Agricultural News
ASA Supports Missouri Farming Rights Amendment
Tue, 08 Jul 2014 10:47:11 CDT
The Creve Coeur-based American Soybean Association has issued its support of the Missouri Farming Rights Amendment (Amendment 1), a measure that would amend the state's constitution to recognize and protect modern agriculture and the benefits that it provides all Missourians.
"As a proud Missouri-based organization, the American Soybean Association firmly supports Amendment 1 supporting modern agriculture in the Show-Me State," said ASA Director Tom Raffety, a farmer from Wyatt. "Our soybean farmers in Missouri and their counterparts in other crops and livestock commodities take strides every day to ensure that they conserve our state's natural resources while continuing to farm productively and provide all Missourians with the food, feed, fiber and fuel they need."
Amendment 1 will give farmers another tool with which to defend themselves from unwarranted laws and regulations, including ballot initiatives funded by deep-pocketed animal-rights groups. Amendment 1 will not throw out scientifically-based rules and regulations as every right is subject to reasonable regulation, and Missouri's farm families remain committed to upholding all laws and regulations pertaining to agriculture. Moreover, by guarding against overly restrictive laws and regulations that limit the ability of Missouri farmers and ranchers to decide what production methods work best for them, Amendment 1 will assure consumers that Missouri farmers and ranchers can provide the choices they want in food and fibe
"As is the case so often in agricultural issues, off-farm activists and out-of-state animal rights groups continue to try to tell farmers how to run their operations," said Raffety. "What Amendment 1 does is reinforce that Missouri's farmers are good stewards of our land and resources, and know what's best for Missouri agriculture."
ASA's state affiliate, the Missouri Soybean Association, has been a lead voice in the effort to pass the Farming Rights Amendment as part of Missouri Farmers Care, a coalition formed to protect Missouri agriculture from outside special interests and to reconnect farmers and consumers through education and outreach efforts.
"Agriculture is the lifeblood of the Show-Me State, and it's woven into the cultural and economic fabric of the entire Midwest," added Raffety. "It's a big part of the reason that ASA chose St. Louis as our home base. Farming is Missouri's largest industry and because of its impact, many outside activist groups have targeted Missouri's farms in their effort to reform agriculture as they see fit. Amendment 1 will protect Missouri's farms from these attacks, and ASA is proud to support it."
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