“Missouri Farm Bureau spends a considerable amount of time and effort working with our members to determine policy issues on the state and national levels,” said Blake Hurst, Missouri Farm Bureau President. “When Farm Bureau testifies in Jefferson City or Washington, D.C., legislators are well aware the issues we speak about have been discussed and debated by our members, their constituents.”
The Missouri House of Representatives Agriculture Policy Committee took testimony this week on major issues facing agriculture. Missouri Farm Bureau state lobbyist Leslie Holloway stated, “While Missouri Farm Bureau is working on many issues this year, there are three agricultural priorities our organization has at the beginning of the session: greater protection for farmers from nuisance suits; landowner and motorist concerns with elk reintroduction in Missouri; and modifications to Proposition B.
“Missouri farmers are experiencing increased exposure to nuisance suits from neighbors, activists and law firms targeting agriculture, even if the farming operation is reputable and following all state and federal laws and regulations,” Holloway said. “For farmers to defend themselves, the legal costs can be staggering. Legislation is being considered this session to change Missouri’s nuisance law to limit damages and make other improvements.”
Late last year, the Missouri Conservation Commission voted to reintroduce elk in three counties in Missouri. “Missouri Farm Bureau opposed the Commission’s decision,” Holloway said, “and supports legislation to make the Conservation Department financially responsible for: the value of crops and pasture damaged or destroyed by elk; the indemnification of losses suffered by livestock producers as a result of disease spread from elk; the value of fencing and other private property damaged by elk; and the personal injury and damage incurred in a collision with elk or livestock released due to elk.”
Missouri Farm Bureau at its annual meeting in December reaffirmed the policy condemning the mistreatment of animals and supporting reasonable, proven standards regulating the care of animals. Farm Bureau believes Proposition B goes too far in its requirements for dog breeders, duplicates regulations already on the books and will put good dog breeders out of business. Farm Bureau will work to make needed changes to the law.
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