Governor Mike Parson has proclaimed March 21-27, 2021, to be National Agriculture Week in Missouri. As Tuesday also marked National Agriculture Day across the nation, Governor Parson joined the Missouri Department of Agriculture in celebrating the state’s top position nationally in agriculture production.
“Missouri is ranked among the top tier of states in agriculture production, which remains the backbone of our state’s strong economy,” Governor Parson said. “Agriculture plays a key role in Missouri’s economic development, and I’m proud as a farmer myself to do my part in ensuring agriculture thrives for the next generation. Our workforce development and infrastructure initiatives will build on our state’s strong agricultural traditions and pay dividends to our future farmers.”
Missouri is home to 95,000 farms, employs nearly 400,000 people in food & agriculture jobs, and has an estimated economic impact of $88.4 billion annually. Agriculture remains the state’s number one economic driver, supporting both rural and urban communities from farm to fork.
Missouri agriculture has tremendous momentum through the agriculture technology industry in our state. St. Louis is home to the world’s largest concentration of plant scientists and the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor represents more than half of total worldwide animal health, diagnostics, and pet food sales. With more than 300 animal health companies included, the Corridor represents the largest concentration of animal health industry assets.
