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MFU lobby day timing a little off

MOFU_Basement_EDITAs Missouri Farmers Union members gathered at the Capitol in Jefferson City today to lobby against proposed legislation they consider anti-family-farmer – the state legislature passed an omnibus ag bill the group does not like.  MFU President Richard Oswald says the broad ag bill has a provision making it easier for foreign entities to own land in Missouri, “I think we need to quit carrying water for foreign governments and foreign corporations like Smithfield and we need to start doing more to help our own kids.” Oswald says lawmakers ought to, instead, make it easier for young people to get into farming.

His group also doesn’t like a provision in the bill to create a state Beef Checkoff program – especially now that the national Beef Checkoff appears to be doubling, “That money, I think, is not always spent in a way that’s friendly to family beef producers in Missouri.”

And, Oswald says two House bills have been introduced (HB 882 & HB999) that are “CAFO friendly” and “anti-local control,” in his words, “Because they step in the way of local county government, either county commissions or health boards, and their ability to regulate what happens in their communities.” Oswald farms in northwest Missouri.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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