Signed by Governor Jay Nixon

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends certain dairy industry laws, including the establishment of a dairy producer insurance assistance program and a scholarship for agriculture students.

Highlights:

• Requires the Department of Agriculture to establish and administer a dairy producer margin insurance premium assistance program to assist dairy producers who participate in the federal margin protection program (Sec. A).

• Authorizes a dairy producer who participates in the federal margin protection program to apply and participate in the dairy producer margin insurance premium assistance program by January 1 of each year to receive a reimbursement of 70 percent of their federal premium payment (Sec. A).

• Establishes the Missouri Dairy Scholars Program, administered by the department, to provide up to 80 scholarships of $5,000 each for “eligible students” in an agriculture-related degree program to assist with college or university tuition and fees (Sec. A).

• Defines “eligible student” as an individual who meets certain criteria, including, but not limited to the following (Sec. A):
• The individual is a United States citizen and a Missouri resident;
• The individual signs an agreement with the Department to work in the agriculture industry in Missouri for at least 2 years for every 1 year that the individual received the scholarship; and
• The individual works on a dairy farm or has a dairy-related internship for at least 3 months of each year that the individual receives the scholarship.

• Requires the University of Missouri’s commercial agriculture program to research and report on the dairy industry annually, and to develop a plan for improving the state’s dairy and dairy processing industries (Sec. A).

• Establishes the Missouri Dairy Industry Revitalization Fund to enhance and improve the state’s dairy and dairy processing industries, with any appropriated funds being expended upon the dairy producer margin insurance premium assistance program, the Missouri dairy scholars program, and the commercial agriculture program (Sec. A).

Full Bill Text