Greetings, My Fellow Missourians

Senate Bill 391 is now in effect. The court order that was blocking the new law has been lifted. The bill that was passed in the legislature, and signed into law by Governor Parson, prohibits county commissions and county health departments from passing regulations stricter than any state regulations for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO’s). SB 391 requires that county health ordinances controlling the siting of livestock farms be no stricter than state laws governing the same.

State Statute 192.300 allows county commissions and county health boards to make rules, regulations and ordinances in and above what the state does. It also allows them to charge reasonable fees above what the state does. That statue was always meant for the health of people in regulations for septic tanks or lagoons. It was also meant to regulate food handling facilities such as restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals and to handle human health. State Statute 192.300 was never meant for a county commission or health board to regulate animal livestock operations. SB 391 simply says that the statute cannot be used to regulate animal operations. It doesn’t take away any local control and now State Statute 192.300 will do what it was intended to do and that is protect the health of people. The legislature corrected an unfairness in the way farming was regulated across the state by passing SB 391 and the governor agreed by signing the bill.

The bill was supposed to go into effect on August 28th, but Cole County Judge Dan Green set a temporary restraining order in place in light of a September hearing scheduled over a lawsuit filed by the Cedar County Commission, Cooper County Public Health Center, an environmental group, and two private citizens. The plaintiffs are suing Missouri Farm Bureau, the Missouri Cattleman’s Association, the Missouri Pork Association, the Governor, the non-paid heads of two citizen’s commissions, and the state of Missouri. The hearing on the lawsuit is now scheduled for December.

I think there is a modern misconception of how meat, milk and eggs is produced. Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO’s) are very heavy regulated by the state through the Department of Natural Resources. Now days most pork and poultry are raised in totally environmentally controlled buildings and the manure is completely contained and used for fertilizer which is a very valuable resource.

Since the 1970’s people have become more health conscience of their diets, they desire leaner types of meat. It is not possible to raise the modern type of meat hog in outdoor conditions because they do not have enough external back-fat to maintain their condition or be productive especially in colder climates. That is why modern-type meat hogs are raised in environmentally controlled buildings. I think producers need to do better job of educating the people on modern day livestock production methods. Some consumers believe that it was better in the old days when everything was raised outdoors and there weren’t lagoons or manure control. The reality is there’s not enough demand for flaky pie crust to use up all the lard that the old lard-type hogs produce.

Old Lard Hog vs Modern Meat Hog

If DNR’s rules and regulations need changing, then we need to change them at the state level. County commissions and county health boards don’t have the trained personnel to inspect and regulate these type of operations. Agriculture is an $88 billion industry and we have the potential in Missouri for adding value. We have a lot of wide open spaces which would allow us to retain ownership of our stocker/feeder cattle to be fed to slaughter without having to send them to western feed yards. If people don’t want to smell any manure then they better move back to the city because we’re going to raise meat, milk and eggs in the state of Missouri.

To see the TV on Ozark FOX visit: https://www.ozarksfirst.com/local-news/ozarks-tonight-warren-love-on-cafos/ ?fbclid=IwAR1kBdF1jdVawpq0WPTAhIC7v2W_vPykjGiLUIfqIMNtEhqkiSi0m3aiOzc.

Interim hours: Now that Session is over for 2019, I will be back in the District full time. If you need any assistance my Legislative Assistant Amy Helton will continue to be in my Capitol office Tuesday-Thursday and will be happy to help you.