As the legislative sponsors of Amendment and small family farmers ourselves, we urge you to vote for the Amendment 1, the Farming Rights Amendment, because it helps Missouri's family farmers and ranchers, all the way to our youth who participate in 4-H and FFA. If it did anything different, like the opponents are claiming, we wouldn't be supporting it.
Why the need for the constitutional amendment: Over the past decade, we have seen many examples of farmers under attack from special interest groups that want to control the way food is produced and the food choices available to consumers. In several states, well-funded out-of-state activist organizations, like the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), are successfully passing ballot initiatives that are overregulating farmers. Farms of all sizes are impacted by unnecessary and costly government regulations, but it's small farmers - with limited resources - who are hurt the worst and the first to be put out of business.
While HSUS tries to portray itself as helping pet shelters, only 1 percent of HSUS's budget is given to local shelters. The rest of the money goes to its stated agenda to eliminate all animal agriculture, stop sport hunting and limit consumer food choices to its liking. HSUS fundraising record is so bad, with much of the money going to hefty executive salaries and pensions, that it gets a "D" rating. Also, in May, HSUS paid $16 million to settle a racketeering lawsuit. It is not surprising that HSUS is financing almost all of the opponents' campaign.
What the amendment is not: Opponents claim the amendment will let the Chinese buy up as much farmland as they want - not true; state statutes already limit foreign ownership of farmland. Opponents claim the amendment will let corporations take over agriculture - not true; state statutes also restrict corporate agriculture in Missouri. Opponents claim farmers will be able to freely pollute the environment without regulation - not true; farmers will still have to comply with federal, state and local regulations and controls. The opponents say the amendment will take away local control - not true: the amendment has specific language authored by legislators who wanted to assure local control is maintained. It has gotten so absurd that the opponents even claim the red/orange "Yes on 1" signs indicate the Chinese are behind the amendment - not true; virtually every farmer-led agriculture organization in the state is supporting Amendment #1 including Missouri Farm Bureau, MFA, FCS Financial, Missouri Corn Growers, Missouri Soybean Association, Missouri Cattlemen and Missouri Pork Association.
It is unbelievable some people are trying to claim a conspiracy or hidden agenda behind Amendment 1. It is simply not true. That is why an overwhelming number of state legislators - urban and rural, Republican and Democrat - voted for the Farming Rights Amendment. We respectfully ask that you support Amendment 1 on Aug. 5.