"Right to Farm" Could Expand to Other States

Constitutional amendments normally go unnoticed.  And that's usually for a good reason.  Most of the time the are archaic, outdated and doesn't apply to modern times.  Politicians usually just tack things on they want to pass for lobbyist and away we go.

So when the amendment "Right to Farm" was passed in Missouri, it came as no surprise no one noticed it.  The ballot asked, "Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to ensure that the right of Missouri citizens to engage in agricultural production and ranching practices shall not be infringed?"

Basically it asserted the right to farm.  Why would anyone need to have that written into the constitution?  Isn't the right to farm your own land an unalienable right?  Unfortunately, in today's age, we need to have everything spelled out for us.

The law seems reasonable enough.  Proponents of this law were reasonably concerned about what's been going on in other states.  For example, in 2008, California voters approved roomier living conditions for hens.  And in Oregon, a rural county overwhelmingly passed a ban on genetically modified crops.

Considering all the hysteria surrounding GMO's recently, it's not out of the question that similar laws like the one in Oregon couldn't be passed in other states.

Missouri isn't the first state to pass a "Right to Farm" law.  South Dakota passed a similar law two years ago.  North Dakota State University law professor David Saxwosky says he hasn't seen any resulting court cases in a recent interview with South West Farm Press.

Maybe sometime in the next decades there will be some technology that even producers will say, 'Hey, wait, are we really aren't sure if we want that within our industry.'  And at that point, this language will be tested," Saxwosky said.

Other states are looking to add similar laws like the ones in Missouri and North Dakota.  Indiana recently added right to farm legislation in the form of a law.  Oklahoma had legislation that didn't make it pass the general assembly.  Many other Midwestern states have also begun conversations about "Right to Farm".

Why the Opposition?

You would think in a state like Missouri, with nearly 100,000 farms, the "Right to Farm" would pass easily.  Actually it passed by the narrowest of margins.  So slim in fact there may be a recount.

Unofficial results showed in the 3,898 precincts, it passed with only 50.1% of the vote.  Out of the 1 million votes casted, it passed by a mere 2,528 votes.

You may be asking yourself, why would anyone oppose the right of an individual to farm?  But Missouri is the "Show Me" state.  The message became muddled.  

Those supporting the amendment were portrayed as large corporate agricultural interest that were trying to avoid regulation relating to environmental and animal welfare while opponents were painted as over-zealous environmentalist who wanted to destroy traditional farming.  The debate pitted urban interests against rural ones.  The areas of Kansas City and St. Louis largely opposing the amendment.

Essentially, politics as usual.

Where ever you stand on the issue, we might be seeing similar legislation soon in Southern states.  In states like Alabama and Georgia, the "Right to Farm" issue would seem like a softball issue.  And we all know our esteemed legislators love softball issues.