Dear Editor:
I'm afraid that there is a misunderstanding of the purpose in Amendment 1, the Farming Rights Amendment, in our community. I hear concerns that big corporate farms and agriculture organizations are going to become impervious to any regulation with the amendment. It makes me wonder if folks are actually reading and analyzing the ballot language, or if there is a fire of wild passion and emotion burning with no substance.
The amendment reads, "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."
On the ballot, it will read: "A "yes" vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to guarantee the rights of Missourians to engage in farming and ranching practices, subject to any power given to local government under Article VI of the Missouri Constitution." Amendment 1 does not exempt from the law those who practice inhumane and unhealthy methods on their farms, nor do we, as Missouri agriculturists, condone them, but it does guarantee that farmers and ranchers who abide by the law can continue to do so without excessive regulation that is intended to put a halt to the bad actors in agriculture.
Agriculture is under attack from deep-pocketed animal rights groups such as the Humane Society of the United States. In May, a 14-year legal struggle between Feld Entertainment and the HSUS, along with similar activist groups, regarding the treatment of their animals was deemed frivolous by the court.
The settlement awarded Feld Entertainment more than $25 million to reimburse legal fees. What happens when that fight comes back to Missouri, and instead of addressing just dog breeders (which, I might add, was not the sole original purpose of the 2010 HSUS ballot initiative Proposition B) it pursues the 52,000 beef cattle herds in the state?
Without any guidelines for legislators and the courts (the purpose of an amendment to the constitution) farmers and ranchers would be sitting ducks. Missouri's farmers and ranchers aren't looking for trouble, nor are we opaque. We simply want to continue providing affordable food and resources (that contribute over $3 billion to Missouri's economy) while promoting consumer choice and, most importantly, food safety.
A "yes" vote on Amendment 1 is what Missouri agriculture needs to be as efficient and ethical as possible.
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