Missouri Farm Bureau
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Kevin Craig - "Liberty Under God"
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| We believe an
aggressive and meaningful public research program is essential to
the future of agriculture. We support agriculture research at all
state universities and colleges. |
If "public" means
"government," this is a strategy that will hurt more than
it will help.
Socialism in every form is detrimental to the broader goals of
the MoFB. Socialist universities
seem to be the worst manifestation of anti-capitalist thinking.
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| In light of the high cost and the availability of only
patented seeds (e.g. corn, soybeans, etc.) from private companies,
we believe that our land grant universities must renew their efforts
in developing new high yield, disease resistant public varieties. |
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| We also
support increased state and federal appropriations, including
additional research to develop new markets for agriculture products. |
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| We also
support private funding for agricultural research programs to
develop new products and urge close cooperation between private
sources of funding and our state colleges and universities. |
MoFB will achieve federal funding for its
goals only when the enemies of everything it stands for also receive
federal funding for their goals, all in the name of
"compromise" and "budget reform." |
| We urge the adoption of a more inclusive, transparent
decision-making process for the establishment of USDA's agricultural
research priorities and allocation of funding. |
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| We support
more research on naturally occurring environmentally safe pesticides
that provide effective control. |
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| We urge
increased federal funding
for development of disease-resistant varieties, as well as new crop
protection treatments, to help combat Soybean Rust. |
MoFB must call for an end to all federal
intervention in the Market. MoFB must call for an end to all
"corporate welfare." |
| We support federal
funding for the National Soybean Research Center on the
University of Missouri campus. |
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| We urge the
University of Missouri's College of Agriculture, Food and Natural
Resources to represent the interests of agriculture in the
development of public policy by initiating timely research and
analysis for the purpose of participating in the legislative and
regulatory decision-making process. |
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| We also
encourage the continued use of producer self-help check-off funds to
help supplement research activities wherever possible. |
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| We recommend
the University of Missouri and associated research facilities place
a higher priority on the research of value-added and specialty crops
such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and other emerging crops. |
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| We recommend funds
for more intensive study of soybean cyst nematode. |
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| We support
additional applied water quality research that recognizes the
importance of involving local agricultural producers. |
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| We favor the
continued use of animals for agricultural and medical education and
research. |
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| We support
the research for new biotechnology in agriculture that improves farm
efficiency and is proven a safe product or practice. |
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| We encourage
Missouri to lead in developing biotechnology and applied research in
developing foods and fiber. |
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| We support
using a portion of Missouri's share of the national tobacco
settlement for life science research in the state. |
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| We support
allowing counties to establish agricultural research districts with
authority to levy
up to 25 cents per acre to fund agricultural research projects as
long as only agricultural producers in a county are allowed to
petition for a referendum, vote in the referendum and serve on the
local board that controls the funds. |
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| We support
efforts to establish the National Center for Beef Excellence in
Missouri. |
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