A farming coalition in Missouri has raised funds to help secure farmer’s rights in the state.

Missouri Farmers Care, a coalition of more than 40 agriculture organizations in the state, announced Thursday that they raised $197,119 in the final three months of 2013. These funds will be used to help pass Constitutional Amendment 1, the Missouri Farming Rights Amendment, in 2014.

Farmers, ranchers, and agriculture supporters from across the state helped raise $134,619 prior to in the final quarter of 2013. In total, 562 supporters contributed to Missouri Farmers Care during this time period. Finally, Missouri Farmers Care member organizations contributed another $62,500 at the end of the year with more member organizations pledging funds in 2014.

“We have really seen the agricultural community rally around the Missouri Farming Rights Amendment,” Missouri Farmers Care Chairman Don Nikodim says. “We have always been fortunate to receive the generous support of many farmers and ranchers but people really stepped up to meet the challenge of passing this important amendment. Their generosity has Missouri Farmers Care and the Missouri Farming Rights Amendment in a great position for 2014.”

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Constitutional Amendment 1 was referred to the voters by the Missouri General Assembly in 2013. HJR 7&11 was passed with large bipartisan majorities, 132 to 25 in the State House, and 28 to 6 in the State Senate.

“Missouri's agriculture community is committed to reaching out to voters to explain the need for the Farming Rights Amendment,” Nikodim says. “Agriculture is Missouri's top industry and the lifeblood of our rural communities and we look forward to making our case to all voters in the state.”

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