PROPOSED MISSOURI AGRICULTURE ADVOCATES OFFICE WOULD OFFER SMALL FARMERS SOME PROTECTION

It isn't often that something comes along that can offer small farmers protection against the intrusion of government regulations and big-industry agriculture. That is why a plan to create a Missouri Agriculture Advocates Office within the state Department of Agriculture has merit.

The Senate overwhelmingly passed a measure that would create the office. The House has the opportunity to do the same.

Eighty-eight percent of the farms in Missouri are considered small farms by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and that seems a healthy percentage considering the decline in the number of small farms nationwide. Those who run small farms say it would help promote issues to protecting and extending the state's agriculture economy, which so many rely so heavily upon.

Lawmakers have the opportunity to really do something to help protect the farmers of Missouri by setting up a Missouri Agriculture Advocates Office. It would help give farmers a common voice before it becomes too late to save the small farmers of this state.