Soybeans are an Economic Driver

OUTdrive Episode 84 with Casey Wasser

The Missouri Department of Agriculture announced the results of an economic contribution study that showed a contribution of nearly $94 billion to the economy and more than one in every 10 jobs is supported by agriculture. Crop production, which includes grains and oil seeds, ranked first in value of sales and Missouri soybean farmers contribute to that category. Not only are soybeans the number one exported crop in Missouri, they are also the number exported row crop in the United States. In this episode, I sit down with Casey Wasser, the Chief Operating Officer at Missouri Soy, to discuss the legislation, the fuel power, and the economic impact that hinges on this little green pod.

Casey oversees the operations of the Missouri Soybean Association, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council and Foundation for Soy Innovation. He leads the Association’s policy work in addition to serving as the COO. Casey has served as the director of policy for the Missouri Soybean Association and Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council since 2016. During that time, he spearheaded the effort to facilitate repayment of the Missouri Qualified Biodiesel Producer Incentive Fund. He also worked with the Association on policies including proposed increases to farm regulations, land value assessments, and proposed taxes on disaster payments. Prior to joining the team at Missouri Soybean, Casey served as the legislative liaison for the Missouri Department of Revenue. Casey resides in his hometown of California, Missouri with his wife, Brooklyn, and two children, Boden and Calyn.

Listen in to learn how helping Missouri agriculture flourish leads to an increase in tax revenue that supports the whole state.

SHOW NOTES

• 3:30 – Casey gives a report on the Missouri soybean crop yield from 2021
• 5:00 – Casey describes his background, growing up in California, Missouri and how it led to his career in agriculture
• 6:45 – What Casey learned in his role as the legislative liaison for Missouri Department of Revenue that he brought to the table at Missouri Soy
• 9:00 – Casey’s experience doing advance work for former Missouri governor Jay Nixon.
• 10:45 – Casey outlines his current responsibilities as Chief Operating Officer and some of the legislature the Missouri Soybean Association is focused on in the 2022 session
• 18:45 – How the Missouri legislation system works when it comes to bills that Missouri Soy is trying to pass
• 22:00 – Casey explains the role of Missouri Soy at the national level in Washington D.C.
• 24:15 – Cliff and Casey discuss how Senator Blunt’s retirement has a trickle down effect on district lines and the entire redistricting process
• 29:30 – Casey talks about the compounding issues of the supply chain disruption on farmers and rural America
• 33:00 – Casey describes rural America in his eyes and how he spends his time outside of work at the capital
• 36:00 – Casey tells Cliff how people can contact Missouri Soy and get involved by sharing their thoughts that could impact legislation