If you will look through my posts from the last Missouri session in 2013, you will find an awful lot of info on the “Right to Farm” proposed amendment. Click here to read the most comprehensive piece I did on it. It WILL be on the ballot here in MO . The language was modified slightly, but we were not able to garner enough action to halt the thing from going through.
Here’s our “victory” on altering the language…instead of ensconcing “modern farming practices and technology” into the Missouri Constitution, it now reads like this:
| 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 [technology] 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. |
It’s going to be a mess, folks. It will require court challenges and that “farmer” and “rancher” be defined by the State.
The fact is that we already have this right, and we don’t need them to define it, because if they define it, it will mess things up royally.
The intent of the language was- and remains to be- to protect GMO proliferation, biotech interests, and corporate vertically integrated factory farming. It is not intended to protect small diversified farming, and it won’t do so in the long run.
Ballotpedia has good info on this, you can click on this link and read it.
The proponents of the “Right to Farm” amendment say that the need for this change to our Constitution is the threat of animal rights activist groups and the constraints on animal agriculture they bring about. They also intimate that the only people opposed to the amendment are animal rights activists. Guess what? I am NOT an animal rights activist, and neither are a myriad of others who are opposed to this change in Missouri’s Constitution. So that is a patent falsehood.
We don’t need this amendment, and we certainly don’t need to change our Constitution because Farm Bureau wants to increase corporate ag’s stranglehold on small, diversified agricultural endeavors. What concerns me the most is that they will define “farmer” and “rancher” and “agriculture” as adjuncts to this legislation. When they do that, we will have GMO proliferation protected by Missouri’s Constitution and it may include biotech animal ag protections as well.
This amendment is dangerous and unnecessary. Please vote no on it, and let everyone else you know about the hidden dangers and the original intentions of those who pushed this amendment forward.
Truth Farmer 
Jun 20, 2014 @ 12:20:27
Appreciating the persistence you put into your blog and in depth information you offer.
It’s awesome to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t
the same outdated rehashed material. Great read! I’ve saved your site and I’m including your RSS
feeds to my Google account.
Jun 24, 2014 @ 00:07:12
Hello my family member! I want to say that this post is awesome, nice written and include approximately all important infos.
I’d like too see extra posts like this .
Sep 27, 2014 @ 20:01:38
Excellent way of describing, and pleasant article to get information concerning my presentation topic,which
i amm going to present in institution of higher education.