33rd Senatorial District’s Agricultural Impact on Missouri
With the celebration of National Agriculture Day on Tuesday, March 21, I thought it would be a great time to discuss how important agriculture is to the economy of the 33rd District. Missouri’s No. 1 industry is agriculture, with a more than $88 billion economic impact on Missouri in 2016. The agriculture and forestry industry, which are prevalent in Webster County, contributed to more than 378,000 statewide jobs with an estimated $1.5 billion in labor income to workers across the state.
Recently, Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Department of Agriculture and other groups commissioned a study, which examined the county by county impacts of our state’s largest industry. The study shows crop, livestock, forestry and fisheries productions contributed more than $9.4 billion to the economy; while agricultural inputs and services contributed more than $5 billion. The 33rd District is made up of eight counties. In those counties, 8,728 farms cover a total of 1,919,437 acres.
The eight counties in the 33rd District account for just over $2.4 billion of the state’s total agriculture and forestry related revenue. Overall, the district receives an estimated $138.6 million in tax revenues because of all of the hard work of farmers in the county. In this area alone there are 14,803 agriculture jobs.
In this region where farming is a way of life, it can be easy to forget how much the rest of the state depends on the hard work and daily contributions that go into running a successful farming operation. As a farmer who still tends to my own horses and can even be found cutting hay, I understand the hard work and dedication of our area’s farmers, and farmers across the state. I commend you for your passion to the industry and I am dedicated to passing meaningful legislation that will help all Missouri farmers.
As always, I appreciate it when groups from around Missouri and from our community back home come to visit me at the Capitol. If you would like to arrange a time to come and visit me in Jefferson City, or if you ever have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact my Capitol office at (573) 751-1882.