Congressman Blunt visits Ozarks agricultural sites

Blunt’s 2006 Southwest Missouri Agriculture Tour comprises 11 farm visits Aug. 21–22.

Blunt has been taking tours to various sites for a decade.

He said the target audience for the event is the area’s “opinion makers,” including executives from area chambers of commerce, universities and city government.

“Through this tour, they get a chance to think for a day or two about how much agriculture still means in this area,” Blunt added.

A 2005 study by Missouri State University professor Arbindra Rimal showed that agribusiness has a $5.2 billion annual impact in the 12-county region that includes and surrounds Greene County and employs more than 42,000 people.

Roy Parsons, general manager of Missouri Farms Dairy in Golden City, said his farm – a co-op of 140 southwest Missouri farmers housing nearly 1,000 head of dairy cattle – is an example of a new age cooperative farm, where farmers act as investors and get returns based on shares owned in the facility.

It’s one example of what Blunt called the “diverse nature of the region’s agriculture economy.”

Blunt’s tour

Aug. 21

Cardinal Price Meats, Miller

M&M Cattle Co., Avilla

Missouri Farms Dairy, Golden City

Tim Joyce Nutmeg Hog Nursery, Carthage

Mid-America Hardwoods, Carthage

Sarcoxie Nursery, Sarcoxie

Roger Schnake Poultry Farm, Stotts City

Aug. 22

Fred & Linda Schupbach Meat Goat and Beef Farm, Ozark

Dr. Jason Salchow Horse and Beef Ranch, Billings

Don Hankins Beef Farm, Willard

Jordan Feemster Dairy Farm, Springfield[[In-content Ad]]