News

Missouri committee to look into state ag budget

A Missouri legislative committee will form to address budget shortages in the Missouri Department of Agriculture. State Representative Don Rone of southeast Missouri says the committee will examine the department’s funding levels, especially the Division of Plant Industries which runs the pesticide control program. Rone says the Fiscal Year 2019 budget request limits the amount and proper training of inspectors needed to look into dicamba drift issues.

Missouri lawmakers in 2010 funded the Division of Plant Industries with fees ONLY but Rone says they are not enough.  He sponsors a bill to raise fees to $450 dollars a year but the proposal likely won’t be voted on this legislative session. Rone says dicamba investigations in the past few years have drained the ag budget further.

The Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Corn Growers Association and Missouri Soybean Association testified in support of the interim legislative committee.