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Missouri Cattlemen set policy
The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association’s top priority is to convince voters in the state to pass the Farming Rights Amendment. The group’s executive vice-president, Mike Deering, tells Brownfield that if passed, the measure protects Missouri farmers and ranchers from animal rights activists.
“It was a huge victory to get it out of the legislature, but now the work’s just beginning,” Deering told Brownfield Wednesday. “[Members] made very clear that this needs to be the number one priority for the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association.”
“The Farming Rights Amendment passed out of the legislature last year and its fate will ultimately depend on the voters of Missouri. The amendment will forever guarantee the right of Missourians to farm and ranch in this state,” said MCA Past President Chuck Massengill, quoted in a news release. “This is a proactive step to protect Missouri’s farm and ranch families from out-of-state animal rights extremists. It also ensures consumer choice by protecting our food chain.”
The association will pursue increasing the hauling limits in Missouri from 80,000 pounds to 85,500 pounds throughout the entire state. The increase would bring Missouri in line with several bordering states. MCA contends that increasing the hauling limits will save dollars and will increase the safety of both livestock and truck drivers.
MCA members are also eyeing issues that involve property rights. One issue is working with County Commissioners to take a closer look at the fencing laws in the state. Missouri currently has two fence laws; the general fence law and the local option fence law. MCA Executive Vice President Mike Deering said the local option fence law increases livestock owners’ rights. Nearly 20 counties opted out of the general fence law and have adopted the local option. Deering said MCA plans to work with individual counties to encourage adopting the local fence law.
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