Welcome to MO-AG

The Missouri Agribusiness Association is committed to the agribusiness industry within the Show-Me State by offering services that will enhance the day-to-day operations of agribusinesses now and in the future.

MO-AG's mission simply states, "The mission of the Missouri Agribusiness Association (MO-AG) is to advocate for the business of agriculture while offering services and networking opportunities for the agribusiness community."

What's New?

MO-AG Regional Meeting October 5th

Don't miss the opportunity to golf on one of the best golf courses in Mid-Missouri and meet with some fellow MO-AG members on Tuesday, October 5th. The registrations for the 2010 MO-AG Regional Meeting at the Country Club of Missouri in Columbia, MO are due by October 1st. Click here for the registration brochure.

MO-AG Committees Restructured
During its July 2010 meeting, the MO-AG Board of Directors reformed MO-AG's committee structure. The new committee structure more closely mirrors MO-AG's core objectives as outlined in the last strategic plan. The core objectives include membership & member services and advocacy on issues important to the membership.

Your help is needed!

In order to better serve membership, MO-AG members who will step up and volunteer their time and talents for the good of the agribusiness industry are needed. Please, consider volunteering for one or more committees of your choice. More information on the committees and steps for applying is available by clicking here.

State Auditor Releases Report on Grain Regulators

Missouri State Auditor Susan Montee released a report on Missouri Department of Agriculture grain regulators. A copy of the report can be seen here.

EPA Issues Final Rule to Reduce Air Toxics Emissions from Feeds Manufacturing Facilities
On December 16, 2009 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized emissions
limits for toxic air pollutants from prepared feeds manufacturing facilities. Toxic air
pollutants, or air toxics, are known or suspected to cause cancer, other serious health
problems and environmental damage. This rule applies to prepared feeds manufacturing area sources that produce animal (not including cat and dog) feed products and use chromium compounds or manganese compounds. Area sources emit less than 10 tons per year of a single air toxic, or less than 25 tons per year of a mixture of air toxics. If you have questions you can contact:

Leslye Werner

Air Toxics Coordinator Region 7 EPA

Phone Number: 913-551-7858

Leslye Werner of EPA Region 7 will be presenting on this topic at the 2010 Safety, Health, and Environmental Quality Conference on July 28-29 at the Hilton Omaha in Omaha, NE. Please click on this link to find out more about the conference.

Lucy Thompson

Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Phone Number: 573-526-2414

The below links will help you understand the final rule:

Initial Notification

Final Rule

Rule Extensive Version

Fact Sheet

EPA Brochure

Rule FAQs

Hours of Service Exemption Study

As mentioned in the Wrap Up the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration released the study "Agricultural Commodity and Utility Carriers Hours of Service Exemption Analysis", please click here to view. The purpose of this study was to assess the safety performance of agricultural commodity and utility service carriers that are exempt from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations regarding hours of service or record-of-duty-status requirements in comparison to those that are not exempt.

MO-AG Mini-Bulk Recycling Program

MO-AG has partnered with Tri-Rinse in offering a recycling program for your Mini-Bulk containers. The first phrase of this program will be an assessment of how many containers are needed to be recycled in Missouri. The surveys have been mailed and can also be accessed here. Please respond to this survey form by June 4th. Only those who respond to this survey will be able to participate in the recycling program. Once the survey is completed we anticipate launching the recycling pick-up this upcoming fall. For questions on this program contact Jeff at 573-636-6130 or jleonard@mo-ag.com. For more information on the 2011 Mini-Bulk Recycling Regulations please click here.

90 Days Hours of Service Waiver Granted for Anhydrous Ammonia

On March 18th, the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a limited 90 day waiver from the hours of service regulations for the spring planting season. This temporary waiver which is effective immediately, allows motor carriers with a satisfactory safety rating to use the agricultural hours of service exemption when their drivers are delivering anhydrous ammonia from any distribution point to a local farm retailer or to the ultimate customer, as long as the transportation takes place within a 100 mile air radius of the wholesale distribution point or the farm retailer. The exemption is still in effect even across state lines as long as it is within 100 mile air radius and within the 90 day period. Last fall, the FMCSA had issued an interpretation of the exemption that disallowed any transportation of farm supplies under the exemption except for delivery from a retail facility directly to the farm and within the planting and harvesting dates as established in each state.

The waiver can be read by clicking here or the summary can be read here. If you will be transporting Anhydrous Ammonia we would encourage you to print of the waiver and carry it in your truck. You must maintain a satisfactory safety rating to use this waiver. If you have a conditional or unsatisfactory rating, use of the waiver is prohibited. If you are "unrated" as a carrier you can also utilize the exception since you have not yet received a compliance review to determine your safety status. If you have any accidents or discharges with ammonia, you must also report them as described in the attached summary.

MO-AG appreciates the support we received on this issue from Reps. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.) and Sam Graves (R-Mo.) as well as other members of Congress, The Fertilizer Institute, and the Agricultural Retailers Association, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, the Agricultural and Food Transportation Conference of the American Trucking Association, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. If you have any questions regarding this issue please contact the MO-AG office by phone 573-636-6130 or email mo-ag@mo-ag.com.

EPA Proposes Pesticide Registration Guidance That Threatens Ability to Apply Pesticides

In response to a petition filed by the extreme environmental group, Earthjustice, the EPA has proposed guidance that will result in pesticide applications across America grinding to a halt and pesticide applicators entangled in a web of lawsuits. This is not surprising giving the fact that the official motto of the group Earthjustice is "Because the Earth deserves a good lawyer". The answer according to this group is 'file a lawsuit'. In justifying their petition to EPA, Earthjustice claims that "In farming communities throughout the country, children have been abandoned by federal pesticide protections. Surrounded by poisonous pesticide clouds and abandoned by EPA protections, rural children have nowhere to turn. Rural children deserve to be protected from poisonous pesticides."

Reality is the fact that MO-AG members are professionals and apply pesticides using the best technology and techniques.

Background:

1. Link to Spray Drift Talking Points

August 23, 2010df">Link to Taylor comment to EPA

3. Link to Earthjustice's Petition to EPA

4. Link to EPA response to Petition-Proposed draft drift guidance

We Need Your Help! Take Action Now

Take these steps to have your voice heard:

1. Link to example comment letter

2. Write your comment letter (Use example and talking points, but, very important to make the letter unique and your own!)

3. Send your comment letter to EPA by this link

4. Or, send by mail to:

US Environmental Protection Agency

Regulatory Public Docket (Mail Code 7502P)

Docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0628

Office of Pesticide Programs

1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

Washington DC 20460-0001

5. Send a a copy of the letter to your Congressman and Senator Bond and Senator McCaskill

Representative 2nd District Todd Akin

email: http://akin.house.gov/email.shtml

fax: 202-225-2561

Representative 7th District Roy Blunt

email: http://blunt.house.gov/Contact.aspx

fax: 202-225-5604

Representative 3rd District Russ Carnahan

email: https://forms.house.gov/carnahan/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm

fax: 202-225-7452

Representative 1st District William "Lacy" Clay Jr.

email: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

fax: 202-226-3717

Representative 5th District Emanuel Cleaver

email: http://www.house.gov/cleaver/IMA/issue.htm

fax: 202-225-4403

Representative 8th District Jo Ann Emerson

email: http://www.house.gov/emerson/contact.shtml

fax: 202-226-0326

Representative 6th District Sam Graves

email: http://www.house.gov/graves/contact.shtml

fax: 202-225-8221

Representative 9th District Blaine Luetkemeyer

email: http://luetkemeyer.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=44&sectiontree=44

fax: 202-225-5712

Representative 4th District Ike Skelton

email: http://www.house.gov/skelton/email.shtml

fax: 202-225-2695

Senator Christopher "Kit' Bond

email: http://bond.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.ContactForm

fax: 202-224-8149

Senator Claire McCaskill

email: http://mccaskill.senate.gov/?p=contact

fax: 202-228-6326

6. Send a copy to MO-AG at by mo-ag@mo-ag.com or by fax to 573-636-3299

Model Fertilizer Contract Confirmation Released

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) released a final version of a model fertilizer contract confirmation developed as a voluntary tool and designed to help companies better manage their risks and provide consistent terms and conditions when dealing with suppliers or customers. In Spring 2009, ARA formed the Fertilizer Contract Task Force with the objective of developing an ARA branded fertilizer contract confirmation that specifies the mutually agreed upon terms of the buyer and seller between any two business entities in the distribution system: manufacturer, distributor, retailer and end user. Task Force members were primarily comprised of agricultural retailers (independent, co-op and national) and distributors, but also included representatives from the manufacturer segment. ARA undertook this effort in response to the extreme volatility that has occurred with the fertilizer prices and supplies over the past few years. This document is viewed as a way to help establish better risk management, more accountability, and common terms and conditions. The ARA Board of Directors initially approved the tool at their 2009 annual meeting. Click here to view a copy of the document.

2010 MO-AG Convention

Those that braved the cold and snow experienced a great time at the 2010 MO-AG Convention. The exhibit hall was filled once again this year by exhibitors and attendees looking to make deals on some great products and services. The luncheon speaker this year was Lori Wilcox, of the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI). She provided economic projections for the U.S. and world agricultural sectors and analysis on other agricultural policy issues.

The banquet was a lot of fun with the reverse raffle raising over $6,500. The 2010 MACA Extra S.T.E.P. Award winner MFA Agriservices of Laddonia was announced along with the 2010 Jim Russell Foundation Scholarship Winners Jared Henderson of Clifton Hill, MO, Chris Perry of Bethel, MO and Kristen Wright of Tuscumbia, MO. Following the banquet much fun was had in the MO-AG member sponsored Hospitality Suite.

Thanks to all of those exhibitors, attendees and sponsors that made the convention a success. The work has already begun on the 2011 MO-AG Convention; there will be some additional activities that we think will make the Convention an even better event. Stay tuned for more details….

Air Emissions Spreadsheet For Grain Handling Facilities

MO-AG and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Air Pollution Control Program have worked together to develop a spreadsheet that calculates air emissions from grain handling facilities. The purpose of this spreadsheet is to standardize the process by which both potential and actual emissions are calculated from grain handling facilities.

The spreadsheet includes descriptions and information for virtually every type of emission point from a grain handling facility including dump pits, bin vents, and elevator legs, just to name a few. The spreadsheet includes emission factors for each emission point and control devices such as a bag house or grain oiling. The spreadsheet also includes the different capture efficiencies for bag houses and other capture devices.

If you have questions about the spreadsheet, you are encouraged to contact Kyra L. Moore, Air Pollution Control Program Permits Section Chief, at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at (573) 526-3835.

The spreadsheet can be accessed by clicking here.

MACA Traceability Project

The Mid America Croplife Association has created a Traceability Implementation Project (TIP) , a standardized system for tracking fertilizer and crop protection products from formulator to field. The video explaining the project can be viewed by clicking here.

EPA Awards Cash for Anhydrous Ammonia Outreach

EPA has awarded $75,000 in grants to assist agribusiness with implementation of the Risk Management Program (RMP). The MO Department of Agriculture (MDA) will conduct on-site safety assessments. The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) will conduct workshops and on-site inspection and focus on enhanced communications with local first responders.

An EPA video provides details on the assistance to be provided. The video highlights the importance of chemical safety and proper handling of anhydrous ammonia. MO-AG and MO-AG members assisted with the video. To view the video, please click here.

To view the complete EPA Press Release, click here.

2010 MO-AG Program Sponsorship

Click here to download the 2010 Program Sponsorship form

White Paper On Water and Nutrients

As mentioned in the MO-AG Wrap Up.

EPA Proposes Emission Controls for Feed Manufacturers

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on July 27 published a proposed rule that would require many animal feed manufacturing facilities to implement specified management practices and standards to minimize emissions of chromium compounds and manganese compounds if such products are used within their operations. MO-AG appreciates the work of the National Grain and Feed Association on this issue and more information on this issue can be found on the NGFA factsheet click here to download.

Upcoming Events

2010-2011 Events

Check it out!

August 12-22	Missouri State Fair; Sedalia, MO
August 16	Missouri River Freight Corridor Development Meeting, Lee's Summit, MO
August 17	Missouri River Freight Corridor Development Meeting, Jefferson City, MO
August 20	Missouri River Freight Corridor Development Meeting, Chesterfield, MO
August 24	Riggins Annual Open House and Customer Appreciation Day; Marshall, MO
August 24	Field Day Graves Chapple Farm; Rock Port, MO
August 25	Field Day Hundley/Whaley Farm; Albany, MO
September 2	Annual Delta Center Field Day; Portageville, MO
September 10	Field Day Southwest Center; Mount Vernon, MO
September 14	FFA Field Day; Bradford Farm, Columbia, MO
Sept. 14-16	The Grazing School; Forage Systems Research Center, Linneus, MO
September 17	Fall Pre-Harvest Meeting; Southwest Center, Mount Vernon, MO
September 21	Field Day Thompson Farm; Spickard, MO
Sept. 30-Oct. 1	Grazing School Wurdack Farm; Cook Station, MO
October 2	South Farm Showcase; Columbia, MO
October 5	MU CAFNR Career Fair, Columbia, MO
October 5	MO-AG Regional Meeting; Country Club of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Oct. 6-8	Missouri Seedmen's Association Annual Meeting; Resort at Port Arrowhead; Lake Ozark, MO
October 7	Ag Education Day; Wurdack Farm, Cook Sation, MO
October 8	Field Day; Wurdack Farm Cook Station, MO
Nov. 18	ALOT Annual Meeting Seminar, Dinner and Auction; Columbia, MO
January 5-7	MO-AG Convention; Lodge of Four Seasons; Lake Ozark, MO
Feb. 9-10	2011 Missouri Pork Expo; Columbia, MO

Do you feel like you are never up-to-date on driver files, regulations and other paperwork that makes up you agribusiness? Get help with the Asmark Institute. MO-AG has partnered with this not-for-profit group to give you access at a great price to a company that can make your regulation worries a thing of the past. Call us at (573) 636-6130 for more information. You will never regret signing up for this program - navigate your SVAs, RMPs and CFATS with ease and knowledge from years of experience.

CFATS and DHS questions? Check out this brochure created by the Asmark Institute.

For the latest on the ag markets and news: