U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today visited Centralia and Columbia as part of her Missouri Agriculture Tour, seeing Centralia's Stanton Brothers Eggs farm--the nation's largest independent free-range egg farm started by two brothers' 1st grade 4-H project--and visiting Columbia's Bay Farm Research Facility for a roundtable discussion with researchers on new innovations in agriculture.
"Hearing directly from Missouri's farmers, ranchers, and agricultural researchers is a crucial part of my job," McCaskill said. "I plan on bringing what I learned here today back to the Senate to help me develop commonsense solutions--informed by feedback from folks on the ground--to strengthen these industries, and figure out ways to encourage the next generation to keep farming and ranching."
During her stop at the Stanton Brothers Eggs Farm, McCaskill participated in an omelet workshop, toured the facility, and heard directly from the family who runs the farm about concerns they face in production. McCaskill was joined by Dustin and Austin Stanton, brothers and fifth generation farmers who co-own the egg business.
At the Bay Research Facility, McCaskill heard from researchers on efforts to improve the profitability and competitiveness of agriculture in Missouri. The Facility, which was launched in 2012 as a collaboration between scientists and Missouri farmers, exists to support and facilitate the research, business and market development and educational programs of the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council and Missouri Soybean Association.
On her tour of the state, McCaskill will hear directly from a wide variety of producers, ranchers, and businesses on Missouri's agriculture needs and discuss upcoming priorities for Congress on issues affecting Missouri agriculture.
McCaskill is a longtime advocate for ensuring Missouri's farmers and ranchers have the resources they need to succeed, and for preventing unreasonable rules and regulations on producers. McCaskill recently waged a two year fight-- for which she won the National Farmers Union highest legislative honor and accolades from top Missouri Sportsmen's' groups--to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill in 2014.