Six month COVID-19 response wrap-up

We've reached the six month mark since the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Missouri. Over the last six months, we've faced unique challenges as a Department and a State. But through those challenges and setbacks, we have learned new ways to serve our farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses and Missourians as a whole.

Looking back on our key milestones:

• Worked with Missouri Department of Transportation to ensure livestock, poultry, feed and fuel transportation continued uninterrupted throughout Missouri.
• Governor Mike Parson, along with Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, created a state framework protecting the food supply and adopting agriculture as critical infrastructure.
• Governor Parson again recognized agriculture and the agriculture workforce as essential in April's statewide Stay Home Missouri order.
• Our State Milk Board worked with grocery stores across the state to eliminate dairy product purchase limits. Our team was also able to work with Hiland Dairy and Prairie Farms Dairy to get dairy products to the areas that needed it most.
• Governor Parson and Director Chris Chinn announced the creation of the Missouri Meat and Poultry Processing Grant, established by the General Assembly, in an effort to quickly increase food supply chain resilience in our state.

MASBDA helps agriculture workforce startup discover feasibility of mobile app

Have you heard of AgButler, LLC? The agriculture workforce startup has launched a smartphone app to connect rural labor to farmers and ranchers. AgButler was created by Kevin and Jamie Johansen, a Missouri farm couple who recognized the vast labor need in the agriculture community. The Johansens were awarded a Value-Added Grant through the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority (MASBDA) to assist in determining the feasibility of their new mobile application. 

MASBDA makes capital available to Missouri farmers, particularly independent producers, agribusinesses and small businesses at competitive interest rates on a scale to make a major impact. They offer a wide variety of grants, loans, loan guarantees and tax credits.

The Missouri Value-Added Agriculture Grant Program provides grants for projects that add value to Missouri agricultural products and aid the economy of a rural community. Grant applications will be considered for value-added agricultural business concepts that lead to and result in development, processing and marketing of new or expanded uses or technologies for agricultural products; and foster agricultural economic development in Missouri's rural communities.

For more information about MASBDA and their programs, click here!

Missouri Industrial Hemp Program receives federal stamp of approval

On Wednesday, Sept. 2, the Missouri Department of Agriculture announced federal approval of the state’s Industrial Hemp Plan, which sets the regulatory framework through the 2021 growing season and provides the Department with primary oversight of industrial hemp production in the state. With the approval, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Marketing Service affirmed that Missouri’s plan complies with federal law and regulations.

“This approval is a testament to the hard work our team has put in to open up a new regulatory framework for growers looking to diversify their operations,” said Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn. “We’ve worked hard to incorporate feedback from growers, industry stakeholders and federal partners over the last several months. We hope that this is the certainty that many in the emerging industry have been looking for.”

The approval of Missouri’s Industrial Hemp Plan was made by USDA with no required changes to existing state regulation. As a result, Missouri’s industrial hemp producers will continue operations under the existing regulatory framework.

For more information on the announcement, click here!