The North Dakota Feeding Families Committee says it has gathered the required signatures to get a right- to-farm constitutional amendment on North Dakota's November general election ballot.
The group recently submitted its petition to the Secretary of State to verify the signatures.
The proposed constitutional amendment reads: "The right of farmers and ranchers to engage in modern farming and ranching practices shall be forever guaranteed in this state. No law shall be enacted which abridges the right of farmers and ranchers to employ agricultural technology, modern livestock production and ranching practices.
Right To Farm Amendment May Be On Ballot In N.D.
Doyle Johannes, spokesperson for North Dakota Feeding Families Committee and president of the North Dakota Farm Bureau, says the committee undertook the task of collecting more than 31,000 signatures because groups like the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) were putting food choices at risk using misinformation campaigns to destroy customer confidence in the safety of our food.
"When HSUS can pressure retail food chains into making animal housing changes based on emotion rather than science-based farm practices, we all lose. What makes our food system work so well in this country is the diversity of our agriculture. Big farms, small farms, organic farms, traditional farms; they all help keep our grocery shelves full of choices for our customers. Why would we want to change that? Food is not a one-size-fits-all kind of thing. We have as many food choices and needs as we have people. By making sure we can continue modern farming practices, we will be continuing to provide customers for the varied food choices they want" he says.
Source: ND Farm Bureau