During last week’s meeting of the St. Louis Agribusiness Club, the Honorable Senator Roy Blunt spoke to the region’s agribusiness leaders.

Speaking on issues including the Renewable Fuels Standard, the 2012 election and the economy, Senator Roy Blunt’s attendance at the St. Louis Agribusiness Club meeting demonstrated the importance of strong relationships between those of us working in agriculture and our elected officials.

Agriculture is a vital and growing component of the St. Louis economy. According to the St. Louis Agribusiness Club’s 2010 Agribusiness and the St. Louis Economy Study, the global impact of St. Louis Area Agribusiness is $75 Billion, which equates to more than 60 percent of the local Gross Domestic Product. Additionally, 265,000 jobs can be directly attributed to agriculture. This is almost 20 percent of the St. Louis region’s workforce.

Organizations including meeting sponsors Missouri Pork Association, Missouri Cattlemen, National Corn Growers Association, Novus International, and Master Your Card Missouri are part of the story.  As consumers purchasing food, clothing and gasoline, (10 percent of every gallon of gasoline sold in Missouri comes from fuel grown on Missouri farms, according the Missouri Department of Agriculture) each one of us has a stake in Missouri agriculture.

It was a privilege to meet Senator Blunt during the St. Louis Agribusiness Club meeting and know that many political leaders are working to ensure agriculture remains a growth industry for our region.

How have relationships with elected officials improved your industry?