JEFFERSON CITY, MO. — As the Department welcomed in the new year, we took a look back at some of the great things we accomplished while serving farmers, ranchers and Missourians across the state. The year 2020 brought unique challenges, but also unique opportunities for our team to better serve, promote and protect agriculture.
Looking back at some key accomplishments:
- The Missouri General Assembly appropriated $20 million in federal CARES ACT funding for the Department to create the Missouri Meat and Poultry Processing Grant Program. The grant program was created to support Missouri meat and poultry processing facilities to address supply chain disruptions as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
- The Missouri Grown program sold and distributed more than 450 holiday gift boxes to more than 34 states across the country. Each box was filled with Missouri Grown member items, helping to promote Missouri grown and Missouri made products.
- The Missouri Industrial Hemp State Plan was approved by the USDA.
- The Missouri State Fair Youth Livestock Show saw a 12% increase in 4-H and FFA livestock entries.
- The State Milk Board inspected an additional 320 dairy farms.
- The Grain Inspection Services team designed and created a workstation shield, allowing their employees to continue working safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. The design concept was shared with grain inspection companies nationwide.
- Our Meat Inspection Team worked with processors throughout the state to accommodate flexible inspection schedules, helping ensure continuity of business.
- The Plant Industries division took in more than 1,200 reports of unsolicited mystery seeds in Missouri and helped coordinate with the USDA.
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— Missouri Department of Agriculture
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