As the 2025 legislative session concludes, the Missouri Soybean Association (MSA) is celebrating a series of hard-earned victories for Missouri farmers — many of which have been years in the making. 
Several high-priority issues championed by MSA made it to the governor’s desk this year, including the Water Preservation Act, funding to improve the Soybean Cyst Nematode Diagnostics Laboratory, the elimination of state capital gains tax, fire protection ordinance exemptions, and the authorization of Missouri Farm Bureau Health Plans.
“While the legislative calendar runs January through May, our policy team works year-round to advocate for our farmers,” said Ben Travlos, Missouri Soybeans’ director of policy. “The saying goes, ‘All good things come to those who wait.’ While that may be true, luck favors the prepared.”
A major victory came with the passage of the Water Preservation Act. Originally introduced in 2023, the bill establishes a permitting process to monitor and regulate bulk water exports. With Missouri’s abundant water resources under increasing scrutiny from out-of-state interests, this legislation ensures the state can protect its water supply through a robust review framework.
Another long-awaited success was the passage of legislation authorizing Missouri Farm Bureau Health Plans. This bill gives statutory authority for the Missouri Farm Bureau to offer health plans to farmers and sole proprietors. For many in agriculture, affordable and accessible health care remains out of reach. This model, proven in other states, offers Missouri farmers a new solution — one MSA proudly supported.
MSA also backed legislation eliminating state capital gains taxes, easing the financial burden on farm families working to transition operations to the next generation. For many producers, this is a critical step toward long-term sustainability.
Additionally, MSA and the Missouri Pork Association worked together to support SB 271, which exempts agricultural buildings from certain local fire protection ordinances. This proactive measure prevents livestock and other farm facilities from being forced to install costly and unnecessary equipment such as sprinkler systems.
On the appropriations front, MSA helped secure $4 million in one-time funding for the Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Missouri. SCN is the most yield-limiting disease affecting soybeans in the U.S., costing farmers an estimated $1.2 billion in annual losses. University agronomists report that more than 90% of Missouri soybean fields had dangerously high SCN egg counts in 2024.
The existing SCN lab is outdated, prompting MSA to work with CAFNR leadership and university researchers to develop a cost-effective plan to relocate operations to the East Plant Growth Facility. This state-of-the-art upgrade will expand national and international testing capabilities. Since 2022, SCN testing demand has increased by 115%.
Still, MSA’s work continues. One of the top policy priorities going forward is protecting farmers’ access to crop protection tools — especially glyphosate. Ongoing litigation has sparked concerns about product availability and liability for manufacturers. MSA is advocating for legislation clarifying that the specific Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) required speific labels suffice, and therefore companies should not be held liable for failure to warn.
“Farmers rely on these products to grow viable crops every year,” Travlos said. “We can’t let uncertainty caused by trial attorneys take away tools they depend on.”
MSA extends its sincere thanks to all who contributed to this year’s progress. The success of 2025 would not have been possible without the support and trust of Missouri’s farmers and ag stakeholders.
