U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) today successfully shepherded a resolution through the U.S. House of Representatives recognizing the outstanding efforts of the National Guard’s Agri-business Development Teams to help war torn nations like Afghanistan improve their agriculture economy.   

“Our military men and women on the ground in Afghanistan are doing a tremendous job to help stabilize this nation and bring freedom to this country, and the National Guard’s Agri-business Development Teams are a vital part of this effort,” Luetkemeyer said. “The National Guard Agri-business Development Teams are helping restore peace to places like Afghanistan by helping them build a thriving agriculture sector, which will help revive the country’s economy.”

The resolution, H.Res.1075, requires no other legislative action and had 76 co-sponsors, including the entire Missouri congressional delegation. The resolution passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.

“The Agriculture Development Teams, of which Missouri is proud to be the original model, are the shining example in Afghanistan that citizen soldiers emphasizing economic opportunities can carry out civilian-related tasks, partnering directly with the Afghan people to make their lives better and create the positive change the Afghan people expect, while at the same time being affordable, effective and meeting the demands of new dynamic American foreign policy strategy,” said Brigadier General Stephen Danner, the Adjutant General, Missouri National Guard.

The National Guard Agri-business Development Teams (ADTs) are comprised of Guard members who have a civilian background in farming or a related agricultural business who utilize those skills to teach Afghans sustainable farming practices. Before the groups arrive in Afghanistan they collaborate with farm bureaus and land-grant universities like the University of Missouri to prepare agriculture strategies for Afghan farms.

When the ADTs deploy to Afghanistan, they work with the Afghan farmers to provide basic agricultural requirements in growing crops like wheat and grapes in an effort to eliminate poppy production used in the drug trade.

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