Family Farmers and Rural Citizens Win Victory on Local Control! / by Tim Gibbons, Rhonda Perry, Terry Spence

January 19th, 2006

Last night at the state capitol, Senator Clemens announced that the chairmen of the House and Senate Ag Committees will not attempt to pass legislation on issues pertaining for Confined Animal Feeding Operations. This announcement is good news to family farmers and rural citizens and is a direct result of public outcry against attempts by the legislature to limit local control on this issue.

Because industrial livestock operations (which make up less than 1/2 of 1 percent of Missouri’s farming operations) are exempt from planning and zoning, health ordinances continue to be the only mechanism by which counties can protect the health and welfare of the majority of family farmers, rural landowners and citizens.

While this announcement addresses only the issue of CAFO’s, Missourians for Local Control maintains the position that any attempt to weaken local control on this issue or any issue is a threat to local democracy and would undermine the ability of counties to respond to the needs of their citizens.

Family farmers and rural citizens across the state will continue to fight for independent family farms, healthy communities, property right and local control.

Missourians for Local Control is a network of organizations and individuals who believe that decisions about our communities should be made at the most local level possible-the level at which the very people who are impacted can best participate. Contact: Terry Spence 660-947-3873; Missouri Rural Crisis Center 573-449-1336

Also see:

Missourians For Local Control
“Supporting Local Government -- Closer to the People”
by Tim Gibbons, Rhonda Perry, Terry Spence
Kirksville, Missouri

Our Position on Livestock, Rural Communities and the Economy
by the Missouri Rural Crisis Center
Columbia, Missouri
The Facts about CAFOs, Local Control, and Health Ordinances
by the Missouri Rural Crisis Center
Columbia, Missouri
“Superfund Laws and Animal Agriculture”
References to the Testimony of Robert S. Lawrence, MD
Before the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials
Wednesday, November 16, 2005, at 2:00 p.m.
in 2322 Rayburn House Office Building
Kirkville, Missouri
Interview with Rhonda Perry of the Missouri Rural Crisis Center
Grassroots Missouri Organizing
A Variety of Tactics, Consistent Strategies
Armstrong, Missouri
Hog Wars
The Corporate Grab for Control of the Hog Industry
and How Citizens Are Fighting Back
by Patty Cantrell, Rhonda Perry & Paul Sturtz
Columbia, Missouri

Published in In Motion Magazine, January 25, 2006