There are many important amendments on the Missouri ballot this August, I pray you will all be informed and be sure to vote. Many times amendments are purposely put on the ballot during the primary due to the low turn-out rate of voters. Please keep up to date and be sure to share your vote!
My family just started farming this
year, we have 20 acres in Farmington. I attend the local farmer's market
each week and talk to others like me who each have 10 - 40 acre farms.
I was once ready to vote yes on this
amendment but then I started to research more and I’ve started to change my
mind. The amendment is worded very vaguely as is the case for many
amendments. So typically if something isn’t worded well, and I'm unable
to attain understandable facts, then I vote NO just to send it back to the
drawing board to be better worded.
Making an amendment to the
constitution is a big deal – we should be able to word it more specifically!
I try hard to take each issue and
research both sides – for and against – before making a judgment. Also, I
want to honor my fellow homeschooling Christians as I share what I’ve
learned. I pray I do a good job of that. I know we all want what is
best for our children and our grandchildren. With that, here is what I’ll
share.
I’ve now read the amendment many
times and read over 20 articles on both sides of the debate and I’m planning on a NO vote. I’m still open to hear arguments that hold details and
facts. But I wanted to at least share another perspective and see what
others have to say as well. Since I’m leaning towards a “NO” vote, I’ll
be fair and post information I read in an article that is actually supporting a
YES vote. It is at the link below.
In this article, which is in support
of a YES vote, it says this:
As one example, Hurst cites a case
in Hawaii where a local government outlawed the growing of genetically modified
crops.
What this says to me is that they
don’t want anyone to be able to complain or put a stop to their Genetically
Modified crops. So if they move in next door to my 20 acres, or upstream
from me, and they pollute my land or water with their pesticides, insecticides
and herbicides – I have no recourse. This protects the big farms, but not
the small ones like ours. Shouldn't a local government and it's citizens
be able to make this choice or fight against it? I know I would want to.
It then goes on to say:
“We believe in the rights of
livestock producers to operate their farms in a manner that promotes good
animal health and production, and for crop farmers to use the latest technology
in a responsible manner without outside influence,”
My question is, if you are “promoting good animal health” then why would you need protection? These big farmers with their pig operations (as an example) are not promoting good health, they are covering it up with loads of antibiotics. On the other hand, our chickens live a very good life, a healthy life, which means healthy eggs and meat for us and our community. Therefore, I do not need protection from such a law since I am not polluting the land or the animals.
We have friends in Iowa with 10
children, who run a 600 acre farm. They tell me that Iowa operates under
a similar amendment or law, and as a result their streams and rivers are
some of the most polluted in the country. This is because there is so
much manure that the only place these factory farms have to put it is into the
streams and rivers. And they want to avoid being held accountable to that
in the event that we consumers object.
This article also uses the term
“latest technology” and that translated means more factory farms and more GMO
foods, which science now tells us how dangerous they are. In fact, 90+% of
all our corn in Missouri is GMO. Other countries have outlawed GMOs so our GMO corn
has to be sold in America only. That seems to say that they need
protection because if Americans reject this GMO corn (or soybeans or other
crops) then they will have lost a lot of money. (Read more about GMO
foods here: http://www.responsibletechnology.org/gmo-dangers
Lastly, the article says this:
Oetting thinks the battle for public
support for agriculture should continue beyond the August election. “Today, most
Americans are three to five generations removed from the farm,” she said. “They
don’t understand that science and technology have taken agriculture into the
21st century, as with all business and industry. Farmers have fallen short by
not communicating how new production methods help us to be good stewards in
caring for the land and our animals.”
On the first point I agree - most Americans are far removed from the farm. However, I suspect the big farm operations want to keep it that way. Have you ever tried to call up Tyson chicken and ask for a tour of their facility? I don't think they would be pleased to show you around. On the contrary, small farmers love visitors and have nothing to hide!
On the second point he makes, he is saying that the average
American is not-so-smart and doesn’t understand all their "technology". The
technology they refer to is factory farm technology and GM crop
technology.(aka: pesticides, herbicides, etc.) The same companies who
make the GM seeds, also make all the sprays that these seeds are supposedly
resistant to. Therefore, the farmers who buy them spray even more heavily
now than years ago.
I have personally been inside a Pork
factory farm (by special invitation of a family friend who owned it) and I can tell you there is nothing about it that is caring for
land or animals or those of us to eat the meat. In fact, they wouldn’t
allow me to bring a camera into the building and I can see why. Our family didn’t
eat pork for 5 years just because the smell alone was so bad that we couldn’t
get it out of our memory for years. Until we moved to Missouri and found a
farmer who raises his pigs outdoors, then we started eating pork again.
 |
| Now don't these pigs look happy? No activist can complain about a well-cared-for pig and well cared for land! Photo Credit: Salatin Family |
I think it is wise to have in place
the laws we currently have and not outlandish lawsuits and animal rights
activists getting carried away. But we already have laws here for
that. We already have a right to farm. But we also need to be good
stewards of our land as God instructs - and having an amendment like this would
take things to the constitutional level and make it very difficult to hold any
factory farm accountable for any wrong doings.
So that is why I have changed my
vote to “no” on this amendment.
Whether this amendment passes or
not, we can all at peace knowing that ultimately God is in control. The
duty is ours to be informed and to vote, but the results are Gods!
Thanks for reading, blessings,
Sheri
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