Pets as Farm Products

A proposed advocate for Missouri agriculture will be working on behalf of people who raise kittens and puppies….as well as those who raise corn, beans, pigs and cows. Agricultural commodity groups have gotten the Senate to pass a bill creating an advocate for them, to be housed in the state agriculture department. The advocate would work with a 12-member advisory board of representatives of agricultural production groups to protect them from over-regulation and unnecessary laws. One of the 12 people would be a representative of pet breeders. Some Senators don’t think those people should be considered part of agriculture. Not sponsor Harold Caskey of Butler, though. He and other defenders say some farmers turn to raising dogs and cats to supplement low incomes. The bill has been sent to the house…with puppies and kittens included.