Emerson's annual farm tour heads to three counties

Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, began her annual farm tour of the 8th Congressional District Monday visiting farms in New Madrid, Cape Girardeau and Perry counties.

This is the 25th Emerson Farm Tour, with Jo Ann carrying on the tradition started by her late husband Bill Emerson. She says the timing of the tour is especially important because the Farm Bill, which sets agricultural production and prices, is set for reauthorization in 2007.

"It is especially important to me to visit with our producers, researchers and agri-business leaders one-on-one and see their operations firsthand. Agriculture is vital to our rural economy, and our farms and ranches are a source of great pride," Emerson said.

Locally, Emerson visited John and Ellen Lorberg's Farm in Gordonville and Midwest Grain and Barge at the SEMO Port in Scott City. She will be in Cape Girardeau at 10 a.m. today touring the downtown floodwall, which the Army Corps of Engineers believes needs repairs. She will also tour the new 150,000-square-foot federal court building at the corner of Independence and Frederick streets at 3:30 p.m.