Forest products flourish in Missouri

From barrels to basketball courts, Missouri forest products are of the highest quality and are the source of products we use every day.

Representative Chuck Basye (District 47), Representative Dave Muntzel (District 48), Brian Brookshire from Missouri Forest Products Association, and Davin Althoff and Kayla Otto from the Missouri Department of Agriculture traveled to Fayette, Mo., for a tour of Missouri-Pacific Lumber Company on Monday, April 9. Missouri-Pacific Lumber Company has been in operation since 1935, and produces American black walnut, red oak, white oak, soft maple, ash and other hardwood lumber. The company is well known for its American black walnut lumber, which accounts for 85% of their production. They harvest approximately 250 logs per day to meet demand for both domestic and international markets.  

Missouri’s forest products industry contributes over $9.7 billion to its economy. It supports over 44,200 jobs at a payroll of over $2.1 billion and is responsible for about $715 million in taxes, including $91.5 million in state sales tax. These numbers include logging and sawmill operations, secondary wood products, furniture and cabinet makers, log cabins, paperboard manufacturing and more. The grand total includes not only the direct effect of jobs in the industry but secondary effects in the economy as a whole. 

Click here to learn more about the Missouri Department of Agriculture's Domestic & International Marketing team.

Missouri agriculture's latest numbers

The Missouri Department of Agriculture is dedicated to the promotion and protection of the state’s agriculture industry. To put into context how impressive our agriculture industry is, the Department creates an annual Missouri Agriculture at a Glance handout. The 2018 version is now available!

With nearly 100,000 farms on more than 28 million acres of farmland, the Missouri Department of Agriculture works to connect farmers with consumers. More than 90 percent of Missouri’s farms are family owned, and our family farms are committed to producing a safe and secure food supply for customers locally and globally. Additionally, more than one in every ten Missouri jobs are in agriculture and forestry.

When it comes to economic impact, agriculture is a heavy hitter. Between crops, livestock, forestry and fishery production; agriculture inputs and services agriculture inputs and services; food and related products manufacturing and forestry products manufacturing, agriculture’s economic contribution to Missouri totals $88.4 billion.

Missouri is incredibly diverse in what we grow. From corn and soybeans in the north and cotton and rice in the south, all of our commodity groups work together to form one agriculture.

The Show Me State is home to the Animal Health Corridor and is recognized by many as the ag tech capital of the world. A variety of large agribusinesses have chosen to locate their headquarters in Missouri, recognizing the critical mass of agriculture innovation and excellence.

Click here to view more Missouri agriculture highlights, and see the updated Missouri Agriculture at a Glance flier.

Neighbors helping neighbors for the betterment of agriculture

Recently, Missouri agriculture organizations took part in a pilot program designed to help build resilient agriculture communities in Missouri. Growing Good Neighbors is a pilot program that gathers grape growers, retailers, crop growers, livestock producers, conservationists, beekeepers, university extension, local ag teachers and others over a shared meal to foster mutual understanding.

In rural communities there are many issues that give us opportunities to be good neighbors and some that can cause conflicts. Drug abuse, respecting property lines, cattle wrestling and the introduction of new technologies can cause tensions. Conflicts are addressed more productively when there is trust and open lines of communication. The dinners aimed to create a relaxed atmosphere conducive to a bigger conversation about what it means to be good neighbors and how good relationships can help avoid costly and unpleasant situations.

The three dinners -- hosted at St. James Winery in St. James, Mo., Baltimore Bend Vineyard in Waverly, Mo., and Les Bourgeois Vineyards in Rocheport, Mo. -- launched conversations about issues that impact today’s agricultural communities and helped the attendees uncover common values and foster mutual understanding. 

Click here to watch a video recap of the Growing Good Neighbors program. 

If you are interested in bringing this program to your area or becoming involved with the program, contact Stephanie Regagnon at goodneighbors@fieldwatch.com.