranchers, Producers Across Show-Me State

Senator launching statewide tour of Missouri agriculture, including research, livestock, producers, biotech, energy; Crisscrossing state to hear directly from farmers and ranchers, promote Missouri’s agriculture economy

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill is launching her Missouri Agriculture Tour—a series of visits to farms, ranches, research facilities, and energy producers across the state that help make up Missouri’s vibrant agriculture economy.

Beginning Monday, McCaskill will hear directly from a wide variety of producers, ranchers, and businesses on Missouri’s agriculture needs and discuss upcoming priorities for Congress on issues affecting Missouri agriculture.

McCaskill will hold events in towns and cities including: St. Louis, Washington, Palmyra, Laddonia, Mexico, Centralia, Columbia, Kennett, Kansas City, St. Joseph, Mountain Grove, Springfield, and Purdy. Additional details for each of McCaskill’s events will be announced in advance.

“For me, there’s no better way to tackle issues affecting Missouri’s farmers, ranchers, and businesses than by hearing from them directly,” McCaskill said. “I’m looking forward to listening to folks from a variety of industries in all corners of the state—on how we in Congress can better advocate for the important priorities that will help them grow their businesses and expand job opportunities. Missouri producers—from rice, to cattle, to eggs—have a lot to offer at home and abroad, and we’ve got to ensure we’re giving them the best tools to do so.”  

McCaskill is a longtime advocate for ensuring Missouri's farmers and ranchers have the resources they need to succeed, and for preventing unreasonable rules and regulations on producers.

 

McCaskill’s Fight for Missouri Agriculture

 

Born in Rolla, Mo., and raised in Houston, Lebanon and Columbia, Claire is a longtime advocate for Missouri’s farmers, ranchers, and agriculture economy. Highlights of her accomplishments include:

  • Waging a two year fight—for which she won the National Farmers Union highest legislative honor and accolades from top Missouri Sportsmen’s’ groups—to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill in 2014. The bill included several McCaskill priorities, among them:
    • Created a Permanent Livestock Disaster Assistant Program, providing retroactive payments for producers who suffered losses after the previous Farm Bill expired;
    • Ended Direct Payments;
    • Saved more than $8 billion in the SNAP program without negatively impacting Missourians who rely on this assistance;
    • And provided a year of full funding for the Payment In Lieu of Taxes program.

 

  • Urging the Department of Agriculture to finalize negotiations with China to open up the Chinese market to Missouri rice producers; and traveling to Cuba to explore opportunities to boost agricultural, job, and business opportunities for Missouri producers.
  • Urging the Department of Agriculture to approve crop insurance coverage needs after the agency’s deadline due to record rainfall.  
  • Supporting the bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act legislation aimed at protecting hunting and fishing rights and opening more public lands to outdoor recreation.

 

  • Sponsoring a bipartisan amendment with Senator Blunt that would exempt farmers transporting crops, livestock, and equipment within 150 miles of their farm from regulations aimed at non-farm commercial vehicles and give individual states the freedom to establish safety rules.
  • Introducing legislation to prevent Farm Service Agency offices from closing unless another office is located within 20 miles of driving distance.

 Visit mccaskill.senate.gov/rural to learn more about McCaskill's fight to protect rural Missouri.

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