Gov. Mike Parson signs Bernskoetter’s CAFO bill

Calling it a “big win for Missouri farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses,” Gov. Mike Parson on Friday signed into law the bill that prohibits county commissions and county health departments from passing regulations on confined animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, that are more strict than any state regulations.

CAFOs allow producers to grow a large number of animals — mostly hogs and poultry in Missouri, so far — in a small space.

Opponents argue the state has done little to regulate the potential health and water pollution problems created by those operations.

But, as he has said before, the governor said the bill — Senate Bill 391 — creates a consistent regulatory framework for producers and “encourages investment in our rural communities.”

Sen. Sen. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Jefferson City, sponsored the bill, and Rep. Mike Haffner, R-Pleasant Hill, handled the bill in the House.

Bernskoetter told the News Tribune, in a statement: “I want to thank Gov. Parson for joining us in working to protect Missouri’s farmers and ranchers.

“Agriculture is this state’s number one industry, and I’m proud that we’re creating opportunities for our farm families to be competitive in the 21st century.”

In his news release, the governor noted Missouri agriculture is an $88.4 billion industry that remains the state’s “No. 1 economic driver.”

Parson said many agriculture organizations supported the bill’s passage.

“I applaud Sen. Bernskoetter, Rep. Haffner, and House and Senate leaders for sending a strong signal that we support the next generation of Missouri agriculture,” Parson said in a news release. “We’ve now opened the doors that will allow Missouri to lead the way in meeting a growing world food demand and ensure we keep more agriculture production in our state, strengthening Missouri’s number one industry.”

Opponents argued the bill cuts away at local government’s authority to make regulations that meet the needs of local communities.

Brian Smith, a rural organizer for the Columbia-based Missouri Rural Crisis Center, told the News Tribune the governor and lawmakers got it wrong.

“Literally thousands of Missourians … made it very clear that they did not want this bill to pass,” he said.

But lawmakers sided with “corporate agriculture interests,” Smith said, adding those interests have damaged the ability of individuals and families to remain as successful farmers.

Supporters have countered the new law will provide uniform regulations statewide, and that the Natural Resources Department can, and does, produce the regulations needed to monitor the industry.

Parson’s news release said he has planned a ceremonial bill signing June 8 at the annual Missouri Cattlemen’s Steak Fry in Sedalia, where he expects farmers, ranchers and agricultural leaders to be on-hand to witness the ceremony.