Monsanto, Taiwan contribute to Missouri agriculture relief fund

Donations received by the Missouri Department of Agriculture will be used to set up a disaster relief fund to help Missouri farmers recover from recent flooding.

Monsanto donated $100,000 to the fund Tuesday, and Taiwan contributed $50,000. The fund will be administered by the agriculture department and Small Business Development Authority. Grants will be available in three categories.

Grants of up to $500 are available to farm families who have suffered a physical or economic loss.

Grants of up to $5,000 are available for not-for-profit organizations, counties, municipalities or political subdivisions to repair infrastructure or cover clean up costs in farm communities.

Funding in amounts more than $5,000 is available on a special-needs basis. Any individual or organization may apply, but priority will be given to those who can serve a large number of agriculture producers.

Applications for disaster relief are available at www.MDA.mo.gov.