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Right to farm amendment goes to the people (AUDIO)

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Missourians will have a chance to decide if farmers should have a constitutional right to do what they’re doing.    The legislature has sent them the so-called “Right to Farm” amendment.   

Representative Bill Reiboldt (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

Representative Bill Reiboldt has carried a right to farm proposal for three years in the House. (photo courtesy; Tim Bommel, Missouri House Communications)

The movement to create the amendment was triggered by the “Puppy Mill” petition campaign putting limits on pet breeders.  Voters approved the puppy breeding law but the legislature immediately changed it, saying it needed to be more practical.   Regulation of pet breeders is handled by the state agriculture department.                                             

The original proposals would have prohibited petition efforts such as Proposition B creating agricultural laws, but that idea has been removed.  St. Louis Senator Scott Sifton thinks that’s the most important change made in the three years of work on the bill.

“What’s most important to me is…that the power of the people to check the legislature on that subject matter and any other agriculture subject matter is not something I do not  want to see taken away from them,” he says.

The proposal also retains the right of local governments to pass ordinances on zoning, health, and environmental issues., The original proposal would have eliminated that local government authority.

Early versions of the proposal also dealt with the abilities of local governments to pass ordinances and laws restricting farming. The legislature finally agreed on a compromise that says the amendment would not interfere with rights afforded local governments elsewhere in the Constitution.

Desloge Representative Linda Black says what is going to voters deals more directly with the right to farm.

“We had kind of gotten bogged down in the House on petition issues, trying to put protective language in that resolution … I think that the compromise that was struck leaves out any language for petitions but it does kind of soften the ability for local municipalities and counties to implement ordinances that enforce any kind of laws that have to do with livestock or agriculture.”

Black says the proposal will also extend protection to urban farming.

The Missouri Farm Bureau is one of the groups that has pushed for a right to farm amendment. President Blake Hurst says his group was comfortable with the language dealing with local control issues being removed, but they still want the state’s initiative petition process to be addressed.

AUDIO: Senate Debate 31:04

New book honors Missouri’s century farms

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A new book has been unveiled that celebrates the history of some of Missouri’s oldest farms.

Click the image to go to the Acclaim Press website for the book.

The University of Missouri’s Extension and its College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and the Missouri Farm Bureau have put together “Missouri’s Century Farms: Preserving our Agricultural Heritage,” in a continuing effort to honor farms that have been in the same family for more than 100 years.

The book profiles nearly 1,000 of the more than 8,000 that have earned that distinction. Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst says it is a remarkable feat.

“You know, fifty percent of all businesses go out of business within five years on inception.”

Governor Nixon is a contributor to the publication. “This book is a tribute to the century farms that have come before us and made our state what it is today.”

The 400 page book can be ordered from Acclaim Press.

McCaskill and Akin discuss the issues for Missouri Farm Bureau (AUDIO)

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Missouri’s candidates for U.S. Senate have shared a stage for the first time, only days removed from a primary election that pitted them against one another. The candidates fielded questions from more than 200 farmers with Missouri Farm Bureau’s Political Action Committee.

Congressman Todd Akin and Senator Claire McCaskill speak to Missouri Farm Bureau.

Big on the minds of farmers is the passage of the Farm Bill. The incumbent, Senator Claire McCaskill says she has been a strong proponent. “I think it’s an incredibly important thing to get done so you all have some certainty. We will get disaster relief done and it will be retroactive for the cattle. I know that will happen. I was bitterly disappointed that my opponent and some of his colleagues blocked a decision on the farm bill before we left to come home and work for the month of August.”

Congressman Todd Akin says he is comfortable with most of the farm programs in that bill, but he has an issue with what he says is an 80 percent increase in entitlement programs. “I’ve gotten to the point where I’m not so sure that the farm portion of it is reasonable enough that you might be able to just pass that by itself.”

McCaskill says the farm programs and entitlement programs are tied together so that urban legislators who aren’t concerned with farm issues will vote for the whole package.

Both candidates were also asked to discuss the estate tax, that farmers often refer to as the “death tax.”

Akin says he doesn’t believe in the tax. “I just think it’s a bad idea, and to have that death tax … go up to the degree that it is, up to 55 percent, I think that’s crazy and I’ve never voted for that and I support keeping the death tax as low as we can get it. As far as I’m concerned, what’s the right level? Well zero would be just about right for me.”

McCaskill says she cosponsored legislation that would extend the current estate tax rate of 35 percent, with an exemption for those making up to 5 million dollars. As to whether she would vote to eliminate it altogether, she says, “I would possibly vote for that if we could figure out a way to do a whole balanced approach on deficit reduction. If we could do something that would make sense, that we would be cutting spending, figuring out a way to make entitlements responsible and also look at the tax code in a way that doesn’t pick quite as many winners and losers. In the meantime, I basically told my leadership that I wouldn’t vote for anything that took it below five (million dollars).”

Akin beat out former state treasurer Sarah Steelman and St. Louis businessman John Brunner for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Tuesday’s Primary. McCaskill ran unopposed on the Democrat side.

AUDIO:  Senator Claire McCaskill’s comments and Q & A with Missouri Farm Bureau members, 32:32

AUDIO:  Congressman Todd Akin’s comments and Q & A with Missouri Farm Bureau members, 33:51

Farm Bureau asks fairgoers to sign against cap and trade

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Federal legislation meant to ease the pressure of energy on the environment is meeting real resistance in Missouri, because of our reliance on coal.

Missouri Farm Bureau President Charlie Kruse says the bureau has taken its opposition to cap and trade to the State Fair.

"We’re doing everything we can to say this is a bad idea and one that this country doesn’t need," Kruse says.

The bureau is asking fairgoers to sign a petition against cap and trade which has passed the House and awaits Senate action in Washington, D. C. Kruse says Missouri will lose out, because it relies on coal, which the legislation seeks to phase out.

"The United States is the Saudi Arabia when it comes to coal," says Kruse.

Kruse says work to develop clean coal is on-going. He says more should be done to make the burning of coal less harmful to the environment. He says that will make the United States less dependent on energy from countries that oppose the U.S.

How much the legislation will cost is a matter of dispute, but a study by the Energy Department estimates a typical household will pay $83 more a year if the legislation passes, $142 by 2020 and $583 by 2030. The report stated the bill would add 20 cents to a gallon of gas by 2020 and 35 cents to a gallon by 2030.

Kruse expect it to hit farmers hard, despite assurances otherwise.

"When you look at all the things farmers have to buy that are so energy intensive, I just don’t believe that what little positive might come out of this for farmers will offset the increased cost," Kruse says.

The Energy Department report cautions that costs could be much higher if large-scale technologies aren’t developed to keep electricity prices in check.

Download/listen Brent Martin reports (1:30 MP3)

A word in an act makes a big difference to Farm Bureau

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It’s one word, one word in federal legislation approved in 1972, but an important word according to the head of the Missouri Farm Bureau.

The word is "navigable", a word that Missouri Farm Bureau President Charlie Kruse says is vital to the Clean Water Act .

"The word navigable appears in the Clean Water Act 80 times," Kruse tells the Missourinet, "and it has been there since 1972."

Kruse wants it to stay there.

"Just imagine the frightening aspect of the federal government coming on your property, if you have a private pond, and regulating in so many ways what you can and can’t do with that pond," says Kruse.

Kruse says the word "navigable" in the Clean Water Act limits the reach of the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency. He fears that eliminating the word would give jurisdiction to all waters, including private lakes and farm ponds. Kruse warns that an expansion of the federal government’s regulatory power could delay construction of any new lakes or ponds and greatly increase their cost.

Washington might be listening. Kruse, who owns a farm in Dexter, has testified before the United States House Small Business Committee, asking that the word "navigable" be kept in SB 787, known as the Clean Water Restoration Act.

Kruse says he feels good about the reception he received as he spoke not only for the Missouri Farm Bureau, but as a member of the American Farm Bureau board of directors. He likely spoke to some friendly ears. The House Small Business Committee’s ranking member is northwest Missouri Congressman Sam Graves , a Republican from Tarkio. Two other Missouri Congressmen sit on the committee, Republicans Todd Akin from the St. Louis area and northeast Missouri Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer .

Missouri, according to Kruse, likely has as many farm ponds as any state, nearly 315,000. He says all could be affected if the proposed change is made. Kruse points to experience with obtaining permits to farm in wetlands to back up his warning. He says it takes two-to-four years to get such a permit with the cost ranging from $29,000 to $270,000.

Download/listen Brent Martin reports (:60 MP3)

Missourians paying close to national average for groceries

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The price is going down on some of what Missourians are putting on the dinner table each night … other items are going up. Jessica Machetta has the story.

The American Farm Bureau monitors the grocery aisles every quarter in its Marketbasket Survey, and the Missouri Farm Bureau reports that our state is even with the national average.

Diane Olson says this is the 20th year the bureau has asked shoppers to buy 16 items and track spending … but she says this year some of the products were switched out to reflect consumer demand.

New this quarter, sliced deli ham replaces pork chops; shredded cheddar cheese replaces a block of cheese; whole fryers became chicken breast while mayonnaise and corn oil were dropped. Two new items round out the list — orange juice and bagged salad.

The survey found that prices dropped just more than $2 over the previous quarter’s total. Olson says dairy products showed a significant change.

Surprisingly, she says, shredded cheese is now cheaper than a block of cheese. Prices have also gone down for potatoes, ground chuck, sliced ham, chicken breasts and salad mix. But consumers are paying slightly more than before for sirloin tip roast, bacon, apples, cereal, flour, bread and orange juice.

Olson says the economic decline is causing some packaging changes and consumers should pay attention to what they’re buying.

The national price average for these 16 items is $47.41 … Missouri’s total is just one penny less than that, $47.40.

Jessica Machetta reports [Download/listen MP3]

Missouri Farm Bureau raises awareness of "cheeseburger tax" idea

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A federal effort to fight greenhouse gas emissions could have a big impact on Missouri farmers. The Environmental Protection Agency is discussing the idea of imposing what is jokingly referred to as a "cheeseburger tax" or "cow tax" on certain farm animals as a means of curbing greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.

Kelly Smith, Director of Marketing and Commodities with the Missouri Farm Bureau, says an EPA proposal of this kind could cost farmers in the range of about $175 per dairy cow to about $20 per hog.

Smith says the idea originated with climate change advocates who claim farm animal flatulence is helping to destroy the planet. He points out the EPA does have some regulatory authority to impose rules without congressional approval, and he fears extreme environmentalists – many of whom favor this idea – would have a friend in the incoming Obama Administration. He cautions that while the EPA insists it has no intention of doing this, nobody can be sure because the idea came from within the EPA to start with.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)

Impact of financial crisis on agriculture could lead to higher grocery prices

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The poor economy is already hurting a lot of Missourians and it could soon hurt the state’s agriculture community.

Kelly Smith, Director of Marketing and Commodities with the Missouri Farm Bureau, says the big problem might come in the spring when farmers who need credit for crops start to visit their banks. Smith adds producers could see a few problems as we head into the harvest season, as the sale of corn and soybeans to grain elevatiors will require credit.

As for those who say they are not affected by financial problems that might affect famers, Smith points out that if the farmer suffers economically – the consumer will feel the pinch through higher priced groceries.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)

Farm Bureau survey shows food prices higher in third quarter

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Food prices are on the way up. The Missouri Farm Bureau has released the results from the third quarter Market-Basket Survey, an informal survey of 16 food items from grocery stores around the state.

The Farm Bureau says food prices were not only higher in the third quarter than in the second quarter, but they were the highest in the nearly 20-year history of the Farm Bureau Survey.

The 16 grocery items in Missouri amounted to $48.34 statewide, compared to the national average of $48.68. The 34 cent difference is small compared to what usually amounts to a much larger difference.

Russet potatoes and cheddar cheese contributed significantly to the higher prices. Other items to go up in price were ground chuck, bacon, whole fryers, toasted oat cereal and a 20-ounce loaf of bread. Missourians paid less for a number of items including apples, pork chops, vegetable oil, corn oil, flour, milk, and eggs.

Senator Bond calls for keeping up pressure on Congress to cut gas prices

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Senator Bond at Missouri Farm Bureau It’s costing less to fill up the gas tank, but there are concerns this is only a break and that we’ll see higher pump prices again soon.

Senator Kit Bond (R-MO) and the Missouri Farm Bureau are calling for what they label a comprehensive energy strategy to help ease the burden on farmers and families. Bond says that strategy must include alternatives such as ethanol and biodiesel, but cannot ignore the need to drill for more oil domestically. Bond says the higher prices will return if we don’t take steps to make sure there are adequate energy supplies.

Bond says the financial crisis is responsible, at least in part, for gas and oil prices going down because we are using less gasoline. But he says the decline is only temporary, with the prices going up again once the economy gets back on its feet. Bond wants pressure brought to bear on Congress to allow the U.S. to explore for its own oil offshore and elsewhere.

Download/Listen: Senator Bond at Missouri Farm Bureau – introduced by Charlie Kruse (31:00 MP3)