Missouri’s Food for America hosted a presentation in St Joseph Tuesday night.  Video by Jerry Schmidt.

“…Today in Missouri, as wll as Oklahoma, Indiana, and two other states, corporate agriculture is trying to put their guarantee to farm in state constitutions…” – former Missouri Lieutenant Governor Joe Maxwell.

Yesterday, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C101457 07/08/2014 MISSOURI FARMERS CARE Missouri Egg Council, Inc. 1000 W. Nifong Blvd Bldg 5 Columbia MO 65203 7/7/2014 $10,000.00

C101457 07/08/2014 MISSOURI FARMERS CARE FCS Financial 1934 E. Miller Jefferson City MO 65101 7/8/2014 $30,000.00

[emphasis added]

It must be nice that someone cares, in $10,000.00 increments.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: $110,000.00 for something they really care about (January 3, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Food fight! (May 28, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Because, across Missouri, family farms are being supplanted by… (June 24, 2014)

Campaign Finance: as if yard signs were actually a cash crop for actual farmers… (June 28, 2014)

Utilizing the First Amendment to challenge our oppressive corporate overlords… (July 2, 2014)

Joe Maxwell – “No” on Amendment No. 1 (July 8, 2014)

“…They’re putting up big signs, But, as we say, signs don’t vote…”

On July 7, 2014 in Springfield, Missouri former Missouri Lieutenant Governor Joe Maxwell (D) spoke on voting “no” on Amendment No. 1.

Video by Jerry Schmidt.

From the video description:

Missouri Right to Farm Amendment

This issue will be on your ballot August 5 as Amendment One to the state constitution.

This amendment does not originate organically from our legislator’s recognizing a need for Missouri people. It is rather a product of ALEC […]

There are several Right to Farm states already. This amendment promotes a corporatist agenda. Down deep in the language of the document there is permission for Corporations to pollute, treat animals very badly, and harm our food system.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: $110,000.00 for something they really care about (January 3, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Food fight! (May 28, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Because, across Missouri, family farms are being supplanted by… (June 24, 2014)

Campaign Finance: as if yard signs were actually a cash crop for actual farmers… (June 28, 2014)

Utilizing the First Amendment to challenge our oppressive corporate overlords… (July 2, 2014)

Oh, wait.

“Useless laws weaken the necessary laws.” – Charles-Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu (1689 – 1755)

4 x 8 signs promoting the “right to farm” amendment to the Missouri Constitution are popping up like mushrooms across the rural landscape. As if family farms are under some sort of existential threat from public sentiment or government overreach? It’s probably got something to do with puppies! Uh, yep.

Thumbing their nose at the establishment – along a highway in west central Missouri.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: $110,000.00 for something they really care about (January 3, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Food fight! (May 28, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Because, across Missouri, family farms are being supplanted by… (June 24, 2014)

Campaign Finance: as if yard signs were actually a cash crop for actual farmers… (June 28, 2014)

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C141005 05/28/2014 MISSOURI’S FOOD FOR AMERICA Thomas Smith 3100 Old Field Rd. Columbi MO 65203 Self Owner 5/28/2014 $25,000.00

[emphasis added]

What’s that all about?:

C141005: Missouri’s Food For America

Po Box 1714 Committee Type: Political Action

Jefferson City Mo 65101

(573) 588-7895 Established Date: 01/09/2014

[….]

Treasurer

Wes Shoemyer

[….]

It’s a PAC opposed to the “Right to Farm” constitutional amendment [pdf] on the November 2014 ballot.

Wes Shoemyer:

HSUS forms new Missouri Agriculture Council

February 03, 2014 6:00 am

JEFFERSON CITY – The Humane Society of the United States has formed an agriculture council made up of farmers, ranchers and conservationists.

The HSUS Missouri Agriculture Council will work to connect livestock producers who practice humane and sustainable agriculture with consumers seeking products that meet higher animal welfare standards, and will help other farmers transition to more humane animal management, HSUS says in a news release….

….Shoemyer said, “Over the last few decades farmers have been driven off of the land by industrialized agriculture and it has drained our rural economies. We need to reinvest in these communities by promoting independent farmers and sustainable agriculture, and I’m happy to work with the HSUS to do that.”

Shoemyer is a recipient of the American Farmer degree from FFA, a member of the National Farmers Organization, the Missouri Farmers Union, NEMO Grain Processors and the Ozark Mountain Pork Processing Plant….

Ah, a farmer involved in small farms.

Someone doesn’t like Wes Shoemyer:

MISSOURI FARMERS CALL OUT WES SHOEMYER’S HSUS FRONT GROUP

Jan. 22, 2014

Source: Missouri Farmers Care news release

Missouri Farmers Care questioned the legitimacy of “Missouri Food For America,” claiming the PAC, created by former politician Wes Shoemyer, is little more than a front for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

“Constitutional Amendment 1, the Missouri Farming Rights Amendment, is a common-sense way to protect Missouri family farmers from those who want to destroy our way of life,” Nikodim continued. “So, it’s no surprise that HSUS, the number one threat to Missouri farmers, would create this Trojan Horse in an attempt to deceive voters and stop this essential effort.”

[….]

[emphasis added]

A press release.

Ah, someone is afflicting the comfortable and they react.

Food fight!

Here’s the resolution from 2013:

FIRST REGULAR SESSION

[TRULY AGREED TO AND FINALLY PASSED]

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE NO. 2 FOR

SENATE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NOS. 11 & 7

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

0132H.05T        2013

JOINT RESOLUTION

Submitting to the qualified voters of Missouri, an amendment to article I of the Constitution of Missouri, and adopting one new section relating to the right to farm.

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring therein:

           That at the next general election to be held in the state of Missouri, on Tuesday next following the first Monday in November, 2014, or at a special election to be called by the governor for that purpose, there is hereby submitted to the qualified voters of this state, for adoption or rejection, the following amendment to article I of the Constitution of the state of Missouri:

           Section A. Article I, Constitution of Missouri, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 35, to read as follows:

           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 farming and ranching practices shall be forever guaranteed in this state, subject to duly authorized powers, if any, conferred by article VI of the Constitution of Missouri.

           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 engage in agricultural production and ranching practices shall not be infringed?”

[emphasis in original]

Really? There’s some sort of crisis?

“Useless laws weaken the necessary laws.” – Charles-Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu (1689 – 1755)

Maybe it’s constitutional protection for concentrated animal feeding operations. You think?

Previously: Campaign Finance: $110,000.00 for something they really care about (January 3, 2014)