On-farm inspections among top issues in Missouri agriculture policy this spring

MOST Policy Fellow, Dr. Eleni Bickell, covers topics related to Agriculture, Natural Resources, Conservation, and Economic Development. In the first month of the 2021 legislative session, several bills in this portfolio have been discussed, including the Biodiesel Mandate Act, eminent domain, authority to conduct on-farm inspections, foreign ownership of agricultural land, and more.

The House Agriculture Policy Committee started off its 2021 agenda with some very important legislative topics. The first two hearings included topics that are inherently tied to agriculture, such as the ability to register all farm vehicles with the Department of Revenue all at the same time, sponsored by Rep. Rone, or who has the authority to inspect farms in the state of Missouri, sponsored by Rep. Haden.

Some of the first bills that were assigned to the Economic Development Committees were the Senate & House bills on extending the authorization of AIM Zones until 2031 (HB249 & SB5), a house bill that prohibits local governments from regulating home-based businesses (HB491) and legislation on establishing the Capitol complex Tax credit fund (HB849 & SB36).

The House Conservation & Natural Resources Committee has discussed changes in the application process of getting permits (HB138) and modifications on the warning system that the department of conservation gives before imposing a penalty (HB140).

The Rural Community Development Committee was established for the first time this year. The committee covers a good mix of agriculture, nutrition, natural resources, economic development, and community development legislation. Legislation referred to this committee has varied from the Missouri farmers nutrition program, which would provide individuals who are eligible for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC), other low-income seniors and pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children under the age of five with vouchers or other methods of payment to get food at the farmers’ markets in Missouri (HB652), to regulations of animal-drawn vehicles (HB378), changes in cottage food production industries in Missouri (HB357), and legislation on specifying liability for damages or losses related to prescribed burns (HB369).

A Science Note recently produced by the MOST Policy Initiative on who can inspect Missouri farms summarized the HB574 sponsored by Rep. Haden & SB254 sponsored by Sen. Riddle, and listed a host of research on who has the authority to conduct on-farm and outside the farm inspections in Missouri & the U.S.. The note also distilled the reasons why evidence-based guidelines are placed for who can inspect farming grounds and facilities. The highlights and limitations of the research on the authority of conducting on-farm and outside the farm inspections is summarized below:

Highlights

• Biosecurity at agricultural facilities may be compromised when unauthorized or inexperienced personnel enter the farm facilities or grounds.
• On-farm inspections in the state are performed by the Missouri Department of Agriculture for animal health violations and by the Environmental Protection Agency for animal waste. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System require additional permits from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations.
• Outside the farm, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and State Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) programs are responsible for ensuring that the United States’ commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged.

Limitations

• Several federal and state authorities are in place to ensure that human health, animal welfare, food safety, biosecurity, and environmental considerations are regulated and enforced. However, the exact state of who is authorized to inspect which facilities, and how often is unclear.

It is important to specify the reasons that lay behind the inspections that are being conducted in the U.S. & Missouri farms. These include food safety, animal welfare, human health and environment. Probably, the most important reason behind establishing clear regulation over who has the right to enter grounds that raise livestock, eggs, milk or other dairy products, or other animals is ensuring that biosecurity standards are kept safe. Biosecurity is an essential part of maintaining farmers’ herds’ health as well as the profitability of their operations. HB574 & SB254 propose that only designated authorities be allowed to perform on-farm inspections, unless farm owners choose differently, but the proposed legislation does not otherwise change inspection standards or protocol.

According to MDA, Missouri is one of the most diversified agriculture states in the nation and its agricultural resources may be vulnerable to agri-terrorism. Additionally, many farms follow strict biosafety protocol to prevent disease outbreaks, thus, inspectors who are unfamiliar with such protocol could pose harm. Restricting who has access to the farming facilities can therefore be seen as a best practice for the agriculture community to prevent acts of terrorism and/or biohazards.

For more resources on farm inspections or other topics related to Agriculture, Natural Resources, Animals, or Economic Development, please request information from Dr. Eleni Bickell at eleni@mostpolicyinitiative.org, you can also find Eleni on Twitter (@DrEleniBickell) or LinkedIn (elenibickell).

Bill Hearing Updates

Agriculture

1. HB153 — Requires the department of revenue to establish a system where owners of multiple farm vehicles can register their vehicles all at the same time, sponsored by Rep. Don Rone, passed out of the Agriculture Policy Committee and was referred to the Administrative Oversight Committee. The bill is now Perfected.
2. HB574 — Prohibits the inspection of certain grounds or facilities in Missouri to enforce the laws of a state other than Missouri, sponsored by Rep. Kent Haden & (See MOST science note on HB547 on farm inspections).
3. The public hearing of a similar bill-SB254 — which restricts the inspection of certain grounds & facilities in Missouri, sponsored by Sen. Riddle, was completed at the Senate Agriculture Committee.
4. HB527 -Eminent domain for utility purposes has passed out of the Judiciary Committee and was voted to pass the House Committee on Rules-Administrative Oversight. (See MOST science note).
5. Sponsored by Rep. Francis, HB693 — Extends the sunset date on certain agricultural tax credits and has been referred to the House Agriculture Committee.
6. The extension of the sunset of tax credits for agricultural production (SB354) is set for public hearing next Tuesday at the Senate-Economic Development committee (2/16).

Animals

1. HB508 — Modifies provisions relating to feral swine, is sponsored by Chairman of Agriculture Committee Rep. Rone has been referred to the House Agriculture Committee and is set for public hearing next Tuesday (2/16)
2. The same bill on the Senate side, SB236 is also set for public hearing next Monday (2/15) at the Senate Agriculture Committee.
3. HB276 — Establishes an animal abuse registry and HB373 — Modifies provisions relating to offenses against animals, sponsored by Rep. Hannegan. The two bills are assigned to the House Committee on Crime Prevention and public hearing of HB276 is now completed.
4. HB221 — Increases the penalties for the offense of animal abuse and sponsored by Rep. Ingrid is referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
5. SB201 — Modifies provisions relating to the confiscation of animals and sponsored by Sen. Crawford, is referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food Production, and Outdoor Resources.
6. The same bill at the House side, HB589 is set for public hearing for next Tuesday (2/16) at the House-Agriculture Policy Committee.
7. HB378 — Requires animal-drawn vehicles to have reflective material on the front of such vehicles. This bill is sponsored by Rep. Kelley and has passed out the Rural Community Development Committee.
8. HB638 — Designates July 20 as Farmer’s and Rancher’s Day in Missouri is scheduled for public hearing next Tuesday (2/16) at the House-Agriculture Committee.

Economic Development

1. HB249 — Extends the authorization of AIM Zones until 2031. Currently, no Advanced Industrial Manufacturing (AIM) Zone may be established after August 28, 2023. HB249 extends the date to August 28, 2031. Sponsored by Rep. Grey, the bill is out of the House Committee on Economic Development and has been scheduled for public hearing at the House Committee on Rules-Legislative Oversight for next Monday (2/15).
2. Sponsored by House Economic Development Committee Chairman Grier, HB491 — prohibits local governments from regulating home-based businesses and its public hearings are now completed at the House-Downsizing State Government committee this week.
3. There are two bills, HB849 & SB36 that would authorize the Capitol complex Tax credit fund to receive monetary donations that would be segregated into two accounts consisting of a rehabilitation & renovation, and a maintenance account. Both of them were referred to their committees and were scheduled for public hearing this week. The hearing of the first was completed on the House-Ways and Means committee and the hearing of the second was completed earlier last month at the Senate-Economic Development committee.
4. SB215 — Repeals provisions authorizing regional economic development districts and sponsored by Sen. Hough has been referred to the Senate Committee on Economic Development.

Energy, Fueling & Transportation

1. HB529 — Establishes a minimum biodiesel fuel content mandate for diesel fuel sold or offered for sale in Missouri, sponsored by Rep. Haffner. The bill’s public hearing was completed at the House-Agriculture Policy Committee. (See MOST note on biodiesel mandate act).
2. The senate bill on the biodiesel mandate, SB96, is out of the Senate-Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee.
3. HB697 — Modifies provisions for property assessment contracts for energy efficiency. The bill is sponsored by Rep. DeGroot and its public hearing was completed this week at the House-Financial Institutions Committee.
4. SB38 — Enacts provisions relating to electric bicycles and sponsored by Sen. Bernskoetter. The bill passed the Senate-Transportation, Infrastructure, and Public Safety committee and is on the formal calendar for Perfection.
5. SB127 — which reauthorizes the wood energy tax credit until June 30, 2027 is sponsored by Sen. Brown. The bill’s Hearing was conducted at the Economic Development Committee.
6. SB344 — Enacts provisions relating to the taxation of biodiesel motor fuel and was referred to the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee.
7. SB253 — Establishes a tax credit for certain alternative fuel refueling properties. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Hegeman and is set for public hearing for next Monday (2/15) at the Economic Development Committee.
8. Last, the SB140 — Authorizes a tax credit for the sale of ethanol fuel- was referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food Production, and Outdoor Resources.

Food

1. HB357 — Allows cottage food production operations to sell food over the internet, sponsored by Rep. Baker. The bill has passed out of the House Rural Community Development Committee and is now referred to the House Committee on Rules-Legislative Oversight. Its public hearing is scheduled for Monday (2/15).
2. HB594 — Extends the pilot program allowing recipients to use SNAP funds at local farmers’ markets. Sponsored by Rep. Mackey, the bill is referred to the House committee on Agriculture Policy.
3. SB82 — Authorizes a tax credit for urban farms located in a food desert, sponsored by Sen. Washington, is referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee. (See MOST note on this topic here).
4. SB188 — Establishes a tax credit for grocery stores in a food desert was referred to the Senate Economic Development Committee.
5. Last, SB235 — which permits the sale of raw milk or cream in certain circumstances is referred to the Senate Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee.

Tourism

1. HB139 — Changes the laws regarding requirements of lodging establishments. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Hudson and after passing the Special Committee on Tourism it has been referred to the Rules-Legislative Oversight Committee.
2. HB252 — Authorizes certain cities to levy a transient guest tax or food tax upon voter approval- is out of the Local Government Committee and is referred to the Rules-Administrative Oversight Committee.
3. SB72 — Designates the first full week in September as Fox Trotter Week has been voted to pass from the Senate Committee of Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources.

Conservation & Natural Resources

1. HB138 — Requires the department of natural resources to assist permit applicants throughout the permitting process. The bill is sponsored by the Chair of the Conservation & Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Pietzman and after passing out the House Conservation and Natural Resources Committeeit is set for public hearing at the House Committee on Rules-Legislative Oversight next Monday (2/15).
2. The two bills on the Prescribed Burn Act, HB369 & SB301 are sponsored by Rep. Taylor and Sen. Bernskoetter. Rep. Taylor’s bill was referred to the House Committee on Rural Community Development Committee and its hearing is now completed. The senate bill’s public hearing at the Senate-Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee is completed. (See MOST note on this topic here).