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

For Immediate Release: January 7, 2008

Ag Leaders Gather in the Gateway City for the 41st Missouri Governor’s Conference on Agriculture

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) – Over 600 Missouri producers and agribusiness leaders joined at the 41st Missouri Governor’s Conference on Agriculture, hosted by Gov. Matt Blunt and the Missouri Department of Agriculture, on Sunday night for the Taste of AgriMissouri and the Ag Leadership Extravaganza live and silent auctions where more than $11,500 will benefit the Missouri FFA Leadership Fund, Missouri 4-H Foundation, Agriculture Future of America and Agricultural Leadership of Tomorrow. The conference continued Monday with innovative speakers discussing the future of agriculture in Missouri.

“Missouri agriculture is vital to our state’s economy. The Governor’s Conference on Agriculture gives Missouri producers and agricultural leaders a forum to discuss new opportunities and to learn from one another’s success stories,” said Gov. Matt Blunt. “Our state’s agricultural successes would not be possible without our farm families continued commitment and innovation towards securing the future of Missouri agriculture.”

Monday’s event included a Governor’s Luncheon where Gov. Blunt announced to over 400 producers and agribusiness leaders three farming initiatives to help strengthen Missouri’s agricultural economy. The governor announced his plan to establish Dairy Parlor Renovation Grants to help producers at older dairies with the costs of renovations. He announced his support in enhancing infrastructure to support agriculture through a recommendation of $4 million in new funding for Port Authority capital improvement projects. Gov. Blunt also announced the Farm Legacy Exchange Program to help match beginning farmers with farmers nearing retirement to help form a working relationship and strategy to transition farming responsibilities and designated assets from existing farmers to beginning farmers.

“This event proved to be an outstanding opportunity for Missouri producers and agribusinesses to gather at a new location for the Governor’s Conference on Agriculture,” said Katie Smith, director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

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