Fake Meat

Legislation sponsored by MCA became the first state law in America/The United States/the country to be enacted to that deals with fake meat and fake meat products. Plant based, insect based and plant based product can not be labeled meat or a meat food product in Mississippi as a result of MCA efforts.

MCA is most proud to have support and passed a bill that prohibits the manufacture, sale and distribution of fake meat items produced from cultured animal cells. This makes Mississippi on of just a handful of states that have completely outlawed lab grown meat. Additionally, we passed another bill that strengthened the inspection of meat labeling. This provides the Department of Agriculture more authority to inspect the accuracy of meat labeling. This strengthens the 2018 MCA authored law that prevented fake meat from being able to labeled as meat.

Tax Relief

In 2018 MCA sponsored legislation that made federal disaster payments exempt from state income taxes. No in the even of a drought, hurricane or other natural disaster any federal disaster payment will not be subject to Mississippi income taxes.

In 2026, MCA was successful in reducing the sales tax on fencing materials used to contain livestock. H.B. 4060, authored by Bill Pigott, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, included language stating: “Retail sales of gates and fencing materials for the containment of livestock shall be taxed at the rate of one and one-half percent when made to commercial farmers for agricultural purposes.” Governor Tate Reeves signed the bill into law, and it will take effect on July 1, 2026. The bill also included clarifying language making agricultural lime completely exempt from sales tax. It is important that farmers and ranchers obtain a Commercial Farmer Permit from the Mississippi Department of Revenue in order to qualify for these and other sales tax reductions.

Livestock Theft Bureau

The Agriculture and Livestock Theft Bureau is an investigation unit of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture with an officer in each of the nine Highway Patrol districts. The goal of the Bureau is to investigate theft and other crimes on the farm, which otherwise might go uninvestigated.

MCA also pushed a bill that became law that creates a central registry of stolen farm equipment, that will be housed at the MS Agriculture and Livestock Theft Bureau. This just will provide transparency in the law enforcement community to make sure all agriculture items are properly reported when they are stolen.

Animal Health Tax Exemption

Since July 1, 1998 purchases of animal health products for cattle have been tax exempt. MCA members and staff worked for several years to reduce cattlemen's operating cost.

Grass Roots Policy Process

MCA has an active policy development process. Accurately voicing the concerns and representing the needs of our members is job number one. The policy starts with members and county associations, works through the Policy Committee before final approval by the Steering Committee.From your house, to the state house, to the hall of the U.S. Capitol, MCA is there to represent the cattlemen and women of Mississippi.

Local Livestock Facilities

MCA was the primary lobby to secure $15 million in state matching funds for the renovation, addition, and/or construction of local multi-purpose livestock barns. Many Mississippians currently enjoy these facilities, and local communities are benefiting from the economic development they create.

Property Rights

MCA continues to support the protection of private property rights. MCA lobbied and secured passage of the Landowners Protection Act of 2019.This act will provide fairness to businesses when a crime is committed by a third party on the business’s property.