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Missouri’s Hoskins: “I know the farmers out there are suffering”

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SEDALIA, Mo. -A key state senator says the drought is hurting farmers in his western Missouri district.

State Sens. Denny Hoskins (left) and Doug Libla (right) at the Missouri State Fair ham breakfast in Sedalia on August 16, 2018 (Brian Hauswirth photo)

State Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, is hopeful about getting a grant to assist drought-impacted farmers.

Hoskins is the Missouri Senate Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee’s vice chairman.

“We’re looking at all different options right now, whether it be a federal grant or possibly a CDBG (community development block grant) grant in order to fund some water towers,” Hoskins says. “I know the farmers out there are suffering and their livestock are suffering and crops are suffering.”

Hoskins met with U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Kansas City, on Thursday morning at the State Fair in Sedalia to discuss the drought and an effort to get a grant for the water towers.

Cleaver, who’s a Senior Whip in the House Democratic Caucus in Washington, tells Missourinet that farmers in his district cannot get water to their cattle, because of the drought.

Senator Hoskins says the bipartisan meeting went well.

“I know he (Congressman Cleaver) met with some farmers last week in Ray County and we’re just looking at anything we can do to help out our farmers,” says Hoskins.

Lafayette, Ray and Saline counties are represented in the Missouri Senate by Hoskins and by Cleaver in Congress. Cleaver and Hoskins emphasize it’s a bipartisan effort.

All three counties have a significant agricultural presence.

Missouri Congressman Emanuel Cleaver speaks to Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth at the State Fair in Sedalia on August 16, 2018 (Ashley Byrd photo)

Cleaver, who’s finishing his seventh term on Capitol Hill, confirms he’s written a letter to Governor Mike Parson (R), in support of a community development block grant for the water towers.

The drought has also impacted southern Missouri.

State Sen. Mike Cunningham, a livestock farmer in Rogersville, says his constituents want it to rain.

“I wish I could legislate some for them, I’ve got a farm and boy I just have nothing. Hay is nothing, it’s just a tough time in the Ozarks right now,” Cunningham says.

State Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Chris Chinn says 98 percent of Missouri has been impacted by the drought.

Cleaver, Hoskins, Cunningham and Chinn attended the Governor’s ham breakfast at the State Fair in Sedalia on Thursday.

The breakfast was sold out. State Fair marketing director Keri Mergen says all 1,000 meal tickets for the breakfast were sold.

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet

Missouri U.S. Senate candidates have sharp differences on trade war

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An issue that’s front and center in the Missouri U.S. Senate race is the trade war, especially given that agriculture is estimated to be an $88.4 billion industry in the state.

The tariffs have hit commodities such as soybeans, which have dropped in value by 20% since the Trump administration carried out trade sanctions against China.

Various manufacturers in the state have also been hit hard.  Mid Continent Nail Corporation in Poplar Bluff has been devastated by a 25% tariff on steel imports. It has slashed 60 temporary jobs, plans to cut 200 more and faces possible closure around Labor Day.

President Trump defended his approach during a speech at the VFW National Headquarters in Kansas City late last month, pleading for the public to “be a little patient” and contending farmers would eventually be “the biggest beneficiary” of his policies.

The very same day his administration announced plans for $12 billion in emergency aid to farmers hurt by trade disputes.  Those funds have been a no-show to date although U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has said delivery of the aid will begin sometime around Labor Day.

Republican Senate candidate Josh Hawley criticizes Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill for not supporting the President’s package that he thinks is effective.

“I think he is right, the President is, to be aiding our farmers who are bearing the brunt of the retaliation,” said Hawley.  “I can’t believe Senator McCaskill won’t support an aid package to farmers as they get retaliated against by China in particular.”

Support among Missouri farmers for President Trump’s tariffs varies.  Those who’ve appeared with Senator McCaskill at recent campaign stops across the state claim to have been severely hurt, with some saying they’re faced with losing their farms.

Others, such as members of the Missouri Farm Bureau who gathered last Friday to hear presentations from both McCaskill and Hawley, are much more receptive to President Trump’s approach and are willing to wait and see what progress can be made.

McCaskill told the group that agriculture is being hurt unnecessarily by the tariffs while the real problem is a shortage of resources to administer trade laws.  “Why aren’t we putting more resources into the enforcement of the laws that exist right now instead of making a calculated decision that agriculture can take the hit,” said McCaskill.

The two-term Senator described how Mid Continent Nail had received a judgment from the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) against China for illegally dumping its nails into the American market.  She said nails from China began reappearing in the U.S. six months after the ITC took action against the country because U.S. Customs lacked the manpower to provide enforcement.

Hawley credits the Trump administration’s tough talk on trade for forcing the European Union to make concessions and allow more imports of goods such as soybeans from Missouri.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker came to the White House to meet with President Trump last month after Trump threatened to slap a 20% tariff on auto imports.  The two agreed to more EU soybean purchases at that time.

The European Commission says U.S. soybeans now account for 37% of their soybean imports, up from just 9% a year ago.

Some sources have said the rise is primarily due to the drop in American soybean prices from the tariffs and merely a symbolic reflection of the talks between Trump and Junker.  The increase is also linked to the rising price of soybeans from Brazil.

Hawley thinks President Trump’s tough negotiations with the EU and $12 billion aid package to farmers is a step in the right direction.  “The EU deal is progress,” Hawley said.  “The aid package to farmers is progress as they are facing retaliation.  So, I hope that the administration will keep the pressure up as I think the President is doing and press to get better deals sooner rather than later.”

During a press call with reporters Tuesday, Hawley declined to set a deadline for tangible results from the tariffs.

USDA Designates 25 Missouri counties as primary natural disaster areas

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USDA Designates 25 Missouri counties as primary natural disaster areas

(USDA) Missouri agricultural producers who suffered losses and damages due to recent drought on two separate occasions could be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency emergency loans. For the recent drought, the U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has designated Andrew, Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Mercer, Nodaway, Randolph, Ray, Saline and Sullivan counties in Missouri as primary natural disaster areas. Producers in the contiguous counties of Adair, Atchison, Audrain, Boone, Buchanan, Clay, Cooper, Holt, Howard, Jackson, Knox, Lafayette, Monroe, Pettis, Platte, Putnam, Shelby and Worth are also eligible to apply for emergency loans.

For the second recent drought, the Secretary has designated Adair, Buchanan, Howard, Putnam, Schuyler and Scotland counties in Missouri as primary natural disaster areas. Producers in the contiguous counties of Andrew, Boone, Chariton, Clark, Clinton, Cooper, DeKalb, Knox, Linn, Macon, Mercer, Platte, Randolph, Saline and Sullivan are also eligible to apply for emergency loans.

Producers in all designated primary and contiguous counties will have until April 1, 2019, to apply for emergency loans to help cover part of their actual losses. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs, in addition to the emergency loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from the impacts of this disaster.

Additional information is also available online at https://www.farmers.gov/recover.

Story courtesy of Missourinet affiliate KFEQ in St. Joseph

Missouri Chamber praises Parson for making workforce development a top priority

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(News director Bob Ehle at Missourinet Moberly affiliate KWIX covered Governor Parson’s visit to Moberly, and contributed to this story)

Missouri’s governor says infrastructure and workforce issues were two common themes he heard during meetings this week with agriculture and business leaders in northern Missouri’s Mexico, Kirksville and Moberly.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson (left) is next to U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke at the Gateway Arch rededication ceremony in downtown St. Louis on July 3, 2018 (file photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI)

Governor Mike Parson (R) spoke to Missourinet Moberly affiliate KWIX (AM 1230) on Monday, after hosting an “agriculture in business roundtable” at the Orscheln Farm and Home distribution center in the Magic City.

“And it was pretty evident what everybody was talking about in the room, which really matches up with what other segments of the state are talking at the same time,” Parson says. “And the two things that are the highlights out of all of this is infrastructure and workforce development.”

The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry President says the Show-Me State is making great strides toward making our workforce one of the most competitive in the world.

Chamber President Dan Mehan is praising Parson for making workforce development a top priority for his administration.

“He gets it, he understands the critical need that it is,” says Mehan. “That along with infrastructure. It’s great to have the governor come and listen to the people on the front line trying to find those employees and create those opportunities. So, it’s great for him to do a listening tour.”

Mehan participated in the governor’s agriculture in business roundtable in Moberly.

Parson says community colleges will play a key role in moving the workforce forward.

A proposed ten-cent gasoline tax increase on the November statewide ballot has the vocal support of Governor Parson.

“It’s a huge vote in November, the people are going to make that decision but I think it’s really important that we inform them the best we can, we tell them what we’re going to do, how we’re going to do it and when we’re going to do it and I think we ought to be able to tell that to the voters,” Parson says.

If Missourians approve the gas tax increase, it would be phased in over four years at 2.5 cents annually.

Missouri’s fuel tax hasn’t been increased since 1996.

Governor Parson will deliver the keynote address at Thursday morning’s 8 o’clock ham breakfast at the State Fair in Sedalia, and will also participate in the “agriculture’s next generation in the workforce roundtable” Thursday at 1 p.m. at the State Fairgrounds.

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet

Southwest Missouri mayor says company expansion is answered prayer

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A seed coating factory is expected to be up and running the beginning of next year in the southwest Missouri community of Lamar. Mayor Kent Harris tells Missourinet he’s happy Smith Seed Services shares the same vision to bring more jobs to the community of 4,500 people.

Photo courtesy of Smith Seed Services

“Our population has stayed very stable. We know that it’s a great place to live. We want it to be a great place also to work. That’s why we are just excited to kind of get back on track to that. I just feel like this is going to be the first step of several things that are to come for the city of Lamar. I consider this answered prayer.”

The wholesale lawn and garden seed company, which is headquartered in Oregon, is expected to hire about 40 workers. According to the future plant’s division manager, Brian Jaasko, the jobs will consist of full-time, temporary employees. He says the average pay for the workers has not been released.

“This facility is going to be brought up to speed in phases over the course of the next three to four years,” Jaasko. “When we’re looking at the number of people that we’re going to employ right off the bat, we’ll have a footprint but it’s not going to be the whole footprint until we kind of get developed. We want to create jobs that are going to be here ten years from now.”

He says a few things attracted the company to Lamar.

“Ease of access on and off of Highway 71 is a good idea. There are excellent raw material resources in this area,” Jaasko. “There is a fair amount of seed grown in the area. The hauling charges would be lower for a lot of our customers to get their seed coated.”

Harris says having the company’s factory centrally located in the U.S. is an advantage for Smith Seed Services.

“They have been looking for some time for an area east of Halsey, Oregon to more serve the Midwest and even further east United States,” he says. “There is on the site, which they have purchased at this point, several large warehouses which they were very interested in having, that goes right along with what they would need to add onto.”

The state and local incentives given have not been made public.

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet

Egypt shows interest in Missouri’s unmilled rice

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Missouri rice producers could soon have a new export market. Greg Yielding, with the Missouri Rice Council and U.S. Rice Producers says Egypt is very interested in buying Missouri’s unmilled rice. Water shortages have led to zero growing of rice in Egypt.

Egypt shows interest in Missouri’s unmilled rice

“Egypt has a lot of rice mills,” he tells Brownfield Ag News. “What’s happening is those rice mills will be idle. They won’t be working. They’ll just be sitting there. No rice to mill.”

In July, Yielding and a Southeast Missouri State University ag professor travelled to Egypt with their proposal to ship rough rice there.

Southeast Missouri is a major producer of medium grain rice, which Egypt prefers.

“It goes to the mill. They mill it,” he says. “They get to hire people to run the mills. They get the benefit of the byproducts, the hulls, the brand.”

Yielding says the rice could be shipped across Egypt and re-exported to countries in the Middle East.

He is optimistic U.S. rice will soon be imported by China with the current trade battle not negatively impacting that process that has been in the works for well over a decade.

By Julie Harker of Brownfield Ag News

Missouri’s Jay Randolph: 2018 PGA Championship will be the most successful in history (AUDIO)

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St. Louisan and longtime NBC Sports broadcaster Jay Randolph says the 100th PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis County will be long remembered by those in attendance.

The logo for the 100th PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club, courtesy of Explore St. Louis

Randolph says crowds were 20-deep when Tiger Woods teed off Thursday morning. Woods has won 14 major golf championships.

Randolph predicts the 2018 PGA Championship will be the most successful PGA Championship in history.

“We have over 4,000 volunteers, we have nearly 1,000 media members who are here and we have the greatest players anywhere all together here,” Randolph says.

Bellerive also hosted the 1992 PGA Championship, which Randolph describes as the most successful in the history of the PGA.

Randolph says this year’s tournament is even bigger.

Explore St. Louis is projecting a $100 million economic impact, with about 80,000 out-of-town visitors for the tournament.

More than 30 area hotels are under contract for the event.

Randolph compares the impact of this tournament to the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis.

He says volunteers have come from as far away as Europe.

Thousands of golf fans are expected to head to Bellerive again on Friday morning for round two of the PGA Championship.

Randolph notes the tournament is sold-out.

“We’ll have over 30,000 people here on the golf course on Saturday and Sunday, but it’s a culmination of so many people doing so much work,” says Randolph.

Randolph also notes more than 100 golf course superintendents from across the country have traveled to St. Louis to assist the Bellerive groundskeeping crew.

He says they have done a remarkable job.

Randolph spent 22 years at NBC, and broadcast the Bob Hope Desert Classic for 16 straight years.

He also worked at St. Louis’ NBC affiliate, KSDK, for about 24 years, and spent years broadcasting Cardinal baseball on Channel 5.

 

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and Jay Randolph, which was recorded on August 9, 2018:

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet

Missouri’s Rehder looks ahead after Tuesday’s right-to-work defeat

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The Missouri House sponsor of the 2017 right-to-work bill indicates she’ll continue to push for the measure.

State Rep. Holly Rehder speaks on the Missouri House floor on March 15, 2018 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Tuesday’s right-to-work referendum, which was Proposition A, was rejected by Missourians. The vote was about 937,000 to 452,000.

More than 67 percent of Missourians voted against Proposition A.

Veteran State Rep. Holly Rehder, R-Sikeston, who sponsored the 2017 House right-to-work bill, issued a statement to Missourinet on Wednesday.

Rehder, who chairs the powerful Missouri House Economic Development Committee, says she’s not giving up on her efforts.

“Last night’s results should not surprise anyone who has followed this issue. We knew that big labor would throw in everything they had to defeat right to work. Spending millions of dollars to confuse voters led to the results last night. Unions will do anything to cling to power but the data is clear, the right to work states around us have seen wages go up and the number of jobs increase. This fight is not going away and I look forward to continuing to push for labor reform,” Rehder’s statement reads.

Rehder, who represents Mississippi and Scott counties, is unopposed in November for her fourth and final term in the Missouri House.

Voters in both Mississippi and Scott counties in her district rejected right-to-work, which says that a person cannot be required to join or refrain from joining a labor organization, as a condition of employment.

Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Stephen Webber, a former state lawmaker who served in the House with Rehder, issued a statement late Tuesday after the votes came in.

“Tonight, Missouri voters rejected a top Republican priority and sent a resounding message that we will not leave working people behind. Standing together, Democrats and working families successfully fought off this shameless attack on the middle class from corrupt Republican politicians in Jeff City,” Webber said in his statement.

Senate Minority Leader Gina Walsh, D-Bellefontaine Neighbors, has warned that right-to-work will lead to lower wages and decreased safety protections.

Rehder disagrees with that, and has told Missourinet that right-to-work would increase union jobs in Missouri.

Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Dan Mehan, who appeared live on Missourinet’s election night coverage Tuesday, also says right-to-work remains “an important and worthy goal” that the Chamber will continue to pursue.

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet

PGA Championship at Bellerive projected to have a $100 million impact (AUDIO)

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The 100th PGA Championship begins Thursday at historic Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis County.

The logo for the 100th PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club, courtesy of Explore St. Louis

Bellerive also hosted the U.S. Open in 1965 and the 1992 PGA Championship.

Explore St. Louis chief marketing officer Brian Hall says they’re projecting about a $100 million economic impact, with about 80,000 out-of-town visitors for the tournament.

“Many of them are staying not just for a day or two, they’re staying for the entire week,” Hall says. “So it’s a week-long celebration of the game of golf, played by the best in golf.”

Explore St. Louis is the official destination marketing organization responsible for marketing St. Louis City and County as a convention site and as a leisure travel destination.

The organization’s website notes more than 700 local and regional businesses partner with Explore St. Louis.

Hall says Explore St. Louis worked with the PGA on lodging, and that more than 30 area hotels are under contract for the event.

He says reporters from across the globe have traveled to or will be traveling to St. Louis.

“We’re going to have an estimated 1,000 journalists from around the world who are not just going to be reporting on the game of golf as it’s played in the championship play over at Bellerive, but they’re going to be reporting on St. Louis as well,” says Hall.

Historic Bellerive Country Club

Hall tells Missourinet that CBS Sports came in about a month ago to shoot B-roll of the Gateway Arch, Forest Park and many other area attractions.

That video will be shown during the broadcasts.

Hall says there will be about 30 hours of live television programming from Bellerive.

Practice rounds continue Tuesday and Wednesday, and round one is Thursday at Bellerive, which is located on Ladue Road.

Bellerive Country Club’s website notes the club is named after Louis St. Ange De Bellerive, the last French commander in North America.

Hall says the St. Louis region is on a roll.

“A month ago we just re-opened the Gateway Arch, incredible new tourism experience,” Hall says. “And to have this right on the heels of that opening that captured international attention, this is really, really exciting for the entire region.”

Explore St. Louis says the Gateway City welcomes more than 25 million annual visitors for leisure, conventions, meetings and business travel.

Hall says Cardinal Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith chairs the PGA’s Foundation, which is called “PGA Reach”.

Hall says the organization will be assisting many of the Boys and Girls Clubs in the St. Louis region.

 

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and Explore St. Louis chief marketing officer Brian Hall, which was recorded on August 2, 2018:

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet

Missouri Congressman says Trump is the only one willing to stand up to China

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Congressman Jason Smith of southeast Missouri’s Salem says many elected officials have called themselves free traders but have failed to stand up to the Chinese and other countries. During a U.S House trade hearing, Smith says the entire world knows China is taking advantage of them.

Congressman Jason Smith (R-Missouri)

“But it seems that President Trump is the only one who wants to do something about it,” Smith says. “He wants a better deal for Missouri farmers, ranchers, manufacturers and families. I am very glad that I have someone in the White House that I trust that’s willing to stand up for our farmers.”

The Trump administration is rolling out a $12 billion bailout plan to aid the farmers that have been hurt by its tariff faceoff with major trading partners including China, the world’s largest soy importer.

“They say in China there are two types of businesses – government-owned businesses and government-subsidized businesses. That’s tough to compete in southeast Missouri,” Smith says.

Prices have fallen to near-decade lows, shedding 20% since the Trump administration announced plans to penalize China for alleged intellectual-property theft and what the president considers unfair trade practices.

Soybeans are down 15% this year.

By Luke Turnbough of Missourinet affiliate KREI in Farmington

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet