Posted July 2, 2015
The Missouri Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that state’s so-called Right To Farm amendment remains constitutional, according to a KBLA article available here. The Missouri Times also published an article available hereand Columbia Daily Tribune here.
The Right to Farm amendment is intended to protect Missouri farmers from new laws that would change current farm practices. It was added to the state Constitution in August 2014 by a slim margin of votes.
Some critics, including many small farmers and animal rights groups, claim the ballot language was misleading to voters and opens the door for foreign corporations to exploit Missouri farmland.
The court also ruled that residents could challenge ballot language after an election, which could lead to questionable summaries being disputed in later cases, according to the Columbia Tribune.
Agricultural groups applauded the court’s opinion, calling the case “desperate,” according to the Missouri Times.
“We are pleased the Missouri Supreme Court ruled in favor of upholding the election results for Amendment #1, the Missouri Farming Rights Amendment, approved last August,” said Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst. “This was a desperate attempt by the opponents to thwart the will of a majority of Missouri voters by retrospectively claiming the ballot language was inadequate. As Missourians we now have in our state constitution a much needed protection for the right of consumers to have adequate and affordable food choices and the right of farmers and ranchers to produce that food safely and humanely.”
Missouri was the second state to add the right to farm to its Constitution – North Dakota was first. Several Midwest states have been playing with similar amendments or laws, according to KBIA.
The Court’s decision is available here.
The briefs, summary of the briefs and oral argument audio file are available here.
For more information on Right to Farm laws and for a compilation of states’ Right to Farm statutes, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
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