Miller County receives special agriculture designation

This August 2012 file photo shows hay mowing and baling equipment sitting in a farm field on a Miller County farm near a livestock pond.
This August 2012 file photo shows hay mowing and baling equipment sitting in a farm field on a Miller County farm near a livestock pond.

Missouri Farmers Care, an ag-advocacy group that represents about 40 members including the Missouri Soybean Association, Missouri Pork Association and Missouri Corn Growers Association, gave Miller County its Agri-Ready County Designation on July 14, which the organization said is given to counties that create an environment conducive to ag growth and support agriculture in the county.

"Miller County has an extensive and valuable agricultural community," Elizabeth Wyss, Missouri Farmers Care outreach coordinator, said in a news release. "I am excited to see how Agri-Ready designation will benefit not only current farmers and agricultural businesses in the county, but also the many young people in local agriculture programs and the citizens of Miller County that witness agricultural practices everyday."

The group gives Agri-Ready designation to counties that do not have ordinances regulating agriculture in more stringent ways than state law and that support agricultural stewardship and growth opportunities, according to the news release.

The organization will partner with local leaders to create a location for agribusinesses. It will also work to train young people for agricultural programs by supporting local 4-H programs.

Miller County joins about 40 other Missouri counties with the designation, including Cooper and Moniteau counties. Cole County gained Agri-Ready designation last year.

Miller County's 1,013 farms and agribusinesses sold $151.8 million worth of agricultural products in 2016, according to the news release. That created 1,563 jobs. Much of the county's economic activity comes from hog, cattle and turkey farms. Missouri farms provided 378,232 jobs in 2016 and had an impact on the state's economy of $88.4 billion.

"This shows Miller County is preparing a fertile seedbed for the agriculture industry to grow and prosper," Chuck Miller, a Miller County beef producer, said in the news release. "The agriculture industry is the largest and most long-term contributing of all industries in our county."