Oklahomans Vote Down 'Right To Farm' Amendment

Oklahoma voters have decided against the state question known as ‘Right to Farm.’

The measure's ballot wording says farming and ranching is a constitutional right and it would keep legislators from passing any laws limiting livestock production, agricultural technology and ranching practices.

Opponents say that means it would open the state to unchecked pollution from giant agri-business, but supporters say the proposed constitutional amendment provides greater protection from overzealous environmentalists, animal rights advocates and “foodies” who promote stricter regulation of agriculture.

"Today the people of Oklahoma rejected the notion that a singular industry should receive the same Constitutional protections as our fundamental rights," said Ryan Kiesel, Executive Director of the ACLU. "Elevating protection of agriculture business to the highest level of judicial scrutiny and rendering the industry nearly impossible to regulate would have far reaching and serious consequences."

Former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson said voters across the state have spoken and soundly defeated SQ 777.

"Oklahomans recognized this proposed constitutional amendment was rife with problems and nothing more than a corporate giveaway designed to benefit industrial agriculture and not family farmers," Edmondson said. “When we publicly launched our effort to defeat SQ 777 more than one year ago, the conventional wisdom was that our cause was hopeless and our campaign would fail. Everyone, including us, saw the powerful forces aligned behind SQ 777 and knew they would come at us armed with big corporate money and a well-established grassroots organization with a presence in all 77 counties.

“Our team worked tirelessly to educate and inform voters, and they heard our message. This has been a difficult campaign, but the future of Oklahoma’s land, air and water, and our freedom to self-govern, are worth the effort," Edmondson said.

After Tuesday's vote, the people of Oklahoma sent a clear signal that corporate profit margins should not enjoy the same protection as Oklahomans' right to speech, to freely practice their beliefs without government intrusion, or to be equally protected under the law regardless of race or gender, the ACLU said.