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Shoemyer files PAC opposing Right to Farm Law

Congressman Jason Smith
Congressman Jason Smith

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo – Last month, former state Senator Wes Shoemyer created a Political Action Committee opposing HJR 11, known as the Right to Farm Act. If approved by voters, Right to Farm would “ensure a farmer and ranchers right to engage in modern farming and ranching practices,” according to the bill’s language.

The legislation, which if approved would amend the state constitution, is aimed at protecting agricultural producers from restrictions on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and would make it harder for lawmakers to regulate farming and ranching practices in the future.

Shoemyer’s PAC is called “Missouri Food for America.” Right now, Shoemyer is attempting to build a coalition of people who are involved in sustainable agriculture to support his PAC.

GMOs are an issue Shoemyer is concerned with, particularly the contamination of a farmer’s non-GMO soil, with GMO’s of another farmer close by.

“If a farmer decides to grow non-GMO’s… and a neighboring farmer does, there’s no repercussion,” Shoemyer told The Missouri Times.

Republican Congressman Jason Smith, who sponsored a form of the legislation last year before being elected to congress, sent The Missouri Times a statement in response to Shoemyer’s challenge.

“Farm families built Missouri,” Smith said. “From our state’s earliest days to now, agriculture has been the backbone of our economy. We raise and grow everything in Missouri from cattle, hogs and chicken to corn, rice and cotton. Adding the Right to Farm Amendment to our constitution will ensure Missouri’s farm families are not held hostage by environmentalists and animal rights activists who do not understand our rural way of life. I was proud to sponsor Right to Farm in the Missouri General Assembly and I will be working to ensure voters understand the importance of the amendment in November.”

The Missouri Farm Bureau is also supportive of the Right to Farm amendment, but did not have enough information to comment on Shoemyer’s PAC.

“When things get so egregious they bring guys like me out of the woodwork” said Shoemyer.  A press conference will be held at the Capitol on Jan. 21 for the PAC.