Missouri No. 1 at delivering food stamps.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- When it comes to making sure people who qualify get the food stamps they need, Missouri tops the national average.

That is according to a study by the National Priorities Project, a not-for-profit research group that monitors federal spending. The study found that 71.5 percent of those who qualify in Missouri take part in the program. That is significantly higher than the national average of 50.2 percent and dwarfs Nevada, which has the lowest participation in the nation at 32.3 percent.

The organization used census data to determine the number of people living below 130 percent of the federal poverty level--the threshold to qualify for food stamps--and how many are receiving aid. The data are from 2004, the most recent year figures are available.

The improvement in participation reportedly is largely because of reforms instituted in 2002, when Congress voted to simplify the program and Missouri added further reforms. At the state level, Missouri decreased the number of times participants must re-apply for the program. Missouri also exempted cars, retirement accounts, educational assistance and child support from counting toward the 130 percent threshold. Paperwork involved was also significantly reduced.