Gov. Jay Nixon today visited Rogersville to recognize Randy Mooney, who owns M&M Dairy LLC, with the Governor’s Award for Agricultural Achievement. The award honors outstanding farmers, growers and processors in a variety of agriculture commodities.
M&M Dairy is an innovator in Missouri grass-based dairy systems, adopting their pasture management system in 1992. M&M Dairy’s rotational grazing process maximizes forage use by intensively managing plant growth and grazing time. Over the past two decades, M&M Dairy has grown from 125 to 250 milking cows while improving pasture, soil and water quality.

In addition to operating his dairy, Mooney is also the Chairman of the Board of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), Chairman of the National Milk Producers Federation and serves on boards of several dairy organizations including the Missouri State Milk Board.

“Agriculture has always been, and will always be, the heart of Missouri’s economy and operations like M&M Dairy are the reason why,” Gov. Nixon said. “Missouri farmers feed a hungry world, and they help strengthen America’s energy independence. Farmers also create jobs and support our economy. The farmers, ranchers and producers of Missouri are moving our state forward through innovation and conservation, breaking new ground and creating new opportunities for our future.”

During his visit today, Gov. Nixon toured the company’s operation near Springfield and presented Mooney with a certificate recognizing his hard work and accomplishments.

“Missouri farmers like the Mooney family are among the most productive, most innovative, most environmentally friendly producers in the world, and we are proud to recognize their outstanding contributions to our state,” said Dr. Jon Hagler, director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture. “Under Gov. Nixon’s leadership, Missouri’s farm families and our state’s agriculture industry will continue to thrive and be a leader throughout the U.S.”

Missouri is home to nearly 100,000 dairy cattle, which produced 1.4 billion pounds of milk last year, or roughly 180 million gallons of milk.

Gov. Nixon recognized three other agriculture leaders with awards today. He presented the Governor’s Award for Agricultural Achievement in corn to Billy Thiel, who farms near Marshall; the Governor’s Award for Agricultural Achievement in tree farming to Heritage Valley Tree Farm in Washington; and the Governor’s Award for Agricultural Achievement in cattle to Oak Knoll Ranch in Salem.

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