Area legislators take part in National Agriculture Week

Rep. Terry Swinger (D) Caruthersville, right, and Rep. Tom Todd (D) Campbell, center, discuss aspects of HCR 7 during a Rules Committee meeting with Leslie Holloway, Missouri Farm Bureau's Director of State and Local Governmental Affairs.

According to local State Representatives Terry Swinger, (D) Caruthersville, and Tom Todd (D) Campbell, agriculture is the biggest industry in the state, creating approximately $12 billion in revenue.

On a legislative level, Swinger, who has served for seven years on the Agri Business Committee notes that "legislature does many things to create jobs," including creating much needed tax credits to help expand, create and retain jobs in this market.

"Agriculture is so important to me personally because I grew up on a farm," Swinger said. "I worked on the farm until I went to college. My family owned an agribusiness. We custom cleaned seed and sold seed, fertilizer and chemicals. My mother always said that you can take a boy from the farm but you can't take the farm from the boy."

Swinger said that his mother's saying rings true in his case, because although he grew up to become a health practitioner as a career, he has always been supportive of measures to support agriculture.

"It is so important not to take our eyes off our major industry, agriculture," Swinger said. "Agriculture is the foundation and stabilizing force of Missouri's economy. Sixteen percent of total state employment is farm or farm-related and 13.3% of Missouri's gross state product is derived from agriculture. Missouri has more farm proprietors than any of the other four Corn Belt states (IL, IN, IA, and OH). Raising animals is a significant source of income for many Missourians. Livestock production generated 53% of the total value of Missouri agricultural products sold in 2007. Missouri ranked fourth in the nation in turkey production, sixth in cattle and calf production, and seventh in hog production in 2007.

"We need to keep our emphasis on agriculture in this challenging economy. That is why myself and state representative Todd have been interested and worked hard on HCR 7, 3 and 17 to reverse a recommendation by the State Tax Commission to increase taxes on farm land."

According to both state reps, "The decision of the commission basically stated that there would be a 29 percent increase on the top four classes of farm land, a 25 percent decrease on land graded 5-7, and no charge on Grade 8."

Farms are graded on a chart ranked 1-8, with 1 being the best and 8 the worst. Swinger noted that more than 90 percent of the farms in District 162 are in Grades 1-3.

"We had 60 days to rescind this decision," Swinger explained. "It is obvious that the legislature understands the importance of agriculture because it was the first order of business that we worked on and passed.

"We are now working on another issue, HJR 86. This is important legislation for our livestock farmers. However, our rice farmers brought to our attention a problem with this legislation. A few years ago, there was going to be a test plot for genetically modified seed in the Southeast Region. We lost the European market and Anheuser Busch's business because of worries of the impact on food consumption. The rice farmers worked hard and blocked the genetically modified seed from being planted. These farmers found objectionable language in this legislation that could potentially bring this problem back."

HJR 86 passed through the House, but Swinger and Todd are working with the Senate to make sure the legislation applies to and works out for the best interest of livestock and rice farmers.

This would create a "win-win situation for all," according to Swinger.

"I have personally contacted many of the agriculture organizations to alert them of this problem. They are very agreeable to discuss with the rice council their concerns and hopefully find a resolution to the problem," the District 162 rep. said.

Both Swinger and Todd recognized the efforts of area farmers, adding that they were important to the area, especially because they are the number one industry for Southeast Missouri.

" They feed Missouri, the nation and the world. We should not take them for granted. This week is a time for us to understand the value of agriculture in our daily lives," Swinger said. "When you see a farmer this week, thank them for the food and fiber they provide us."