Southeast Missouri rice farmers meet with Talent in D.C.

A group of Southeast Missouri rice farmers traveled to Washington, D.C., last week to meet with Senator Jim Talent, R-Mo., to discuss agriculture issues.

Talent, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, met with David Haggard of Steele, Paul T. Combs of Kennett, Tom Green of Sikeston, Jason Bean and Joel Brown of Gideon and Bill Reed with Riceland Foods, a company with a rice mill in New Madrid.

"We had a productive meeting," Talent said. "I appreciate that these producers took the time to visit with me about what we can do to help the agricultural community in Southeast Missouri."

Among the farm legislation discussed was the $3.1 billion agriculture assistance package that recently passed the U.S. Senate. The bill provides an estimated $75 million dollars in disaster assistance for Missouri. Talent worked with the Senate's agriculture leadership to help make certain the legislation helped Missouri's farmers and ranchers who have faced droughts, flooding and insect infestations that have depressed prices and reduced yields.

Talent said he expects farmers in Southeast Missouri to start receiving the assistance checks within six weeks.

"As we move into the planting season, this assistance will enable farmers in Missouri and across the country to continue to produce the safest, most abundant and affordable food in the world," Talent said.

The meeting followed a conference call Talent held last week with rice and cotton farmers from the Bootheel, including Gary Branum of New Madrid, to discuss similar agriculture issues.