The following op ed piece will appear inseveral newspapers this week, written by my friend Doreen Hannes. If you have not yet decided which way to vote on the Deceptively Named Right to Farm Amendment, take a read. Amendment 1 Is Destructive to Independent Agriculture The language for what has become Amendment 1 on the August 5th ballot in Missouri has been slightly modified from the original language, but the intent, and the major supporters, remain the same. The deception begins with the very first sentence. It was supposed to be on the ballot in November, but has been moved up to the August primary election likely to minimize opportunity for those who see the danger of the amendment to educate voters on the issue. First, let’s look at the history of the amendment, and then the proponents. Originally, the introduced amendment specifically protected “modern practices and agricultural technology”. That means factory style farming of livestock and biotech, particularly genetically modified plants and animals. Yes, animals. There are pigs crossed with mice, spider genes inserted into goats and human genes inserted into cattle. They are all patented, and just as you cannot tell GMO corn from heirloom corn by looking at it, and you cannot tell genetically modified animals have other species of DNA in them. The entities pushing Amendment 1 are large agri-biz and biotech companies. Monsanto, owners of patents on genetically modified life forms, and adept at destroying farmer’s livelihoods regularly by taking them to court over crops contaminated by Monsanto’s seed. Cargill, who helped bring even more illegal immigration by dumping cheap GMO corn into Mexico’s market and destroying the small Mexican farmer’s ability to make a living. Syngenta, yet another biotech organization, looks to secure more ground for their patented life forms. Farm Bureau (even though some of the best people in the world are in their membership) is arguably the biggest proponent of free trade agreements that destroy the ability of American farmers to sell their products in an open and honest market at a livable price. Several of us that fought in the legislature to stop this wrong-headed proposal from becoming a Constitutional Amendment offered a substitute that would actually benefit Missouri family farmers. The proponents of Amendment 1 would not hear of it. They said it wouldn’t protect their “constituents”. Here is the substitute offered: That agriculture which provides food, energy, health benefits, and security is the foundation and stabilizing force of Missouris economy. To protect this vital sector of Missouris economy, the right of farmers and ranchers to engage in direct trade with consumers [modern farming and ranching practices] shall be forever guaranteed in this state. No law shall be enacted which abridges the right of farmers and ranchers to employ agricultural [technology and modern livestock production and ranching] practices that secure independent family farms ability to save seed, preserve livestock bloodlines, or impede their access to market. The supposed “right to farm” amendment is being sold as a way to mitigate the affects on agriculture of “radical animal rights activists”. While the radical animal rights movement is dangerous, they have not consolidated agriculture and negotiated away the family farm in order to line the pockets of multi-national corporations, bureaucrats and lobbyists. The major pushers for Amendment 1 have certainly done so. Should this change to our Constitution pass, courts, lawyers and bureaucrats must define “farming” and “ranching”. If you’re harmed by a factory-farm, you won’t have much recourse to sue. GMO’s, which are increasingly being outlawed in other countries, will be unstoppable, and vertical integration (quite possibly under Chinese ownership) will take over Missouri’s family farms and reduce them to a fond memory. If you want to save the family farm, vote NO on Amendment 1. The author, Doreen Hannes operates the blog truthfarmer and is co-chair of the Ozarks Property Rights Coalition.
Posted on: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 12:28:13 +0000
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