Pork Industry News
May 19, 2003
For More Information, contact
Don Nikodim, Executive Vice President
(573) 445-8375
Legislative Session Concludes on a Positive Note
Value-added agriculture is the key focus.
Columbia - The 2002-2003 Missouri Legislative General Assembly closed with the approval of several bills important to agriculture.
Among those is House Bill 257, which expands and continues value-added agriculture incentives, paving the way for future new generation co-ops. Senate Bill 84 also enhances the sale of tax credits for value-added agriculture, which should expand participation in new generation co-ops.
Those bills move on to the Governor's desk to await his signature.
"We want to bring special attention to legislators who made a real difference to livestock agriculture during this session," said Phil Howerton, Missouri Pork Association Chairman and a pork producer from Chilhowee. "We particularly applaud freshman Represantive Jim Guest for his leadership in introducing key legislation regarding livestock regulations and bio-security, and freshman Representative Brian Munzingler for introducing and handling HB 257.
"The Missouri Pork Association sends a special thanks to Representative Peter Myers, chairman of the House agriculture committee, for shepherding these important pieces of legislation through the House and to senators John Cauthorn, David Klindt and Dan Clemens for their efforts in driving this key ag legislation in the Senate," Howerton continued.
"While we are disappointed that bills relating to bio-security and science-based regulations didn't pass, it was still a very successful session," the MPA chairman said. "And there's always next year."
For more information about the Missouri Pork Association
and its programs, go to www.mopork.com, or
call the MPA office in Columbia at (573) 445-8375.
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