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16 Missouri Ag Groups Support "Meat the Need" Proposal

Chesterfield, MO(NASDA release),-Sixteen Missouri agricultural organizations have asked Missouri's Congressional Delegation to support The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) "Meat the Need" proposal to address the critical economic situation facing dairy, pork and poultry  farmers, while simultaneously providing much-needed nutritional assistance to people facing hunger due to job loss and other economic hardships.

Signing the joint letter were the Missouri Dairy Association, Missouri Dairy Growth Council, Central Equity Dairy Cooperative, FCS Financial, Missouri Agribusiness Association (MO-AG), Missouri Association of Electric Cooperatives, Missouri Bankers Association, Missouri Cattlemen's Association, Missouri Corn Growers Association, Missouri Egg Council, MFA, Inc., Missouri Farmers Union, Missouri Pork Association, Missouri Soybean Association, Missouri Veterinary Medical Association and The Poultry Federation.

"This is one of the broadest Missouri ag coalitions to ever come together to stress the urgency for action by the Administration," says Dave Drennan, Missouri Dairy Association (MDA) executive director.  "We have requested our Congressional Delegation to urge the President and his Administration to reallocate Federal Stimulus funding immediately for this proposal.

"The NASDA Plan would establish a tiered-purchase program for dairy and pork products, as well as a one-time purchase of turkey products.  This would remove excess meat and dairy products from the market and place them into food assistance programs," says Drennan.

"The implementation timing of this program is critical to improving the lives of millions of Americans who produce the food and for those struggling to put food on the table," says Don Nikodim, executive director of the Missouri Pork Association.

"Missouri's livestock producers are facing a crisis due to a variety of issues, including Governmental action which has drastically increased production costs, and Governmental inaction in regard to opening international markets. This combined with a weak worldwide economy, increased energy costs and supply issues are causing billions of dollars in losses and driving farmers out of business through no fault of their own."  

"Currently, dairy producers are losing $5.00 a hundredweight on their milk and pork producers are losing around $25.00 per hog. At the same time, nearly 36 million Americans are participating in the nation's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - a 21% increase from July 2008 to July 2009. Support to put meat and milk into the SNAP program is a win-win for producers and consumers," concludes Drennan.