JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri dairy farmers say they need some help from the federal economic stimulus act.
Representatives of the Missouri Dairy Association have asked Gov. Jay Nixon to seek a one-time emergency payment of $16.5 million in stimulus money. They say falling milk prices have put Missouri's dairy farmers in their worst economic crisis in the past 25 years.
Missouri has about 111,000 dairy cows.
A Nixon spokesman referred questions about the dairy farmers' request Wednesday to the state Department of Agriculture.
Agriculture Director Jon Hagler says the U.S. Senate recently voted to raise dairy price supports, and he wants to see the effect as the state considers the need for more assistance.
Connect with the Southeast Missourian Newsroom:
For corrections to this story or other insights for the editor, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To learn about the Southeast Missourian’s AI Policy, click here.