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Missouri farm groups respond to suit blocking CAFO law

Farm groups supporting Missouri’s law addressing CAFO regulations say its blockage is a misuse of the legal system and stifles opportunities to keep future generations on the farm. In a joint statement, five Missouri farm and commodity groups say the lawsuit challenging Senate Bill 391 is a frivolous attempt to overturn the work of Missouri lawmakers.

“We worked with legal minds, we worked with experts in agriculture and in the legislature and in research and you name it, to make sure that we had a piece of legislation that could withstand challenges,” said Mike Deering, executive vice-president of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, “and we believe we’ve got that.”

The suit – brought by the Cedar County Commission, the Cooper County Public Health Center, the group Friends of Responsible Agriculture and three farmers – alleges the law is unconstitutional and asked that enactment be blocked. A judge granted a temporary restraining order stalling implementation for ten days.

Senate Bill 391, passed earlier this year by the Missouri Legislature and signed by Governor Mike Parson, restricts counties from enacting CAFO regulations that are stricter than state laws.

The Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, Missouri Pork Association, Missouri Soybean Association and Missouri Corn Growers Association say they’ll work Governor Parson and Attorney General Eric Schmitt to mount a response to the restraining order.

AUDIO: Mike Deering

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