The Mississippi Legislature spent most of the week in committee meetings preparing for the approaching Tuesday deadline for bills to pass out of committee.

“The House and Senate did not meet long each day as there were committee meetings scheduled throughout the week,” Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Public Policy Coordinator Lee Thorne said. “I am confident several of the bills that came out of these committee meetings will help our members.”

Both the House and Senate passed versions of a harvest permit bill clarifying the definition of agricultural product to include bulk feed and wood pellets. The House version of the bill was handled by Rep. Larry Byrd and came from the Transportation Committee which is led by Chariman Michael Busby. The Senate version of the bill was handled by Sen. Jenifer Branning and came from the Agriculture Committee, which is led by Chairman Billy Hudson. The bills will now move to their respective House and Senate floors.

“This clarification will make life easier for our members when transporting bulk feed and wood pellets,” MFBF President Mike McCormick said. “We appreciate the House and Senate’s efforts in making this issue a priority.”

In addition to the harvest permit bill, the Senate Agriculture Committee, led by Hudson and Vice Chair Russell Jolly, passed a bill banning the labeling of lab or plant based proteins as meat. A similar bill unanimously passed out of the House last week.

The Senate and House Agriculture Committees also held a joint hearing with Alcorn State University’s School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences to discuss the research and teaching work the university is doing. Prior to that meeting, the school hosted its annual legislative luncheon for all legislators.

During the luncheon, McCormick was honored with the Brave Pioneer Award for his advocacy efforts for Alcorn’s School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences and the Mississippi agriculture industry.

“It’s humbling to receive an award like this,” McCormick said during the luncheon. “I appreciate Alcorn’s support. We have a lot more work to do, and I look forward to working with each of you to spread the good news of agriculture.”