Guest Post: Support Measure 3 And The Right To Farm

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Written By:
Tom Christensen

Oct 11, 2012
9:56am

North Dakota Farmers Union opposes Measure 3, the North Dakota Farming and Ranching Amendment.

I am disappointed that an agriculture group would do this because the position is not in anyone’s interest — not farmers, ranchers or anyone who eats, for that matter.

Besides, the group’s reasons for its opposition grossly misrepresent what Measure 3 is designed to do.

If you look at the measure’s plain language, you’ll see that it lets farmers and ranchers keep operating the way they do today.

The Farmers Union position assumes that modern agriculture is contrary to good stewardship or a responsible balance between conservation and ag interests.

Modern isn’t bad. Thanks to technology and a variety of modern improvements, farmers and ranchers are doing more with less — less inputs, less soil erosion, less land use. But farmers are producing more food — 262 percent more — than they were in 1950.

Using the word “modern” most accurately reflects proven technology, sound science and best management practices. And “modern” will keep changing as new technology is introduced.

North Dakota Farmers Union also suggests that the measure would stop counties or townships from zoning. It wouldn’t. Zoning authority is granted to counties and townships by the Legislature.

But the measure would give farmers and ranchers the ability to stave off attacks from groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Humane Society of the United States, groups that would outlaw branding and raising pigs in housing units, say you can’t grow genetically modified seeds and pass other extreme laws.

North Dakota Farmers Union’s position is short-sighted. We don’t know what the future will bring, but we do know that a future without agriculture is not a good thing. We also know that the diversity of American agriculture is vital for making sure people have the food choices they’ve come to expect.

That’s why I encourage you to join the ag groups such as the North Dakota Stockman’s Association, Grain Growers, Pork Producers, Soybean Growers, Ag Coalition and more to join us in voting yes on Measure 3.

Tom Christensen is a farmer from Verona, ND