News Release

(JEFFERSON CITY) – The Missouri Department of Agriculture Grain Regulatory Services Program will issue checks to grain claimants in the Ed Brill Farms case for the full amount of their claim on Nov. 7, 2016. A Motion for Hearing and Order to Disburse Funds was filed in Howard County Circuit Court on Sept. 26, 2016. At an October hearing, Howard County Circuit Court judge, the Honorable Scott Hays, ruled in favor of the department’s motion for disbursement of assets. 

“The Grain Regulatory Services Program staff work day in and day out to avoid getting to this point, but when a situation arises that warrants action, we act,” said Director of Agriculture Richard Fordyce. “Being able to fully reimburse producers who were impacted is the best outcome possible and I commend our staff for continuously working to protect Missouri producers.”   

On Aug. 1, the Missouri Department of Agriculture, with assistance from the Missouri Attorney General’s office, seized grain-related assets belonging to Harry Brill III, doing business as Ed Brill Farms. The Department of Agriculture’s Grain Regulatory Services Program did not renew the grain dealer license for Ed Brill Farms when the company failed to prove sufficient resources were available to remain solvent. From Aug. 1- 20, the Department of Agriculture accepted claims from Missouri farmers who had delivered grain to Ed Brill Farms and had not received payment. 

The Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Grain Regulatory Services Program licenses and regulates grain warehouses and grain dealers in Missouri, offering a means of protection to Missouri’s grain producers in case of warehouse or grain dealer insolvency. Any person or business purchasing grain from producers must have a valid grain dealer license. Any grain elevator in Missouri that stores grain for others must have a valid state or federal grain warehouse license. 

Additional information about the Missouri Department of Agriculture can be found at Agriculture.Mo.Gov.