Truth Farmer

Wednesday Wake Up Call!

Missouri’s Monsanto Protection Act is on the Fast Track to Pass the Legislature!

 In Missouri, we have about 6 weeks of the State legislative session left to endure. There are numerous good bills and a few horrific bills that we have to pay attention to and communicate with our legislators about in a timely and concerted fashion.

Our proposal is that those of us who love freedom and support accountability in our elected officials all join together on various issues over the course of the rest of the session and call our own State Representative and Senator as well as those who are supporting legislation we are activating for or against and get thousands of calls into the State Capitol every Wednesday so they know that “We’re the People, and we are watching.”

Each issue we choose to act on will include a short redux of the bill and an explanation of what needs to be communicated to our representatives about the bill.

The first item for action is HJR 11 and 7 and SJR 22. These are the same pieces of legislation that propose a Constitutional Amendment to our Missouri Constitution that will forever protect “agricultural technology” and “modern and traditional” farming practices” in Missouri. There are no definitions provided in the language of the bill, and agricultural technology usually means the biotech industry, including genetically modified plants and animals. Yes, spider goats, eel salmon, cow humans, mouse pigs and whatever else they come up with in the future as “forever” is a very, very long time.

Here is the text of the language that will come to the Senate floor fairly quickly. Please note that it already passed the House and is on the fast track:

“Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring therein:

That at the next general election to be held in the state of Missouri, on Tuesday next following the first Monday in November, 2014, or at a special election to be called by the governor for that purpose, there is hereby submitted to the qualified voters of this state, for adoption or rejection, the following amendment to article I of the Constitution of the state of Missouri:

Section A. Article I, Constitution of Missouri, is amended by adding one new section, to be known as section 35, to read as follows:

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 modern farming and ranching practices shall be forever guaranteed in this state. No state law shall be enacted which abridges the right of farmers and ranchers to employ agricultural technology and modern and traditional livestock production and ranching practices, unless enacted by the General Assembly.

Section B. Pursuant to Chapter 116, RSMo, and other applicable constitutional provisions and laws of this state allowing the General Assembly to adopt ballot language for the submission of a joint resolution to the voters of this state, the official ballot title of the amendment proposed in Section A shall be as follows:

“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to ensure:

      •  That the right of Missouri citizens to employ modern farming and ranching practices and equipment shall not be infringed”.”

Bill tracking page for this legislation: http://www.house.mo.gov/billactions.aspx?bill=HJR11&year=2013&code=R

Alternate verbiage that would truly protect family farms was offered to Smith as a possible substitute for this verbiage, but no response to the suggestion was received from Smith or his office. Here is the language that was offered as a substitute:

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 direct trade with consumers [modern farming and ranching practices] shall be forever guaranteed in this state. No law shall be enacted which abridges the right of farmers and ranchers to employ agricultural [technology and modern livestock production and ranching] practices that secure independent family farm’s ability to save seed, preserve livestock bloodlines, or impede their access to market.

Section B. Pursuant to Chapter 116, RSMo, and other applicable constitutional provisions and laws of this state allowing the General Assembly to adopt ballot language for the 3 submission of a joint resolution to the voters of this state, the official ballot title of the amendment proposed in Section A shall be as follows: “Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to ensure: 

• That the right of Missouri citizens to employ modern farming and ranching practices and equipment that insure the continuance of diversified small farms shall not be infringed”.

The Missouri Senate needs to hear from you!

Please call your Senator and also the Speaker (Dempsey) and the Floor Leader (Richard) and let them know that while Monsanto may be headquartered in Saint Louis, the entire State does NOT belong to them, and this bill needs to either die or be changed to truly protect the health, economic viability and freedom of Citizens of Missouri!

(For some reason, the formatting will not work properly-Please call the switch board at 573-751-2000 if you cannot find your Senator’s number below)