Northwest Mo. Lawmaker Proposes Product Sharing Website for Farmers
By: Alex Hassel
Updated: March 30, 2012
(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) Missouri State Representative, Delus Johnson, has proposed a bill that he says can boost the state's economy.
The bill would create the Missouri International Agricultural Exchange, a website where farmers can connect with clients across the globe.
Missouri State Representative, Delus Johnson, wants to give Missouri agriculture attention across the world.
"It'd make it easier for Missouri farmers to connect with international produce buyers," he says.
Johnson calls it the Missouri International Agricultural Exchange.
He's proposed legislation that would create a website like craigslist.org, where farmers can list their agricultural products and connect with clients in other countries.
"This is going to use content that's licensed by the Department of Agriculture and allow a private company to build a website that's geared towards the international search engines" Johnson says.
He says that website would be free for farmers and free to the state.
The private company would sell ads to support the site.
Missouri has the second largest number of farms in the U.S., but ranks 15th in exports.
Johnson says while the demand for agricultural products is growing across the world, he wants to see Missouri meet that demand.
"If we build this one-stop website to connect Missouri farmers with international produce buyers, we can actually increase our ranking from 15th, up to possibly number two, or even number one," he says.
Bob Kelly, Ag Business Specialist at the University of Missouri Extension in St. Joseph, says from the way the website sounds, it could benefit Missouri farmers.
"Any way producers can get their product in front of the world markets is going to be a plus," he says.
He says the concept sounds similar to this site only for hay market listings in Missouri, which has been a big help to farmers.
"Recently, with the drought in Texas, and them needing hay and things like that, it's got used a lot more, but it's still an excellent way for producers to do it, and the key issue is, it's free," says Kelly.
Johnson says if approved, the Missouri International Agricultural Exchange can make a difference for the state.
"It's going to basically rebuild the foundation to rebuilding our economy because to do that, we've got to support agriculture," says Johnson.
Johnson expects the bill to be on the house floor within the next two to three weeks.
He doesn't expect much opposition to the bill as he says it would not cost the state any money.
The bill would create the Missouri International Agricultural Exchange, a website where farmers can connect with clients across the globe.
Missouri State Representative, Delus Johnson, wants to give Missouri agriculture attention across the world.
"It'd make it easier for Missouri farmers to connect with international produce buyers," he says.
Johnson calls it the Missouri International Agricultural Exchange.
He's proposed legislation that would create a website like craigslist.org, where farmers can list their agricultural products and connect with clients in other countries.
"This is going to use content that's licensed by the Department of Agriculture and allow a private company to build a website that's geared towards the international search engines" Johnson says.
He says that website would be free for farmers and free to the state.
The private company would sell ads to support the site.
Missouri has the second largest number of farms in the U.S., but ranks 15th in exports.
Johnson says while the demand for agricultural products is growing across the world, he wants to see Missouri meet that demand.
"If we build this one-stop website to connect Missouri farmers with international produce buyers, we can actually increase our ranking from 15th, up to possibly number two, or even number one," he says.
Bob Kelly, Ag Business Specialist at the University of Missouri Extension in St. Joseph, says from the way the website sounds, it could benefit Missouri farmers.
"Any way producers can get their product in front of the world markets is going to be a plus," he says.
He says the concept sounds similar to this site only for hay market listings in Missouri, which has been a big help to farmers.
"Recently, with the drought in Texas, and them needing hay and things like that, it's got used a lot more, but it's still an excellent way for producers to do it, and the key issue is, it's free," says Kelly.
Johnson says if approved, the Missouri International Agricultural Exchange can make a difference for the state.
"It's going to basically rebuild the foundation to rebuilding our economy because to do that, we've got to support agriculture," says Johnson.
Johnson expects the bill to be on the house floor within the next two to three weeks.
He doesn't expect much opposition to the bill as he says it would not cost the state any money.
