COMMITTEE
HB 970 -- AGRICULTURAL TRANSACTIONS
CO-SPONSORS: Smith, Farnen, Schwab
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Agri-Business by a vote of 11 to 7.
This bill requires the purchaser of grain to allow a seller who
delivers grain in multiple loads the option to average the
measurements from all loads with respect to moisture content, as
long as all such loads are within 2% of the moisture content
specified in the contract.
Any person in violation of the provisions of this bill is guilty
of a class B misdemeanor.
FISCAL NOTE: No impact on state funds.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this bill allows sellers of
grain the option to average the moisture content of loads of
grain when selling such grain by contract. Currently sellers
are penalized for moisture deviation at the time of sale.
Testifying for the bill were Representative Smith; Missouri Farm
Bureau; and Missouri Soybean Association.
OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that moisture
averaging would give elevators in neighboring states an economic
advantage over Missouri elevators. Sellers of grain may include
moisture averaging in their contracts without such state
requirements.
Testifying against the bill were John Fletcher, Fletcher Grain
Company and Missouri Agricultural Industries; Gary Duncan, Bunge
Corporation and Missouri Agricultural Industries; MFA
Incorporated; Consolidated Grain and Barge Company; Archer
Daniels; and Missouri Poultry Federation.
Roland Tackett, Research Analyst