right to farm laws

The Missouri Supreme Court is to hear arguments today on whether to strike from the state constitution a "right to farm" amendment that was approved by voters in August by a narrow margin, says Missourinet.

Two farm operations in southwestern Oregon filed suit in state court against a voter-approved ban on genetically engineered crops in Jackson County, says the Medford Mail Tribune.

The just-adopted constitutional amendment guaranteeing a "right to farm" in Missouri is under challenge before the state Supreme Court. The amendment was approved by voters in August by a 2,375-vote margin out of nearly 1 million cast.

A recount showed the "right to farm" constitutional amendment was approved by Missouri voters last month, although by a slightly smaller margin. "The final results of the recount confirmed the passage of Amendment 1," said the secretary of state's office in a statement. The winning margin was 2,375 votes, compared to the 2,490 votes initially announced, out of nearly 1 million ballots. The amendment was popular in rural counties and opposed in urban areas.

County election officials began the recount of votes on the "right to farm" constitutional amendment in Missouri on Thursday with results due at the Secretary of State's office by Sept 11. The amendment passed by 2,490 votes out of 996,672 cast during the Aug 5 primary election. The recount was requested by opponents of the amendment. Secretary of State Jason Kander's office said a running tally would be posted daily on the Internet.

Missouri voters narrowly approved a state constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to farm, said the Saint Louis Post-Dispatch.

In Missouri, the top agriculture issue is a constitutional amendment to create a "right to farm." Says the New York Times, "The debate over the proposed amendment has roiled Missouri for more than a year, with supporters saying it would end what they see as meddling by outsiders in its business practices.

In the Aug 5 primary election, Missouri will decide whether to add the "right to farm" to its state constitution. Backers say it will shield cash-short family farmers from zealous activists with impractical ideas about livestock and crop production, reports public radio station KWMU in St Louis.