Media contact:
Misti Preston
Phone: (573) 751-8596
Misti.Preston@mda.mo.gov

For Immediate Release: July 24, 2007

Director of Agriculture Visits Farmers and Agribusinesses in Eight Missouri Counties

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) – Katie Smith, director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA), has completed the first two days of a state agriculture tour visiting with farmers and producers discussing opportunities and issues. On the tour, Director Smith visited Saline, Lafayette, Johnson, Bates, Vernon, Barry, Crawford and Gasconade counties.

“Agriculture is the engine that drives Missouri’s economy. Throughout the tour, we have met with innovative producers facing an array of challenges. It has been a good opportunity to hear some concerns first hand as well as see what kinds of opportunities our state’s farmers are taking advantage of,” said Katie Smith. “We have visited everything from a grass fed dairy operation to a meat processing plant and a wood product manufacturer.”

The tour on Monday, July 23 consisted of visiting Marshall & Fenner Beef Farm in Mt. Leonard, Alma Farm Fresh Meats in Alma, Show Me Energy Cooperative in Centerview, Steele & King Farms in Butler and met with producers in Schell City that have experienced losses due to recent flood waters. Today’s tour began with meeting FFA members from Cassville, Purdy and Wheaton and then continued at KBC Dairy Farm in Purdy, McGinnis Wood Products in Cuba and Stone Hill Vineyards and Winery in Hermann.

“Producers have given us new ideas on how the Department of Agriculture can help these businessmen and women grow their operations,” said Smith. “The agriculture industry in Missouri continues to be the number one industry contributing over $27 billion to the economy and tours like this give us a good perspective on what these farm families are facing.”

The agriculture tour will continue in Southeast Missouri on Thursday, July 26 and Monday, July 30. Gov. Matt Blunt and Director Smith will sit down with producers on Thursday in Sikeston to hear from farm families as well as local agricultural leaders. Monday’s tour concludes at a rice farm in Kennett with Gov. Matt Blunt, Director Smith and area farmers.

For more information regarding Missouri’s agricultural industry, visit www.mda.mo.gov.

[ Print | Back ]