HB 2224 -- Missouri Farmland Trust Act

Sponsor:  Loehner

This bill establishes the Missouri Farmland Trust Act to allow
individuals and entities to donate or otherwise convey farmland
to the Department of Agriculture to preserve it as farmland and
to assist beginning farmers by allowing long-term low and
variable cost leases on the land making it affordable for the
next generation of farmers to produce food, fiber, and fuel.

The Missouri Farmland Trust is implemented to accomplish the
following objectives:

(1)  Protecting and preserving Missouri's farmland;

(2)  Linking new generations of prospective farmers with present
farmers; and

(3)  Promoting best practices in environmental, livestock, and
land stewardship.

The Missouri Farmland Trust Advisory Board is established within
the department to make recommendations to the department director
regarding the appropriate uses of farmland in the trust and the
criteria for the selection of program participants and to review
and make recommendations regarding applications to lease farmland
in the trust.

The bill specifies the membership of the board and the terms of
its members.  The department is authorized to accept or acquire
by purchase, lease, donation, or agreement any agricultural
lands, easements, or real and personal property including
buildings, improvements, equipment, or facilities subject to
preservation and improvement which will be properties of the
trust.

The Missouri Farmland Trust Fund is created consisting of gifts,
donations, and appropriations by the General Assembly.  Moneys in
the fund will be used for the administration of the trust and the
maintenance, operation, regulation, and improvement of the
trust's assets to promote agriculture and its general welfare.
Property acquired by the department must be used exclusively for
agricultural purposes and must be farmed and maintained using the
best environmental, conservation, and stewardship practices as
specified by the department.  No beginning farmer can lease
farmland in the trust for more than 20 years.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:13 pm