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MO Cattlemen’s sees no legislative successes

Missouri’s 2017 legislative session ends Friday and the director of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association doesn’t see any agriculture bills making it through, “I’m just going to be perfectly blunt. We have very low expectation on what’s going to get done in (this) final week. There’s been a lot of infighting. The Senate seems to be mad at the governor. The House is mad at the Senate. However, we anticipate next year – this was good – to work through those difficulties and try to get on a level playing field and I think next year will be a better year for us.”

Mike Deering, executive vice president of the cattlemen’s association, says the Missouri House passed the animal confiscation bill but he doesn’t expect it to make it. Animal owners charged with abuse or neglect, who are found not guilty, are required under current law to pay all expenses for holding their animals.

And, Deering tells Brownfield Ag News, the imminent domain bill was a big priority for Missouri Cattlemen’s Association this year, “Just making sure that private, for-profit entities cannot claim imminent domain and stomp all over peoples’ personal property rights. That was a big one.” But Deering says the bill has gained no traction. The Grain Belt Express wants to deliver wind power from western Kansas to Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and nearby states using the power of imminent domain.

Deering spoke with Brownfield Ag News at the cattlemen’s listening session Monday night in Mexico, Missouri at the Audrain County 4-H building.