Got Milk? – SB391

AUTHOR: Crystal Fontaine

I would like to write one word: Agriculture. When one thinks of agriculture, images of tractors going five miles per hour down the road or illegal aliens working the fields may spring to mind. Agriculture is the unseen, straggling trade that works to produce the food items that we need and want as well as much more.

The bill SB 931 adapts specifications concerning the management of agricultural incentives and agendas. Under the act, the Qualified Beef tax credit and the Family Farm Breeding Livestock Loan tax credit will be subject to the reporting requirements in the Tax Credit Accountability Act for agriculture. The bill also states that any new or used machinery or equipment used for forestry products shall be exempt from local and state sales tax.

According to the bill, Missouri supports the idea of a voluntary animal identification program; however, it prohibits the Missouri Department of Agriculture from authorizing building registration under the U.S Department of Agriculture’s National Animal Identification System program unless it is explicitly approved to do so. If theses conditions prove to disturb marketing of Missouri Livestock, the governor may just waive it all away. SB 931 states under sections 348.230-348.235 that the State of Missouri may pay the first years interest on any relevant deposit program loan for the acquisition of dairy cows. The section also describes any awards a dairy business planning grants may be given.

As people look to agriculture for their beef and other meats, they also see agriculture in the green light. What is greener than alternative energy sources, such as biomass? The bill creates an income tax credit for the costs of constructing property for alternative fuel and its users. These tax credits shall not exceed twenty percent of direct costs. Each year as taxes are claimed, the claims that may be made must not exceed $3,000,000 the first year and subsequently drop each year thereafter.

Under the law, qualified fuel ethanol manufacturers are eligible for monthly grants. SB 931 asserts that fuel ethanol may be produced from biomass that is qualified by the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority (or MASBDA for short). Grant incentives awarded for fuel ethanol created from biomass are approved between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2019. Unfortunately, it only applies to two producers. Isn’t that just a drag?

The images of agriculture before were just the stereotypical of what one thinks farming is all about. However, times have called upon agriculture to spread its wings and provide ways to create a better environment. As the need for environmental protection increases, we may all look to our agricultural producers in a new light as they may pave the way to use our Earth as a renewable source of limitless energy. With this in mind, we must remember that laws concerning agriculture are important and agriculture itself is vitally important.