Agriculture is an integral part of Missouri’s economic makeup. According to the Missouri Department of Agriculture, the Show Me State is home to nearly 88,000 farms, averaging 803 acres a piece, and the industry is valued at $93.7 billion.
Meagan Kaiser sat down with the Missouri Times to discuss the future of farming, including what the future may hold for farmers and what steps can be taken to ensure future generations will inherit those opportunities.
Kaiser is a Missouri farmer and soil scientist. She’s a member of the United Soybean Board and served as their Chair last year. Currently, she is the Chief Operations Officer of Perry Agricultural Laboratory based in Bowling Green. Over the past few years, Kaiser has become a voice for farmers across the country, advocating for sustainable farming practices and increasing economic opportunities for farmers.
One of the future markets for many Missouri farmers is biofuel and it has already taken root over the past few years. Biodiesel in particular has a deep-rooted history in Missouri. The Show Me State was one of the first states to jump into the biodiesel market. Biodiesel is created from the byproduct of Missouri’s largest crop, soybeans, making production on a large scale relatively easy compared to other states. Biodiesel is also a drop-in replacement, meaning that it can be used on existing diesel engines.
This article was originally published in The Missouri Times.