Congressman  Smith visits  Naeger Forest Products and Franke Farm

Congressman Smith said, “Neil and Michelle have built one of the most diverse operations you’ll find in Southeast Missouri, from 500 head of cattle to water buffalo, bison, and red deer. Running an operation with so many different species takes real skill and dedication, but it also means running into state regulations and insurance rules that weren’t built with operations like this in mind. When insurance companies won’t even recognize an animal like a water buffalo as livestock, it puts family farms like this one at a real disadvantage through no fault of their own. I’m going to keep working to address these regulatory gaps so farmers who are simply trying to grow their business aren’t left carrying all the risk themselves.”

 

The Franke family farm was established in the late 1800s and has grown into one of the region’s most varied livestock operations, raising beef cattle, bison, red deer, horses, turkeys, jersey milk cows, hogs, and several breeds of sheep. Neil is also part owner of the sale barn in Fruitland, sells horses to the Amish community in Seymour, and sells bison to hunting ranches across the region. Despite the scale and diversity of the operation, Neil discussed with Congressman Smith issue of insurance carriers routinely declining to classify animals like water buffalo as livestock, leaving him without adequate coverage options that other producers can rely on.

 

Congressman Smith also discussed the threat posed by New World Screwworm to livestock producers across Missouri, and USDA’s ongoing work to expand sterile fly production and inspection protocols to keep diseases from spreading further into American herds. He remains committed to working with USDA and state regulators to close the gaps facing producers like the Frankes, so family farms that diversify their operations aren’t penalized for doing so.