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Missouri Ag Director shares financial needs estimate

A Missouri legislative committee looking at funding levels for the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Plant Industries Division is expected to submit recommendations by December. Ag Director Chris Chinn testified Tuesday about the division’s financial needs, “We calculated a target of $1.46 Million dollars of additional revenue to meet the immediate on-going needs and almost $900-thousand dollars to meet long-term needs going forward.”

Division Director Paul Bailey tells lawmakers they also need better computer software, “The pesticide program is in dire need of an enforcement software program to be utilized for enforcement tracking of all inspections investigations and enforcement work. That upgrade, we’re requesting $200,000.”

The Plant Industries Division has been funded with fees since 2010. But, lawmakers learned Tuesday that wholesale seed licenses haven’t been adjusted since 1979 and fees for greenhouses have stayed the same since 1992.

Thanks to Missourinet ~