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Action Alert - visit www.farmtoconsumer.org     
Missouri's Monsanto Protection Act
Monsanto may be headquartered in St. Louis but the entire State does not belong to them.
Take action to prevent passage in Legislature

 

Shouldn't we protect independent family farmers and their ability to save seed, preserve livestock bloodlines, and access the market instead of protecting agricultural technology? If you agree, please oppose what is now being called the "Missouri Monsanto Protection Act" and contact your legislators.   

 

House Joint Resolution 11 (HJR 11) proposes an amendment to the Missouri Constitution that will forever protect "agricultural technology" and "modern and traditional" farming practices in Missouri. Two other identical bills (HJR 7 and SJR 22) have also been introduced, but HJR 11 has passed in the House and is on the fast track for a vote in the Senate.

 

This bill will benefit biotech and mega farm companies, not Missouri's small family farms nor consumers seeking wholesome locally grown food. Take a closer look.
Action to Take
Call Your State Senator and Senate Leaders

 

Please call your Senator and also the Speaker (Tom Dempsey, 573-751-1141) and the Floor Leader (Ron Richard, 573-751-2173). Tell them that the proposed constitutional amendment, HJR 11, needs to either die or be changed to truly protect the health, economic viability and freedom of Citizens of Missouri! 

Phone numbers for Missouri State Senators are listed at the end of this alert.
MoreInfo
About the Bill
Legislation cloaked to protect Monsanto and Big Ag

Missouri voters could be asked to vote on the constitutional amendment during the general election to be held in November 2014. Although the bill description sounds innocuous--"affirming the right of farmers and ranchers to engage in modern farming and ranching practices"--the potential effect could be devastating for small farm agriculture and the Missouri local food supply. The actual language of the bill opens a Pandora's box.

 

The bill currently proposes to add a new section to Article I of the Missouri Constitution, Section 35:

 

Section 35. That agriculture which provides food, energy, health benefits, and security is the foundation and stabilizing force of Missouri's economy. To protect this vital sector of Missouri's economy, the right of farmers and ranchers to engage in modern farming and ranching practices shall be forever guaranteed in this state. No state law shall be enacted which abridges the right of farmers and ranchers to employ agricultural technology and modern and traditional livestock production and ranching practices, unless enacted by the General Assembly.

 

There are no definitions provided in the language of the bills, and "agricultural technology" usually means the biotech industry, including genetically modified plants and animals. Yes, spider goats, eel salmon, cow humans, mouse pigs and whatever else they come up with in the future would be protected "forever"--that's a very, very long time.

 

Worse, the proposed language for the official ballot title does not portray the true content of the amendment. Voters would simply read the following to vote "yes" or "no".

 

"Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to ensure:

  • That the right of Missouri citizens to employ modern farming and ranching practices and equipment shall not be infringed."

 

Click here to read HJR 11. 

 

Check out the bill tracking page for this legislation.

Alternative

Proposed Language that would Protect Family Farms  

 

Alternate verbiage that would truly protect family farms was offered well over a month ago to Representative Jason Smith, the sponsor of SJR 11, as a possible substitute. According to a recent post, "no comment or discussion about the alternate language occurred until the conference call the other day, when both Missouri Farmers Care and Smith's Chief of Staff categorically dismissed the language over their presumption that it wouldn't protect 'all' of agriculture, despite the ability of soy and corn growers to directly market their products if they so desired." Visit the website of Missouri Farmers Care and you'll see many logos for big Ag and biotech companies.

 

Below is the language that was offered as a substitute.  

Note: Green text indicates added text, and red [strikethrough] text in brackets indicates deleted text. 

 

Section 35. That agriculture which provides food, energy, health benefits, and security is the foundation and stabilizing force of Missouri's economy. To protect this vital sector of Missouri's 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 farm's ability to save seed, preserve livestock bloodlines, or impede their access to market.

Section B. Pursuant to Chapter 116, RSMo, and other applicable constitutional provisions and laws of this state allowing the General Assembly to adopt ballot language for the submission of a joint resolution to the voters of this state, the official ballot title of the amendment proposed in Section A shall be as follows:  

 

"Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to ensure:

  • That the right of Missouri citizens to employ [modern] farming and ranching practices and equipment that insure the continuance of diversified small farms shall not be infringed."
This issue will affect every single person who eats in Missouri, and it is important for both urban and rural Citizens to understand what is happening with the proposed constitutional amendment. Please read:

 

Deception? Danger? "Right to Farm"? Missouri Alert! 

http://truthfarmer.com/2013/02/17/deception-danger-right-to-farm-missouri-alert/   

 

Critics say House Bill Protects Big Ag, Harms Small Farmers 

http://lakeexpo.com/news/lake_news/article_0b3cac00-8291-11e2-989b-0019bb2963f4.html  

Senators
The Missouri Senate needs to hear from you!
    
Please call your Senator and also Speaker Dempsey and Floor Leader Richard.
Not sure who your State Senator is? Click here and enter your 9-digit zip code.

Tom Dempsey R-23, Senate Speaker (573) 751-1141    

Ron Richard R-32, Senate Floor Leader (573) 751-2173


Dan Brown R-16, (573) 751-5713  

 

Maria Chappelle-Nadal D-14, (573) 751-4106  

 

Mike Cunningham R-33, (573) 751-1882  

 

S. Kiki Curls D-9, (573) 751-3158  

 

Bob Dixon R-30, (573) 751-2583  

 

Ed Emery R-31, (573) 751-2108  

 

Jason Holsman D-7, (573) 751-6607  

 

Jolie Justus D-10, (573) 751-2788  

 

Joseph Keaveny D-4, (573) 751-3599  

 

Mike Kehoe R-6, (573) 751-2076  

 

Will Kraus R-8, (573) 751-1464  

 

Brad Lager R-12, (573) 751-1415  

 

John T. Lamping R-24, (573) 751-2514  

 

Paul LeVota D-11, (573) 751-3074  

 

Doug Libla R-25, (573) 751-4843  

  

Ryan McKenna D-22, (573) 751-1492  

   

Brian Munzlinger R-18, (573) 751-7985  

 

Jamilah Nasheed D-5, (573) 751-4415  

  

Brian Nieves R-26, (573) 751-3678  

  

Mike Parson R-28, (573) 751-8793  

  

David Pearce R-21, (573) 751-2272   

  

Gary Romine R-3, (573) 751-4008  

 

Scott Rupp R-2, (573) 751-1282  

 

David Sater R-29, (573) 751-1480  

   

Rob Schaaf R-34, (573) 751-2183  

 

Kurt Schaefer R-19, (573) 751-3931  

   

Eric Schmitt R-15, (573) 751-2853  

 

Scott Sifton D-1, (573) 751-0220  

   

Ryan Silvey R-17, (573) 751-5282  

 

Wayne Wallingford R-27, (573) 751-2459  

    

Gina Walsh D-13, (573) 751-2420  

 

Jay Wasson R-20, (573) 751-1503  

  

 

For more information on this very important issue please visit the following links:

 

www.truthfarmer.com/2013/03/28/transparency-on-proposed-constitutional-amendment-hjr-11-and-7-in-missouri/ 

 

www.truthfarmer.com/2013/03/07/now-this-would-be-a-good-constitutional-amendment-for-missouri/ 

 

www.truthfarmer.com/2013/02/17/deception-danger-right-to-farm-missouri-alert/ 

 

www.lakeexpo.com/news/lake_news/article_0b3cac00-8291-11e2-989b-0019bb2963f4.html 

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Donations to the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund are always appreciated though not tax-deductible. Prefer to make a tax-deductible donation? Go to www.f2cfnd.org/donate to earmark it for "public interest litigation" (PIL). Or contact us by email at [email protected] or call 703-208-FARM (3276).   

Please forward this digest to others who are concerned about protecting locally-sourced nutrient dense foods and preserving sustainable small family farms and artisan food producers as well as defending the rights to sell and to access the foods of one's choice from the source of one's choice.