Amendment 1 will be on the ballot on August 5. To secure these constitutional rights for farmers and ranchers, Missouri agriculture needs to make our case to the press and the voters. Below are Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and talking points to better prepare our member-leaders for the campaign. The central theme to keep going back to (if you get a question you can’t answer, that’s fine just say so and steer back to this) is that Amendment 1 protects family farmers and ranchers and ensures that we can pass on our farms to the next generation. We are asking Missouri voters to support the family farmers that are leading the charge on the Yes on Amendment 1 campaign. The central question from outside of agriculture is what is Amendment 1 and what will it do? Q: What is Amendment 1? A: Amendment 1, the Missouri Farming Rights Amendment, is a state constitutional amendment to protect family farmers and ranchers. It also protects consumer choice. This amendment is being supported by farmer-led organizations because agriculture is the lifeblood of rural Missouri’s economy and a driving force of the economy on Missouri’s highways, ports, and offices. Family farmers and ranchers work hard to pass their farm on to the next generation and Amendment 1 will help ensure that transition to the next generation by giving farmers and ranchers another “tool in their toolbox” to defend themselves from unwarranted laws and regulations in the future. To Keep Missouri Farming, voters should vote ‘Yes’ on Amendment 1 on August 5. Q: What will Amendment 1 do? A: Amendment 1 will give farmers another “tool in their toolbox” 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 are 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 fiber. Missouri’s courts will ultimately determine the scope of Amendment 1, but this amendment gives farmers and ranchers a degree of protection that they do not have now and that they need for future protection. Costly ballot initiatives that promote unreasonable and unnecessary laws and regulations are designed to drain agriculture’s resources and mislead the public. By protecting Missouri’s farm families from such tactics, we are protecting Missouri’s economy. Q: What will be different if Amendment 1 passes? A: If voters approve Amendment 1, farmers will have additional constitutional protections that they currently lack, and need. Amendment 1 will be another “tool in the toolbox” for Missouri farmers to defend themselves against future laws that could directly jeopardize their ability to farm. While the courts will ultimately decide the scope of Amendment 1, past attacks on agriculture have proven that Missouri agriculture needs Amendment 1 as a first and last line of defense. General notes: Do not allow opponents or critics to try to tie you up in theoretical legal questions, there is no definite answer to these questions. Point out that every right is interpreted by the courts, but Amendment 1 gives farmers and ranchers a tool to defend themselves with that they currently lack. If questioned about corporate influence, point out that farmer-led organizations are leading the charge on Amendment 1. If questioned about opposition, point out that a deep-pocketed out-of-state organization is funding the front group opposing Amendment 1. Amendment 1 is supported by the vast majority of farm organizations in Missouri. Basic Talking Points: What Right to Farm WILL do: The Missouri Farming Rights Amendment WILL save Missouri jobs and defend the hardworking farm families that drive our state economy. The Missouri Farming Rights Amendment WILL protect Missouri’s family farms from out-of-state animal-rights groups that have targeted Missouri agriculture in the past. The Missouri Farming Rights Amendment WILL protect small and family farmers as they do not have the resources to mount legal challenges or relocate their farms like corporations can. What Right to Farm WILL NOT do: The Missouri Farming Rights Amendment WILL NOT invalidate county ordinances because counties derive their authority from the state constitution and established state laws. The Missouri Farming Rights Amendment WILL NOT give farmers a “blank check.” All rights are subject to reasonable regulation and that will still be the case under the Missouri Farming Rights Amendment. Additional FAQs Q: Who benefits from the Farming Rights Amendment? A: Small farmers, hobby farmers, family farmers, organic farmers, and all farmers benefit from the Farming Rights Amendment. The Farming Rights Amendment will protect all farmers equally and Family farms will especially benefit as they do not have the resources to relocate or fight off well-funded anti-agriculture groups that have used the initiative petition process in many states to target agriculture. Q: Why do we need the Farming Rights Amendment in the Missouri state constitution? A: Agriculture is Missouri’s largest industry, both the lifeblood of rural Missouri and a major employer in urban Missouri. Some extremist groups have targeted agriculture in recent years and now farmers are supporting the Farming Rights Amendment to provide long-lasting legal protections for their way of life and for the economic base of our state. Q: Does this amendment restrict local control of agriculture? A: The Farming Rights Amendment does not change or supersede any local ordinances or jurisdiction that is currently in place. The Amendment creates constitutional protection for farmers and ranchers and will work side by side with local jurisdiction to protect their rights. Q: Does this amendment give farmers and ranchers a “blank check” to do whatever they want? A: Every right is subject to reasonable restriction. Just as we can’t shout “fire” in a crowded building, farmers will not have a blank check under the Farming Rights Amendment. State and federal regulations that are in place will not be superseded by the Farming Rights Amendment. Q: This amendment will last forever. Do we really need that? A: Yes. We must protect our food supply and our agriculture industry. This is an issue that needs to be addressed now for the future. Q: Does the Missouri Farming Rights Amendment effect foreign ownership of Missouri farm land? A: No, limitations that are currently in place for corporate and foreign ownership of Missouri farmland have already been found constitutional in federal courts. Corporate ownership of Missouri farmland is geographically restricted and foreign ownership is set at a 1% cap of Missouri agricultural land. The Missouri Farming Rights Amendment will not change any of this. To learn more, please visit MOFarmersCare/FarmingRights.php or contact us at Info@MOFarmersCare Paid for by Missouri Farmers Care – Gary Wheeler, Treasurer
Posted on: Wed, 18 Jun 2014 02:09:13 +0000