SPONSOR: Sharpe (4)
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Agriculture Policy by a vote of 17 to 0.
Currently, a small farmer may qualify for the Family Farm Livestock Loan Program if he or she is a farmer that is a Missouri resident who has less than $250,000 in gross sales per year and is only eligible for one loan per family and for only one type of livestock. This bill allows a farmer to qualify if he or she has less than $500,000 in gross sales per year and removes the restriction to only one loan per family. In addition, the bill doubles the maximum amount of the loan for each type of livestock.
This bill is similar to HB 2041 (2020).
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this bill extends the sunset of program that has a high return on investment for the state of $6.93 per every dollar the state spends. The bill also increase the gross sales per year limit to reflect modern farming realities.
Testifying for the bill were Representative Sharpe; Missouri Soybean Association; Missouri Corn Growers Association; Missouri Agribusiness Association; Missouri Farm Bureau; and Emily Leroy, Missouri Department Of Agriculture.
Additional written testimony was submitted in support of the bill.
OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that by increasing the amount the gross sales limit, the bill will limit the number of people who can participate in the program. Also, the program should be expanded to include other types of small farmers.
Testifying against the bill was Jim Kavpowicz, Missouri Coalition For The Environment.
Additional written testimony was submitted in opposition of the bill.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: