By Brenda Black
To all my friends on both sides of the
farming fence: to the conventional and the all-natural; to the
multi-generational and the first-time farmer, we are in this
together. I love the passion for getting back to the basics as much
as the commitment to banish world hunger. I applaud the ingenuity,
the tenacity and integrity of all of Missouri's Ag community. It
takes dedication and sacrifice to be capable and humane stewards of
land and livestock. Every one of you has my utmost respect.
Right now, we are living in exciting
times in agriculture, where the challenges compel innovators to find
answers. Those resolutions come in a host of forms from high-rise,
glassed-in, urban gardens to rotational grazing. Some employ timed
breeding and new seed technologies. Ideas come from fifth generation
farmers, university think tanks and long-established allied
industries. Health enthusiasts, city folks and country caretakers
alike contribute to the success of agriculture.
While we each constantly and
tirelessly work to do our best, there is a growing shadow of
intimidation that seeks to undermine each and every one of us. Animal
rights and environmental extremists want to mandate your every move.
We have an enemy that wishes to see Missouri families ruined. That
enemy would love to whisper in your ear that the Missouri Farming
Rights Amendment is big ag vs. small farmers; conventional vs.
organic. But in reality, the battle is ALL of US vs. the bullying
tactics that include intimidation, big bucks, and deceitful,
sensational propaganda. Outside entities steamroll states on the fuel
of millions of dollars and the wheels of outrageous lies. And they
put good people right out of business and steal their rights using
the ballot initiative process to impose their radical views!
If you eat; if you wear clothing; if
you drive a car; if you take a vitamin or take insulin to stay alive;
if you read a book or feed a pet; if you have a heart valve
replacement or play football, your life is dependent on agriculture.
How much greater the reason to guard that which is fundamental to our
well-being.
The fact remains that small farms, and
organic agriculturalists are not exempt from outside influence and
are at just as much risk as the conventional farmers if we don't
collectively work together to eliminate such underhanded strategies
to sway regulations. The Missouri Farming Rights Amendment is not
about insulating bad players. It is about protecting ALL of
Missouri's farmers from anti-ag organizations.
My encouragement is that you do not
let the lies and scare tactics of outside influencers undermine
Missouri's number one economic contributor, nor one of the fastest
growing hobbies -- agriculture. Neither should we allow their
underhanded, over-funded, misguided bullying to take away any of our
freedom to operate with best practices and with good conscience.
If we succumb to their rich scare
tactics, every one of us loses. We lose the right to raise our
families as we see fit. We lose the right to grow food the way
science and experience prove is beneficial. We lose the right to try
new things OR go back to old ways. We lose the right to plant
hundreds of acres or dabble with dirt on a small plot in our back
yard.
The outsiders who want to control the
way you grow your food, feed your family and live your life, are bent
on an old and deceptive strategy – divide and conquer. The
Missouri Farming Rights Amendment is for everybody in this state that
just wants the freedom to operate without undue and unfounded
interference. It's about working together to protect our land,
livestock and livelihood, as well as our families' healthy and happy
futures.
If we don't stick together, we stand
to lose the things we value most – our farms, our freedom and our
rights as Missouri families. Think before you vote and say yes to
Missouri Farming.
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