Congressman Smith Holds Agriculture Summit at Rost Farms in New Madrid County

At the Rost Farm last week are from left, Peter Rost Jr., John Brewer, and Congressman Smith.

NEW MADRID, Mo. –  This month Congressman Jason Smith-(08) is meeting with farmers and ranchers all across southern Missouri to discuss the different challenges within the agriculture industry. Last week, he held an agriculture summit with local elected officials this week at Rost Farms in New Madrid County.

State Representative Don Rone joined Congressman Smith at Peter Rost, Jr.’s farm, located in the New Madrid Floodway and the St. John Bayou Basin. As the Rost family showed Congressman Smith how they use cover crops to protect their land from erosion, they shared concerns on a different protection – the 2018 Farm Bill. The Rost family said they would like to see Congress authorize the Farm Bill before programs lapse.

“Now that the Senate finally acted, we’ll be going to conference and negotiating the final bill in September,” said Congressman Smith. “It’s important to reauthorize these critical programs for farmers before they expire in order to provide food security and strengthen Missouri’s economy.”

The Rost Family, who grows corn, soybean and rice, said they think President Trump’s ongoing trade negotiations are moving in the right direction. This week the White House announced they are moving forward with talks with the Chinese to eliminate current trade barriers and open new markets for American farmers.

“I want to get to a place where there’s no tariffs,” said Congressman Smith.

While discussing the policies that affect their farm, the Rost family expressed how appreciative they were to receive a visit from Congressman Smith and communicate with him directly. Congressman Smith has spent the last month meeting with a variety of agribusinesses in southern Missouri and said it’s important that he gets to hear directly from the farmers he represents.

“This job isn’t about me. It’s about the hardworking folks in Missouri. I want to hear about any grievances they have with the federal government and see what policies they want to change,” said Congressman Smith. “Agriculture touches everybody, and every policy touches agriculture.”