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May 24, 1999 Kreider`s Proud of Missouri Farm Package To the Readers: The 1999 session of the Missouri General Assembly was a great session for Missouri`s small farmers and for all consumers. This session we passed the most comprehensive legislation for small farmers in the entire nation. In fact, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman is examining Missouri`s farm package to be used as a model for other states. I am proud to have sponsored these important farm bills and, as a Missouri farmer and a consumer, I thought I would share the good news with you. The most significant part of this year`s farm package was legislation (HB 888) that makes tax credits available to encourage the creation, development and operation of rural agricultural businesses whose projects add value to agricultural products and aid the economy of a rural community. My purpose in sponsoring this innovative program was to hopefully encourage farmers to form value added cooperatives, especially farmer owned packing plants. By cutting out the middleman, farmers will get more for their products and consumers will get cheaper prices. With this in mind, the Missouri General Assembly also approved House Concurrent Resolution 29 and sent it to Congress. This resolution calls on the federal government to enforce the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921. This act was put into place to stop the monopolistic practices by large businesses that we now see today. Currently, there are only three major packing companies in the U.S. and they control over 80 percent of the market. It is clear prices at the farm and the check out line in the supermarket are being affected by the marketing practices of the "Big 3." In my opinion, Congress should enforce the laws that are on the books before the family farm becomes extinct and consumers are gouged any further. In addition to HCR 29, this session we also made some badly needed changes to Missouri state law (SB 310) with regard to consumer disclosures. This legislation requires meat packers to disclose to the USDA the prices they pay for livestock and it makes it unlawful for packers to discriminate in prices paid to a seller. Moreover, the sale of fresh meat is forbidden without labeling the country of origin. This will prevent companies from selling so-called "American" beef, knowing all the while that the beef comes from Argentina in South America. Consumer and producers alike have a right to know where the products they buy originate. SB 310 will also help small grain dealers who operate local feed stores. These local community feed stores (those who purchase less than $100,000 of grain per year) will now be exempt from some of the burdensome and costly accounting requirements imposed by state law. I feel this will go a long way toward helping preserve the local "feed store" that is so very important to our rural economy--that is where many of us buy our horse, cattle and dog feed. As you can see, it has been a great year for Missouri farmers, and, as a result, consumers. We can no longer afford to wait on Washington to save the family farm. The family farmer is too important in keeping food prices affordable for all consumers. We in Missouri are listening and doing all we can do to help family farmers now, before it is too late. In fact, I consider preserving the family farm one of my highest priorities in the legislature. I sincerely believe these bills will go a long way toward that goal. I hope that you will keep me informed of any ideas or concerns you have in the future. Sincerely, Rep. Jim Kreider Speaker Pro Tem | |||||
Paid for by Kreider for Senator.
Bobby Neal Jr., Treasurer. Not at taxpayer's expense.
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