The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) named U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) and U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (MO-6) as ARA’s Legislators of the Year for their commitment to agriculture.

“Our farmers were the first conservationists and environmentalists. I will continue to listen to the concerns of agriculture and work hard on their behalf to ensure they are able to continue to feed and fuel our nation,” Luetkemeyer said. “I am honored to receive this award on behalf all the hard work and dedication shown on family farms across our great country.”

“All Americans depend on agriculture three times a day,” Graves said. “We have the safest, most abundant food supply in the world because of our farmers. It is an honor to be recognized by ARA. I look forward to working with them to ensure American agriculture remains the backbone of our economy far into the future.”

ARA cited Luetkemeyer’s and Graves’ efforts to protect the hours-of-service agricultural exemption. The Missouri legislators worked together to secure a federal waiver that ensured a timely delivery of farm supplies for future planting and harvesting seasons. After working with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Administrator Anne Ferro earlier this year, Luetkemeyer and Graves secured a 90-day waiver from the hours-of-service regulations for the 2010 planting season. Last week, FMCSA issued a final decision to grant a two year waiver to the hours-of-service regulations for the transportation of anhydrous ammonia.

The waiver extends the agricultural operations exemption for a motor carrier in the distribution system provided that the motor carrier is delivering anhydrous ammonia, none of the transportation movements exceed a 100 air-mile radius, and the motor carrier has a satisfactory safety rating. Luetkemeyer and Graves held that Congress intended this activity to be included when the provision of law was originally created, but sought the waiver after concerns were raised about the interpretation of the FMCSA hour-of-service exemption for agricultural operations, in particular the delivery of anhydrous ammonia during the planting and harvesting seasons.

Luetkemeyer and Graves continue to express serious concerns with cap-and-trade legislation and its negative effects on agriculture. Whether it’s the fuel in the tractor, the fertilizer for the crops, or the delivery of food to the grocery store, agriculture uses a great deal of energy throughout production. They are also opposed to the proposal that would remove the word “navigable” from the Clean Water Act to bring every body of water - from irrigation canals to seasonal mud-puddles - under the unlimited jurisdiction of the EPA. Both Luetkemeyer and Graves serve on the House Agriculture Committee and will continue to be outspoken critics of policies that hinder rather than help our nation’s farmers, ranchers, and agricultural retailers.

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