SB 1005, Legislation Supporting Missouri Farmers Clears Senate Agriculture Committee

Legislators in Missouri stood up for farmers and consumers this week when the Missouri Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food Production, and Outdoor Resources advanced Senate Bill 1005 on a 4-1 vote, legislation that will provide clarity for farmers during some of the toughest conditions for agriculture in a generation.

“Thank you to Senator Kurtis Gregory and the Missouri Senate Agriculture Committee for recognizing how important this legislation is to Missouri’s hardworking farmers,” said Elizabeth Burns-Thompson, Executive Director of the Modern Ag Alliance. “SB 1005 provides farmers with the certainty they need and therefore access to the tools they rely on to plan ahead and sustain long-term success.”

The bill is sponsored by Senator Kurtis Gregory, a lifelong Missourian and University of Missouri graduate with a strong record of standing up for our farmers. SB 1005 is also backed by a strong coalition of Missouri agricultural and business organizations, including the Missouri Soybean Association, Missouri Corn Growers Association, Missouri Agribusiness Association, Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, and Missouri Pork Association.

As farmers confront a challenging farm economy, they need certainty around the proven, safe tools they rely on to stay competitive and keep food affordable for Missouri families at the grocery store.

This certainty matters now more than ever. Farm bankruptcies are up 60 percent year over year nationwide, and Missouri has felt that strain acutely, ranking sixth in the country. Agriculture is the backbone of Missouri’s economy, contributing $93.7 billion annually and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs across the state. 

“We are grateful for this much-needed action from the Missouri Agriculture Committee to ensure farmers have the tools they need to keep costs low and yields high,” said Burns-Thompson. “We are grateful to the Committee, and we are excited to continue advancing this priority for Missouri farmers.”