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Missouri Corn Growers upset over Corps budget
The Missouri Corn Growers Association (MCGA) is disappointed in President Obama’s proposed 2013 budget for “showing preference for ecosystem restoration” over operations and maintenance of the Missouri River. Northwest Missouri grower Rob Korff, Chair of the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, says the budget proposal includes an increase of $17 Million for fish and wildlife in the Missouri River Recovery Program while Missourians are still struggling to recover from last year’s flooding.
Korff says the budget proposal fails – again – to make flood control the priority of the Army Corps of Engineers. The MCGA sent a letter this week to Missouri’s congressional delegation asking them to oppose the funding for the Missouri River Recovery Program – $90 Million in the president’s budget – with about $7.7 Million for operations and maintenance on the Missouri River.
Korff says all of that money should go toward flood control on the Missouri River, not toward fish and wildlife restoration. Korff tells Brownfield, “It’s all on unfounded science and they can’t prove works and we’d like to see that number just go away and spend whatever you have to, to utilize the river for economic development. Doing anything less is just irresponsible government.”
Korff says the administration is disconnected from the needs of farmers and others along Missouri’s rivers. He adds that many farmers north of him are at risk of flooding again this year because of still unrepaired levees.
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