In Defense of Farming - Communications and Marketing Package

Texas is known for its agriculture. Texas leads the nation in the numbers of farms and ranches. The current legislation making its way to our governor has proposed to remove legislation that would protect Texans rights to farm.

What is the right to farm?

Right to farm legislation is most often in the best interest of the farmer. Supporting the right to farm is essential for all people with any agricultural knowledge or not and whether you support certain industries or not farming is an essential practice that needs to be protected.

The right to farm legislation is most often to protect farmers and ranchers from nuisance lawsuits and to give farmers and ranchers the independence and right to farm in the way that they choose. The right to farm legislation came out of nuisance lawsuits that were targeted towards farmers across the country as many people from the suburbs and cities move to rural areas and complained about essential practices necessary for agricultural production.

However, in recent years legislators, farmers and ranchers alike have fought for the right to farm to be expanded. Agricultural improvements and effect from government entities has also become part of the right to farm so that ranchers and farmers can keep their company’s autonomy.

In 2023 Texas reintroduced this issue onto the ballot not only does Texas already have a right to farm law but this was to expand it. A seemingly simple bipartisan political issue that should have been agreed on. However as recent misinformation in agriculture has been published the issue became sensationalized.

Farm progress has a great post that you can read here that talks about misinformation from people and the media and how it affects us especially relating to our food.

What is the opposition saying?

Any opponents of this issue say that it gives farmers and ranchers and corporations too much power. However, when we talk about corporate forms, we're not talking about a real corporation with a large CEO most times. Recognize that I say most and not all. But a real statistic is is that 98% of all American farms are family owned and many of those are listed as corporations for tax purposes.

Many opponents of the right to farm bill have argued that without oversight on farms they will lose a lack of local control and it will impact their communities negatively. Many also argue that the government should intervene when a farm is not behaving appropriately according to the citizens and how they view the practices of that agricultural operation.

Trust your producer or don’t be a consumer

This exact argument reminds me of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The rodeo told it's FFA and 4H contestants to drench at the wash racks because it was disturbing to the public. This, as a member at the time, was incredibly insulting. To know that I had to move my animal and because people in the aisles didn't want to ask me questions and now, they wouldn't even have a chance to. Drenching is one of the most common practices when showing livestock to make sure that your animal is hydrated with electrolytes and water that it needs. While it may not look pleasant it is incredibly necessary for their health and for the betterment of the animal.

The same way FFA students should be trusted to care for their livestock is the same way that we should trust our ranchers and farmers. Agriculture needs to be protected it is a vital industry that feeds clothes and takes care of the citizens of this country. Many farmers and ranchers have been doing this for generations with Agricultural practices not only passed through generations but that have also been proven to be humane through research. The right to farm protects our ranchers it protects our ranches therefore protects our food.