Monday, December 11, 2006
Contact: Brian Hauswirth, 573-751-0290
Blunt Promotes Missouri Branded Beef, Renewable Fuels and Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative
Announces back payments in addition to full funding of ethanol incentive fund
OSAGE BEACH–Emphasizing the importance of agriculture, Gov. Matt Blunt this morning outlined his farm agenda for the 2007 legislative session.
“Agriculture is one of my top priorities,” Blunt said. “Family farmers and ranchers in Missouri are the most productive in the world, and we will do everything we can in Jefferson City to help them.”
Speaking at the Governor's Conference on Agriculture, Blunt announced he will ask the General Assembly in January to increase the amount of tax credits available through the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority (MASBDA) from $6 million to $10 million. Noting the number of dairy operations has been decreasing, Blunt said he will work with lawmakers to develop grants to start new dairy farms or expand existing operations.
Blunt also gave an update on the Director's Working Group for Branding Missouri Beef. Blunt formed the group and attended their first meeting during the 2006 Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. The Governor announced this morning that a plan will be created for marketing the Missouri Beef Brand, which will benefit farmers, restaurants and consumers. Under the plan, beef producers will realize premiums for producing quality beef. The premier restaurants will be able to offer a high-quality product to attract consumers and beef will drive store traffic to grocery stores. The consumer will be rewarded with a terrific meal originating from Missouri farms.
Blunt also announced that the upcoming budget will include full funding for the biodiesel and ethanol incentive funds. Blunt also announced that his next budget will include $5.1 million for back payments to the ethanol incentive fund. This is the amount required to make up all payments that were not honored before he assumed office. Saying passage of an E-10 standard is only a start, Blunt called for more E-85 pumps, and encouraged carmakers to produce more flex-fuel vehicles. Blunt also called for breaking through regulatory barriers, to create agricultural centers, including dairies and finishing operations near ethanol plants where livestock can feed on distillers' grains.
Blunt also promoted his Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative, which, if passed, will provide $350 million to higher education. Blunt addressed critics of the Initiative head-on, saying if we are going to continue to compete in world markets, we must stay one step ahead of our competitors in South America and elsewhere. Blunt said the Initiative will address a lack of research and laboratory space, noting it will create 10,000 new square feet of research space in the Delta Center in Portageville alone.
Blunt said his plan will direct more than $90 million to the University of Missouri-Columbia for a new plant science center, a new health science center and a new business incubator, while $15 million will be used to assist with the commercialization of new technologies developed in Missouri.
Blunt also highlighted the Life Sciences Trust Fund. He is optimistic that legislative leaders would send 38.5 million dollars from the state's Tobacco Master Settlement to the Life Sciences Trust Fund in the upcoming legislative session. According to Blunt, "these funds are necessary to improve the quantity and quality of research at Missouri's public and private not-for-profit institutions."
Blunt discussed legislation he signed into law this year, which requires condemning authorities to pay relocation costs to individuals who are displaced by eminent domain. The American Farm Bureau Federation called Missouri's law the gold standard when it comes to protecting property rights.
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