Issue Position: Missouri Agriculture

Issue Position

Agriculture employs hundreds of thousands of Missourians and is our state's number one industry. Ensuring agriculture is a cornerstone of our state's economic development plan will be a centerpiece of Chris Koster's administration.

Too often, our state's economic development strategy focuses on enticing large manufacturers to locate in our state's urban centers. While manufacturing is a key part of our economic development strategy, we must not lose sight of the need to create economic opportunities in rural Missouri, where more than two million Missourians call home.

To do that, Missouri needs a proven leader on agriculture. Chris Koster has a record of standing up for Missouri's rural and farming communities. As a member of the state Senate, Chris had a perfect Farm Bureau voting record and crafted the eminent domain bill that former Farm Bureau President Charlie Kruse called "a model bill" for other states.

His support for MIssouri agriculture continued as Attorney General, campaigning across the state for the right-to-farm amendment and repeatedly standing up to the EPA to stop over-regulation of Missouri farmland.

AGRICULTURE AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Chris knows agriculture plays a key role in our state's economy and he will appoint an economic development director who understands it as well. In a Koster administration, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Economic Development will coordinate on a strategic plan for rural economic development, with a major initiative each year.

CLEAR AWAY BARRIERS TO RURAL BROADBAND EXPANSION

Agribusiness needs access to global markets in real-time, which requires wired broadband. Unfortunately, legal barriers are keeping our Rural Electric Cooperatives from bringing high-speed internet to rural Missouri, just like they brought electric power to our farmland over the last century. Chris knows wired broadband expansion is critical to rural economic development. He will work to clear away these barriers so that every corner of our state is connected to the global economy.

FIGHT FEDERAL REGULATIONS THAT THREATEN OUR AGRICULTURAL WAY OF LIFE

As Attorney General, Chris took on the EPA and won. His efforts stopped the federal government from implementing the mercury rule, prevented the Waters of the United States rule from taking effect in Missouri, and blocked the Clean Power Plan that could have increased rural electricity rates by 25% or more. Chris knows how to stop the federal government's encroachment into rural Missouri.

As Senator, Chris was proud to sponsor the Farm and Food Preservation Act to protect livestock producers from crippling patchwork county health regulations.

As Governor, Chris Koster will always stand-up for agriculture, our state's top industry.

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