Nixon signs bill to connect prisons, hospitals to local food

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon on Friday signed into law several proposed changes to the state's agriculture policies, including expanding a locally grown food program and beefing up tax credits for meat producers.

Nixon went to the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia to tout his action on the legislation, which will grow the Farm-to-School program to connect farmers with prisons, hospitals, nursing homes, military bases and other institutions.

Other provisions in the law, which takes effect Aug. 28, will extend a beef producer tax credit of 10 cents per pound until 2021. It was set to expire this year.

The legislation increases the tax credit to 25 cents per pound for sale weights over 600 pounds. It also calls for a tax credit for new, modernized or expanded meat processing facilities worth 25 percent of the costs, capped at $75,000. That credit goes into effect next tax year.

Nixon said the goal is to increase processing in the state, rather than shipping meat elsewhere. According to his office, Missouri ranks third in the number of beef cattle. Legislative researchers estimated it would cost up to $8 million a year in general revenue starting in fiscal year 2018.