HCS SCS SB 355 -- AGRICULTURE

This bill changes the laws regarding agricultural programs in
Missouri.

FUEL ETHANOL PRODUCER INCENTIVE FUND

The Fuel Ethanol Producer Incentive Fund was created to provide
economic incentives for the production of ethanol in Missouri.
Qualified ethanol producers receive a monthly incentive grant for
60 consecutive months in an amount determined by the number of
gallons of ethanol produced.  The bill extends the expiration
date of the producer incentives from December 31, 2007, to
December 31, 2015.

BIODIESEL FUEL

The bill removes the requirement that the Missouri Qualified
Biodiesel Incentive Fund be funded with moneys other than from
general revenue.

Missouri qualified biodiesel producers are eligible to receive a
monthly production incentive grant from the fund for 60
consecutive months.  If the producer fails to receive the full
grant amount during the 60-month period due to a lack of
appropriations to the fund, the 60-month eligibility period may
be extended for an additional 24 months or until the producer
receives the full grant amount.

Qualified biodiesel producers receive grants in an amount equal
to 30 cents per gallon for the first 15 million gallons of
biodiesel produced in a fiscal year.  The bill provides for a 10
cent per-gallon grant on the next 15 million gallons produced in
the same fiscal year.

The expiration date of the Biodiesel for Schools Program is
extended from the 2005-2006 school year to the 2011-2012 school
year.  The program allows school districts to establish contracts
with nonprofit, farmer-owned new generation cooperatives to
supply bus fuel containing at least 20% biodiesel.

MOTOR FUEL TAX

The bill authorizes an ultimate vendor, delivering 100 or more
gallons of gasoline to a certified farmer for on-farm use, to
claim the motor fuel tax refund on the gasoline.  This provision
has an effective date of January 1, 2006.

SALES AND USE TAX

The bill exempts from state and local sales and use taxes natural
gas, propane, and electricity used by an eligible new generation
cooperative or an eligible new generation processing entity and
field drain tile used exclusively for producing crops; raising
and feeding livestock, fish, poultry, pheasants, chukar, and
quail; or for producing milk for retail sale.

FOOD INSPECTIONS

The bill exempts all foods which are not potentially hazardous
sold by religious, charitable, or nonprofit organizations at
their religious events or at charitable functions from all state
laws and regulations relating to food inspection.

Sellers of jams, jellies, and honey will be exempt from specified
production requirements as long as they do not sell more than
$30,000 worth of jams, jellies, and honey per domicile, per year.
These sellers also will be exempt from all other health standards
pursuant to Sections 196.190 - 196.271, RSMo, as long as the
following requirements are met:

(1)  The jams, jellies, and honey must be manufactured in the
domicile of the person processing and selling them;

(2)  The jams, jellies, and honey must be labeled in legible
English with certain information;

(3)  A placard must be displayed in a prominent location stating
that the product has not been inspected by the Department of
Health and Senior Services; and

(4)  A record of jams, jellies, and honey processed and sold must
be maintained.

Anyone who violates these provisions may be issued an injunction
by the department preventing them from selling jams, jellies, and
honey.

DRAINAGE AND LEVEE DISTRICTS

The bill gives any drainage district, levee district, or drainage
and levee district two years after the lapse of the corporate
charter to reinstate and extend the time of its corporate
existence through the circuit court having jurisdiction.

This provision of the bill contains an emergency clause.

MISSOURI WINE AND GRAPE BOARD

The bill establishes the Missouri Wine and Grape Board to promote
the growth and development of the grape-growing industry in
Missouri.  The 11-member board will consist of seven current
members of the Missouri Wine and Grape Advisory Board and four ex
officio members, including the president of the Missouri Grape
Growers Association, the president of the Missouri Vintners
Association, the president of the Missouri Wine Marketing and
Research Council, and the Director of the Department of
Agriculture.  All board members including the ex officio members
will be voting members.  The appointment, terms, meeting
requirements, powers, and duties of the board are specified in
the bill.  An executive director will be hired to administer,
manage, and direct the affairs of the board.

The Missouri Wine and Grape Fund is created for the deposit of
moneys that currently are credited to the Marketing Development
Fund.  The moneys in the fund will be used exclusively for
programs for the growing, selling, and marketing of grapes and
grape products in Missouri.

PESTICIDES

The University of Missouri Extension Service is authorized to
collect a fee from private pesticide applicators to offset the
actual costs associated with providing an instructional course on
the application of pesticides.  Private applicators are required
to complete the instructional course in order to qualify for a
certified private applicator's license.  The Director of the
Department of Agriculture and the university extension service
are required to annually review the costs of the instructional
course.  Private applicators completing the course on-line will
not be assessed the fee associated with the instructional course.

TAX CREDIT WAITING PERIOD

The bill removes the two-year waiting period before a contributor
receiving a tax credit for a cash contribution to the
Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority can be an
owner, member, investor, or lender of an eligible new generation
cooperative or eligible new generation processing entity that
receives financial assistance from the authority.

MEAT INSPECTION STANDARDS

Currently, all commercial plants slaughtering and/or processing
livestock or poultry for human consumption are required to be
operated in accordance with prescribed standards.  The bill
designates llamas, alpaca, and buffalo as livestock and makes
them subject to the same standards.

PREMISES REGISTRATION INFORMATION CONFIDENTIALITY

Any information related to premises registration is required to
be kept confidential and shared only with state and federal
animal health officials.  The information is not subject to
subpoena except by a state or federal agency.

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 25, 2005 at 1:21 pm