Agriculture Director Richard Fordyce stopped at a farm in northwest Missouri Monday to talk about Missouri’s Parks, Soils and Water sales tax, which is up for renewal this year on the November ballot.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon had planned to make the announcement with Dir. Fordyce and other agriculture representatives at the Kapp Farm in Andrew County Monday.  However, Scott Holste with the governor’s office said Nixon was unable to get to northwest Missouri due to weather.

“Missouri’s farm families have long been innovators and leaders in protecting our soil, air and water. That’s why we were the first state in the nation to pass a Parks, Soils and Water sales tax more than 30 years ago,” Gov. Nixon said in a statement. “Missourians have given this program their support for several decades, and I am confident that support will continue for many years to come.”

Missouri’s Parks, Soils and Water sales tax was created through a constitutional amendment to support efforts to stop soil erosion and provide funding for the state park system. The tax was first approved by voters in 1984, and has since been reapproved by voters three times in 1988, 1996 and 2006.

The sales tax provides funding for the Missouri Soil and Water Conservation Program, which assists farmers and landowners with soil and water conservation by providing partial reimbursement for a number management practices.

Since the tax was last renewed in 2006, more than 61,000 conservation practices have been implemented through $348 million in cost-share grant projects coordinated by Missouri’s local Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Nixon said to date, more than 177 million tons of soil have been prevented from eroding into Missouri’s streams, rivers and lakes.

The 2016 General Election will be held on Nov. 8, 2016.