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Missourinet

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You are here: Home / Archives for Missouri Department of Agriculture

Gov. Nixon to act on bills including captive deer language

July 7, 2014 By Mike Lear

The office Governor Jay Nixon (D) says he will discuss Tuesday morning in Columbia his actions regarding legislation that would change the definition of livestock to include captive deer.

Senate Bill 506 and House Bill 1326 would make the Missouri Department of Agriculture responsible for the captive deer industry. Currently the agriculture and conservation departments oversee facilities. Captive deer industry representatives say rules proposed by conservation officials would force operators out of business.

Nixon will discuss what he will do with those bills at a meeting of the Conservation Commission at 10:30 at the Tiger Hotel in downtown Columbia.

Filed Under: Legislature, News Tagged With: captive deer, deer, Missouri Department of Agriculture, Missouri Department of Conservation

Gov. Nixon announces trade mission to Canada

February 27, 2014 By Mike Lear

Governor Jay Nixon (D) is headed to Canada.

The Governor has announced that he will lead a delegation of Missouri business leaders and state officials to the Great White North, Sunday through Thursday. In a statement, Nixon says Canada is Missouri’s largest export market and bought nearly $4-billion in goods from Missouri last year. Nixon will meet with business leaders in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto.

Nixon says he will meet with the leadership of major Canadian corporations that have made or are considering making investments in Missouri. Those include Magna International, the parent company of Magna Seating in Excelsior Springs and LMV Automotive in Liberty. LMV supplies parts for the Ford Transit, being built in Claycomo.

“This trade mission is a great opportunity to expand foreign investment in our state,” Governor Nixon says in his statement. “We’ve seen how, particularly in the automotive sector, companies like Magna International are seeing Missouri as an increasingly attractive place to invest and create high-paying jobs.”

He will be joined by First Lady Georganne Nixon, Department of Economic Development Director Mike Downing, Department of Agriculture Director Richard Fordyce and representatives of Missouri businesses including Custom Metalcraft of Springfield, Essex Industries of St. Louis, Advantage Capital Partners and Kent Precision Foods Group, Inc. of St Louis.

Nixon will meet with government officials including the Minister of Industrial Policy in Quebec Elaine Zakaib, the Canadian Minister of International Trade, Ed Fast and the Premier of Ontario, Kathleen Wynn. He will also address Canadian trade and industry associations including the American Chambers of Commerce in Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa and the Montreal Board of Trade.

“Ninety-six percent of the world’s consumers live outside the United States, so in order to keep creating jobs here at home we need to do everything we can to reach new customers for Missouri-made products abroad,” Nixon says. “As Missouri’s number one export market, Canada offers tremendous opportunities for Missouri businesses and farmers. In fact, Canada purchased nearly $4 billion in Missouri goods last year alone – dollars that helped fuel our economy and bring our unemployment rate to a five and a half year low. The goal of this mission is simple: sell more products to Canada, and create more jobs in Missouri.”

The Governor, First Lady, and members of the delegation will arrive in Montreal on Sunday, March 2. The delegation will travel to Ottawa on Tuesday, March 4 and then to Toronto on Wednesday, March 5. The delegation will depart for Missouri on Thursday, March 6. Travel costs for Governor and Mrs. Nixon will be covered by the Hawthorn Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting economic growth in Missouri; state taxpayer funds will not be used.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Jay Nixon, Missouri Department of Agriculture

MO Wine Board: no wine shortage here, despite global outlook

November 19, 2013 By Mike Lear

The research division of Morgan Stanley recently released a report saying the world is experiencing a wine shortage.

The Missouri Wine and Grape Board believes there will be plenty of Missouri wines like these, even if international supplies are strained. (Photo courtesy; Missouri Wine and Grape Board.)

The Missouri Wine and Grape Board believes there will be plenty of Missouri wines like these, even if international supplies are strained. (Photo courtesy; Missouri Wine and Grape Board.)

It found that global consumption has been largely on the increase since the late 1990s, with the U.S. and China standing out. At the same time production globally has generally declined.

Missouri Wine and Grape Board Marketing Director Danene Beedle says the data do suggest there could be a shortage among international wines, but Missouri is in good shape.

“We are seeing wine levels increasing and there’s no danger of shortage for Missouri wines,” Beedle says. “We also think it might be an opportunity for people to try wines that are domestic.”

In fact, Beedle says this year’s grape harvest in Missouri has been very good.

“We’re seeing record number crops coming in, we’re seeing lots of great, high-quality fruit. People are wrapping up in the next few weeks with those late harvest varietals that are hanging on the vine and we think it’s going to be a really outstanding harvest this year.”

Beedle says the wineries that have opened in the last five years in Missouri are also performing well and have other incomes to rely on, such as tourism draws and restaurants.

The Morgan Stanley report says the U.S. and China are projected to consume more than 400 million cases of wine each by 2016, while their own supplies come nowhere near that figure. Europe produces more than half of the world’s wine and is in the midst of a steep decline in production. The report concludes it will take multiple strong harvest years and a reverse in the decline in Europe to meet demand.

Filed Under: Agriculture, News Tagged With: Missouri, Missouri Department of Agriculture

Former Ag Director speaks about allegations of hostility, threats (AUDIO)

November 2, 2013 By Mike Lear

Former Missouri Agriculture Director Jon Hagler has spoken to Missourinet in his first interview since he was replaced at the Department of Agriculture. In recent weeks Hagler has been accused of creating a hostile work environment at the Department and of threatening the executive vice president of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association.

Former Agriculture Director Jon Hagler

Former Agriculture Director Jon Hagler

Hagler says he waited until now to speak about those allegations because he was still employed by the Nixon administration until yesterday and was therefore subject to what he refers to as “his own” media policy at the Department of Agriculture.

“This is the first opportunity I’ve had to speak as a private citizen. I’ve been really reluctant to step forward and say anything but I think some things need to be corrected for the record.”

Hagler was replaced the day after a letter written by Beth Ewers dated October 10 was released regarding her resignation as Associate Director of the Missouri Meat and Poultry Inspection Program. In the letter she accused Hagler of creating an environment of “hostility, disrespect, intimidation and fear,” at the Department.

Hagler says the release of that letter in relation to his departure was a matter of “horrible timing.”

He says he had been discussing with Nixon staff the potential that he would be leaving since mid-August, and told them on Tuesday, October 8 that he had an interview lined up with a university before leaving for an ag conference in Wyoming.

“On that Thursday evening I got back to the Department … and then found out that letter had been released to the public. We had planned on making the change the next day.”

Ewers, in her letter, alleges that during a meeting between her, Hagler, Human Resources, State Veterinarian Linda Hickam and the Director of the Meat and Poultry Inspection Program, Hagler threatened to fire her. She wrote, “Firing has become a common threat that is leveled toward anyone who disagrees with the MDA administration or makes an unintentional mistake at this department.”

Hagler disagrees with that characterization, saying, “I don’t think there is any person that has ever been fired (from the Department of Agriculture during my tenure) that has not gone through the Human Resources process and fully had an opportunity to vet their concerns.”

He says he isn’t sure where the claims of a “hostile work environment” come from, but he says there have been ongoing disagreements between the Meat Inspection Division and others within the Animal Health Division.

Hagler says Ewers’ statement that he told her “he does not ‘need’ meat inspection but that he needed the current State Veterinarian,” is a paraphrase of something said in a Human Resources meeting, which he says he can not address directly for fear of violating personnel issues.

Speaking in general terms, he says each one of the issues raised, “could have been addressed through the Human Resources process.”

AUDIO:  Hagler responds in general terms to Ewers’ statement that he told her “he does not ‘need’ meat inspection but that he needed the current State Veterinarian.”

Hagler admits to saying to Ewers that by his interpretation her work fell under the description of an “Environmental Public Health Specialist V,” which Ewers says was a “direct insult to me,” and meant to “‘put me in my place’ in front of the State Veterinarian.”

He says he was trying to discern the difference between her position and that of the Environmental Public Health Specialist V, “but certainly by no way did I mean any offense at that.”

Hagler says of Ewers and her letter that the situation is unfortunate and he wishes her the best.

“I hate it for her and I hate it for the Department, and I had no intention of her leaving her job.”

Most recently Hagler has been accused of making threats against the executive vice president of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association after the release of a magazine article critical of the Department.

Hagler says he had a good working relationship with Deering and when he saw that article, he took his concerns directly to Deering.

“I just felt like he didn’t deal with the situation honestly … so what I said was … ‘In Missouri, your handshake and your word and dealing with people honestly makes a big difference, and if you don’t do that in Missouri you’re liable to get your butt whooped.” Hagler says the statement was not meant to be taken literally, “Absolutely I shouldn’t have said it.”

Hagler says he later apologized to Deering and says it has been nine months since the two had agreed to “let bygones be bygones,” adding that the two have since collaborated on other issues and projects.

“We shook hands … and I haven’t heard a thing about it until this recent article came out.”

Asked whether he thinks the issue was raised now for political reasons, Hagler says, “Well this is Jeff City … certainly a political location and a political city. I wouldn’t put past anything to have politics raised in that situation. I can’t honestly say why it is.”

Hagler takes an exception with a claim by Cattlemen’s Association President Chuck Massengill that he left after 20 years at the Department of Agriculture in 2009 because of the environment created by Hagler.

Hagler tells Missourinet, “In 2009, as I recall, we had the worst budget crisis in Missouri history. Doctor Massengill was an employee of the Department but he was a retired employee … and we laid off all those retired employees. I don’t believe he left because of any … to my knowledge that’s the first I’ve ever heard of it … because of any difficulty whatsoever other than we laid off all retired employees that were still drawing a paycheck because we had to.”

Hagler believes Massengill has had a long-running dispute with the State Veterinarian, Hickam, but says he doesn’t know if that has anything to do with Massengill’s role in the Deering issue being raised now.

The House Government Oversight and Accountability Committee has been asked by House Speaker Tim Jones (R-Eureka) to dig into the issues raised regarding Hagler and the Department of Agriculture, as well as other issues alleged at the Department of Labor.

Hagler won’t rule out talking to the committee if he is called to. “I don’t think there’s anything to hide,” he says.

After more than 20 years in public service Hagler is looking forward to returning to private life. He says he has taken a job with a “private company,” and says he hopes to be done with politics.

He says he has received a great deal of support from individuals in the Department of Agriculture, including the Meat and Poultry Inspection Division, and from others he has worked with in the past. He offers texts and e-mails he has received as evidence of that.

“Those things kind of warm your heart. They’re certainly solace in an environment where you have to hear these other things.”

Hagler says the recent allegations and controversy are not representative of him, the Department or the Nixon Administration and calls them an unwanted and unfortunate distraction from what he calls the good work done in the last 5 years.

“This sort of political piling on right now is very uncomfortable … you never want your mom to have to see things like that and you don’t want to have to personally deal with it. On the other hand I wouldn’t trade it for all the five years’ worth of accomplishments.”

AUDIO:  Mike Lear interviews former Missouri Agriculture Director Jon Hagler 37:17

Filed Under: News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: Jay Nixon, Jon Hagler, Missouri Cattlemen's Association, Missouri Department of Agriculture

Agriculture Department offers grants to support spaying and neutering

January 8, 2013 By Mike Lear

The Department of Agriculture is making grants available for animal shelters, rescue groups and other non-profit organizations for spaying and neutering.

Agriculture Director Jon Hagler encourages animal shelters, rescue groups and other non-profit organizations that offer spaying and neutering services to go to mda.mo.gov to apply for I'm Pet Friendly grants.

Agriculture Director Jon Hagler encourages animal shelters, rescue groups and other non-profit organizations that offer spaying and neutering services to go to mda.mo.gov to apply for I’m Pet Friendly grants.

Agriculture Director Jon Hagler says those organizations need help to pay for offering those services.

“We want to encourages shelters all across the state of Missouri to reach out and to get on the website at mda.mo.gov and to apply for the I’m Pet Friendly grant, because it’s up to $2000 for them to offset the cost of those services.”

The deadline to apply for the grants is February 15.

Hagler also encourages Missourians to consider buying an “I’m Pet Friendly” license plate. $20 from every plate sold goes to the Agriculture Department’s Pet Spay & Neuter Fund.

Department of Revenue spokesman Ted Farnen says, “There are currently 752 passenger cars, trucks, motorcycles and RVs that currently sport ‘I’m Pet Friendly’ license plates in Missouri.”

The Agriculture Department says the program is expected to top $20,000 in donations this year.

Filed Under: Agriculture, News Tagged With: Jon Hagler, Missouri Department of Agriculture, Missouri Department of Revenue

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