On the November Ballot, Missourians will have the opportunity to vote for a Constitutional amendment protecting the right to farm. Here is an explanation of what it means.
Missouri’s Right to Farm Referendum will protect consumer choice in the grocery aisle by protecting Missouri’s farm families in the Missouri Constitution. This simple constitutional amendment will protect Missouri’s #1 industry and help protect Missouri from out-of-state special interests.
The constitutional amendment:
Section 35. That agriculture which provides food, energy, health benefits, and security is the foundation and stabilizing force of Missouri's economy. To protect this vital sector of Missouri's economy, the right of farmers and ranchers to engage in farming and ranching practices shall be forever guaranteed in this state, subject to duly authorized powers, if any, conferred by article VI of the Constitution of Missouri.
The ballot summary voters will see:
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to ensure that the right of Missouri citizens to engage in agricultural production and ranching practices shall not be infringed?
The potential costs or savings to governmental entities are unknown, but likely limited unless the resolution leads to increased litigation costs and/or the loss of federal funding.
What Right to Farm WILL do:
-Right to Farm WILL protect consumer choice in the grocery aisle by protecting the farm families that grow Missouri’s food.
-Right to Farm WILL protect consumers struggling in this economy from having their grocery bill inflated by ensuring that Missouri’s #1 industry is protected.
-Right to Farm WILL protect Missouri’s family farms from out-of-state animal-rights groups that have targeted Missouri agriculture in the past.
What Right to Farm WILL NOT do:
-Right to Farm WILL NOT invalidate county ordinances because counties derive their authority from the state constitution and established state laws.
Former Democratic State Senator Wes Shoemyer is leading a new PAC, Missouri’s Food for America, aimed at killing the Right to Farm Amendment. Several organizations/entities who are opposed to this amendment, for various reasons, the most notorious and well-funded being Humane Society of the United States. Shoemyer is on HSUS MO Agricultural Advisor Council and HSUS Missouri State Director Amanda Good is the PAC’s deputy secretary. Here are some things they are saying now or most likely will say to the voting public to try to influence a vote against the issue:
· This new constitutional amendment would continue to allow CAFO’s (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) to operate and encourage transgenic manipulation of genetically engineered organisms.
o Answer: This amendment benefits all sizes of farm operations equally by allowing them to utilize technology and innovation that are in the best interests of their operation, the consumer and the industry.
· The amendment is not good for farmers because it will increase further consolidation.
o Answer: Consolidation has been going on for generations and will continue so farmers can grow and survive.
· The amendment destroys local control of the spread of CAFO’s.
o Answer: Right to Farm does not change or supersede any local ordinances or jurisdiction that is currently in place. The Amendment creates constitutional protection for farmers and ranchers and will work side by side with local jurisdiction to protect their rights.
· The amendment gives farmers, ranchers and agri-businesses the power to do whatever they want to do.
o Farmers, ranchers and agri-businesses currently operate under laws, regulations and governmental expectations for quality and safety. Those requirements, such as FDA mandates, would not go away.
· The amendment benefits the bio-tech industry.
o The bio-tech industry provides technology and innovation that enables farmers and ranchers to grow and raise a more nutritious and higher quality product in a larger quantity, which benefits everyone with a larger variety of affordable food.
· This amendment will last forever. Do we really need that?
· Yes. We must protect our food supply and our agriculture industry. This is an issue that needs to be addressed now for the future.
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