Claire McCaskill: A Senator on OUR Side

HELPING MISSOURI'S FAMILY FARMS

Missouri's family farmers and ranchers are struggling to earn a decent living and preserve healthy communities with clean air and water. CAFOs are overriding local control while unbalanced trade policies and increased market consolidation are harming our small towns and family farms. Claire is on the side of our family farmers and knows they are the best stewards of our land and the key to a prosperous and thriving rural economy. The big agriculture interests and factory farms have enough representation in Washington and USDA.

FIGHTING FOR LOCAL CONTROL OVER C.A.F.O.S

In the past 20 years, the number of hog farmers in Missouri has dropped from 23,000 to 2,200, but the total hog inventory for the United States has remained virtually the same because of the increase in CAFOs. Meanwhile, consumer prices have increased and the farmer's share of the consumer dollar has plummeted. The air and water pollution these factory farms create depresses the real estate values of nearby properties. Here in Missouri, over a dozen local counties have now enacted health ordinances to help deal with the problems caused by CAFOs. Claire believes we need to stop giving taxpayer subsidies to CAFOs and allow for local control and oversight of CAFOs.

CLAIRE'S PLAN

• Claire supports local control and oversight of CAFOs
  
• Claire will fight to end taxpayer subsidies to CAFOs

STOPPING THE MANDATORY ANIMAL ID PROGRAM

Claire believes the mandatory Animal ID program being pushed by the Bush Administration, Senator Talent and USDA is an intrusive and unwarranted program that represents an unfair burden on our small farmers and independent producers. Any health, safety or international trade benefits that would be gained by mandating NAIS is far outweighed by the financial and civil liberties burden the mandate would place on Missouri's family farms and small producers. Any Animal ID program should be initiated by the private sector and kept voluntary. However, a mandatory NAIS would only accelerate the current trend of livestock consolidation and imposes an unfair tax on small farmers. Claire has experience wrestling with stubborn bureaucrats and she will hold USDA accountable and insist on full disclosure and transparency regarding the 2009 mandate for this program. Claire is opposed to NAIS at both the federal and state level and believes no public money should go towards funding the program.

CLAIRE'S PLAN

• Claire wants to defund the federal Animal ID Program and stop premise ID registration at the local level
  
• Claire will hold USDA accountable and insist on full disclosure and transparency regarding the 2009 mandate for this program

FIGHTING FOR OPEN, FAIR AND COMPETITIVE MARKETS

Missouri's ranchers and farmers are not able to get a fair price for their livestock because of the unfair concentration in the market. We need to restore open and competitive markets to ensure our independent producers can compete on a level playing field with the big packers. Claire will fight for stricter enforcement of existing antitrust laws, reform captive supply contracts, including a ban on packer ownership of livestock and call for increased transparency and accountability in agriculture contracts. Claire also supports USDA finally instituting Country-of-Origin Labeling as called for under the 2002 Farm Bill.

CLAIRE'S PLAN

• Claire supports captive supply reform, including a packer ban
  
• Claire supports making agriculture contracts more transparent and fair
  
• Claire supports finally instituting Country-of-Origin Labeling

ADVOCATING FAIR TRADE POLICIES

CAFTA and other trade agreements have undermined American farmers' ability to compete with cheap imported foreign food. We need to use the WTO negotiations and future trade agreements to raise the labor and environmental standards of other nations to help level the playing field for American farmers. Right now there is concern that the 2007 Farm Bill will be influenced by the WTO negotiations. We need to be sure that the Farm Bill is written with American farmers in mind, not trade negotiators. Claire will work to make sure that WTO policies do not sacrifice the livelihoods of Missouri's farmers for the false promises of "free trade."

CLAIRE'S PLAN

• Claire believes in fair trade and will fight to ensure our farmers rights are not sacrificed to trade negotiators
  
• Claire believes trade agreements need to raise the labor and environmental standards of other nations so as not to unfairly discriminate against U.S. farmers

SUPPORTING A FARMER-FRIENDLY 2007 FARM BILL

The next farm bill in 2007 represents a pivotal opportunity for Missouri's farmers. We need a farm bill that will help family farmers and rural communities, instead of serving to subsidize cheap commodities and corporate agribusinesses. Claire will fight for a farm bill that promotes fair prices and open competition and rewards the family farmers who are the best stewards of our land. She supports strengthening agriculture co-ops, promoting more direct-to-marketing opportunities for farmers (such as farmers markets or school cafeteria programs) and expanding conservation programs.

CLAIRE'S PLAN

• Claire will fight for a farm bill that helps family farmers and ranchers
  
• Claire supports a farm bill that promotes fair prices and competition

PROMOTING ENERGY INDEPENDENCE TO HELP FARMERS AND RURAL MISSOURI

Farmers are getting pummeled by high energy costs while our reliance on foreign oil is endangering our national security. Farm fuel costs are expected to rise at least 10% this year, with prices 113% above 2002 levels. Fertilizer costs are up 70% from 2002. Rural residents also drive 17% more miles than urban residents. Claire will fight for true energy independence that can make us safer and lets farmers provide home-grown fuel. Energy independence can revitalize rural Missouri, but it will require an undertaking that goes beyond just simply producing ethanol. In addition to promoting biofuels, we need to employ biomass, as well as wind and solar technologies to make America, cleaner, safer and more prosperous.

CLAIRE'S PLAN

• Claire supports Missouri's farmers efforts to help make America energy independent through the use of biofuels and other renewable energy sources
  
• Claire supports promoting farmers cooperatives to make sure our farmers receive the benefits of ethanol