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Committee Formed to Enhance Missouri Agriculture

August 30, 1999
By: Mamie Smith
State Capital Bureau

JEFFERSON CITY - The future of Missouri's family farms will be examined by 13 state representatives looking to expand and enhance agricultural markets in Missouri.

"The goal of this committee is to look at things that affect the profitability of agriculture," Rep. Sam Leake, D-Center said.

Missouri House Speaker Steve Gaw, D-Moberly, named a new committee Thursday, which will focus on issues affecting family farms. The House Interim Committee on Agriculture will gather information from farmers and other groups interested in the future of agriculture and report back to Gaw by December 15.

Leake, who serves as the committee's co-chairman, said keeping the family farm alive is not only important to farmers, but to consumers as well.

"This is the best fed nation at the best cost," he said. If the family farm ceased to exist Leake said that food costs would increase and our environment would be jeopardized. Leake said he believes that farmers are the best stewards of the land because they care about more than the bottom line.

"Missouri has a history of working in a bipartisan effort for agriculture," David Klindt, R-Bethany, said.

The Family Farm Caucus made up of 80 representatives is an example of representatives working together to pass farm legislation. Klindt said the interim committee will inform the caucus of the important issues facing family farms.

Last session, the caucus worked together to pass laws dealing with new generation co-ops, value-added agriculture products, price reporting guidelines, country of origin labeling, development of innovative agriculture products and the production of ethanol.

"The Missouri legislature has shown they have the best interest of the family farm unit in mind," said Leake. "We will continue to work to assist them in anyway possible."