emissourian - Senator Stops At Area Farm -- McCaskill's Ag Tour Visits Todd Geisert Farms

News Article

By Joe Barker

Several area farmers got a unique chance to air their grievances about government oversight to a sitting U.S. senator.

Claire McCaskill (D-MO) visited Franklin County Monday morning as part of her Missouri Agriculture Tour, a statewide tour of Missouri's agriculture economy. The tour stopped by Todd Geisert Farms on Old Highway 100 just outside Washington.

"My goal on this whole ag tour is to listen and learn what our producers are struggling with," McCaskill said. "I want to know what I can do to be helpful."

Reason for Visit

Geisert invited other area farmers he works with to attend the event. Geisert, who operates a hog farm, works with beef farmers and other producers to provide high-quality food to St. Louis-area restaurants and grocery stores.

Last year he received a USDA Value-Added Producer Grant award of $25,000 to conduct a feasibility study to determine if there is enough interest for a grocery store in the Washington area that would feature naturally raised, local food product.

Geisert said the farm is in the running for another "pretty good-sized" grant to take the next step in the project.

"(McCaskill) is a supporter of that kind of stuff, so she wanted to come out here and see how it all works," Geisert said. "It's a new concept how we're trying to do it, how we're trying to keep it more local."

McCaskill said she was intrigued by the idea of the farmers getting together and finding a new way to sell their products.

"I think this is really exciting," she said. "They've gotten a USDA grant to look at a new way of cutting down on the middlemen and making these farms more accessible to consumers in cities like St. Louis. The notion that he can gather all these producers together -- produce, pork and beef -- and deliver to restaurants and grocery stores in St. Louis the very best that you can possibly imagine, without having to pay a bunch of people in the middle, I think that's incredibly exciting and I want to help in any way that I can."

Too Many Regulations

McCaskill asked the group what was the biggest problem they face as small farmers. The response from the crowd was two words -- over regulation.

The senator said wanted to know what she could do to help fix that issue.

"I love going after regulations that are stupid," she said.

Terry Neuner with Westphalia Vineyards said one issue was selling to Illinois businesses and consumers. He said he and other Missouri farmers view Illinois as a potential market because of the proximity of the two states, but are being halted from doing so by regulations.

Neuner said some goods like meat can't be sold across state lines. The farmers said meat has to be inspected by Missouri inspectors in order to be sold, but it can only be sold in Missouri.

To sell in Illinois, the farmers would need a second inspection. The farmers said the Missouri inspectors are more stringent than federal inspectors and the one inspection should be enough to sell to multiple states.

McCaskill said she understands the rule is likely meant to keep an eye on bigger farmers so they can't just sell everywhere without the proper inspections. For the smaller farmer, like those gathered at Geisert's farm, McCaskill said the rule could probably be changed.

She said a rule allowing the sale of meat to adjoining states would solve the local farmers' issues. It would help those farmers near the state line have another place to sell, she said.

Other farmers like Bill McLaren from Crooked Creek Beef, had issues with local or county governments.

Time Well Spent

McCaskill said she appreciated the honesty from the farmers.

"I learned that some of the regulations that they are frustrated with, I think we can help with," McCaskill said.

After the discussion, McCaskill tried some fresh food from the farm and purchased some tomatoes and meat from Geisert's food stand.

Geisert said he was happy to have the senator visit.

"It helps put us in the forefront and helps people see that we're trying to do a positive thing in the community and for the area," he said.

Source