Letter to the Editor: Measure 3 and the right of modern agriculture

Measure 3 states, "The right of farmers and ranchers to engage in modern farming and ranching practices shall be forever guaranteed in this state. No law shall be enacted which abridges the right of farmers and ranchers to employ agricultural technology, modern livestock production and ranching practices."

It means that farmers and ranchers should continue to have the right to utilize technology and practices that help them to keep improving the quality of food we eat while keeping the prices down on food they grow for all of us. This amendment helps give some protection from groups, mainly from outside of North Dakota, from trying to ban the use of commonly accepted, tested, and government regulated technologies and practices.

Why should we care? Agriculture is so important to North Dakota. Limiting sound agricultural practices will raise prices and take away some of the many choices we have in the grocery store. We have the choices we do because of the ability of our farmers and ranchers: small, medium, large, organic, and conventional to choose the practices that work best, and gives the ability to respond to the needs and wants of all of us that buy and eat food.

Please vote 'yes' on Measure #3.

Mark Belter

Farmer and Cass County Farm Bureau President