Right to farm and ranch set as Prop 1 on November ballot

(WACO, Texas)—The right to farm and ranch in Texas is set as Proposition 1 on the Nov. 7 General Election ballot.

The proposition is supported by Texas Farm Bureau (TFB).

“It’s great to have a proposition number for the right to farm and ranch constitutional amendment. There are 14 propositions on the ballot, so it is very helpful to remind voters which proposition is the right to farm and ranch constitutional amendment,” TFB President Russell Boening said. “The proposition number will be an important part of messaging going forward as we promote this monumental opportunity to protect the future of Texas family farms and ranches.”

On the ballot, Prop 1 will read:

“The constitutional amendment protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management."

The constitutional amendment is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect farming and ranching and the future of food security in the state.

“Prop 1 isn’t about protecting the past. It’s about ensuring Texans’ access to safe and affordable food in the future,” Boening said.

In Texas, about 97% of farms and ranches are owned and operated by families, and one in seven Texans has a job related to agriculture. That shows how vital farming and ranching are to a healthy Texas.

“The amendment protects all farmers and ranchers—large and small. Only responsible, normal day-to-day agricultural practices are protected, not practices employed by bad actors,” Boening said.

But the state loses over 240,000 acres of agricultural land each year to development, according to a recent study, making Prop 1 even more important. It ensures the land, natural resources, livestock, and wildlife are protected, too.

The proposition needs a majority vote to pass.