Honoring Senator Blunt

The Council’s 2022 Mizzou Showcase luncheon focused on expressing appreciation to retiring Missouri Senator Roy Blunt for his support of agricultural research. CAFNR Dean Chris Daubert pointed that, among other things, Sen. Blunt supported Federal funding for CAFNR, including funding for top research areas and Programs of Distinction including: ARS Livestock Genetics, FAPRI, the Center for Agroforestry, the ARS Plant Sciences Center, and the Missouri Water Center.

In his remarks, Senator Roy Blunt heaped acclaim on the region (and his state in particular) for its leadership in agricultural science, innovation and production.   He noted the Missouri River Valley is the biggest, most productive agricultural region in the world. “I am an infrastructure guy,” Sen. Blunt stated, “and the Missouri River Valley region that includes the Mississippi River provides natural, built-in infrastructure.”

It’s the biggest advantage you can have, the senator claimed. The size and reach of this natural waterway system allows Missouri and surrounding states to grow crops faster, transport them quicker and farther and allows margins of profitability to increase.  But, he warned,  the region needs to stay focused on the Missouri River with good policy, strong management, as well as with updated construction and maintenance practices. 

After serving Missouri for almost 35 years as its Secretary of State, as a U.S. Congressional Representative and as its current U.S. Senator, Senator Blunt has left a big footprint on not only the state of Missouri but also on the region as a whole in terms of agricultural development.  

Touching on other advantages the area offers, Sen. Blunt touted, “It’s a good time to be getting an ag degree.” There are a lot of things happening in food science, and from where he was standing the Senator said he and the agriculture industry overall can get in touch with ag experts and scientists at six land grant colleges. All within 200 miles of each other. “The prospects have never been better [for ag students],” Sen. Blunt observed. He added that surveys of folks with ag degrees working in agriculture show that job satisfaction levels are high.

As for world affairs, Senator Blunt offered unique insight from his recent trip to Ukraine. Russia’s designs on Ukraine is more than an imperialistic endeavor. Russia without Ukraine is a sublevel economy – is how he described the situation. So while Ukrainians are fighting for their country, freedom and sovereignty, Russia might very well be fighting for its economic existence.