Front page news in Vermont

[terrianne]

I got up this morning to read front page news "ORGANIC PANIC". This story covered nearly the entire front page of the Burlington Free Press. www.burlingtonfreepress.com.

Vermont Organic farmers are struggling to protect their corn from the "Roundup Ready" and other GMO's from Monsanto.

Politicians here in Vermont are trying to pass legislation that will hold the manufacturer responsible from contaminating Organic seed and not the farmer. This measure has passed the Senate but is opposed by the administration of Gov. Jim Douglas.

The Vermont Agricultural Secretary Steve Kerr is quoted as saying "The whole issue is a fraud, based on the big lie that genetically engineered plants are dangerous and that farmers are being sued." His agency has not heard of a single case of conflict between neighbors and he's been unable to learn of even a single case nationwide in which a farm lost its organic certification because of genetic drift.

Anyone out there have any info for Mr. Kerr and be willing to help educate the Douglas Administration of Vermont?

[elentari8]

If they aren't dangerous and farmers are not being sued then they shouldn't have objections to the law, since it wouldn't make any difference. I think he does protest too much...

[AndrewK]

I feel that there has not been enough testing done on these for them to be getting anywhere close to our food supply. Starlink proved to be what I would consider dangerous, and almost got out of hand. It would be very easy for the same to happen with anything else.

Farmers ARE being sued. I don't know if any have lost their organic certification or not, but contamination is happening. I find here: http://pubs.acs.org/hotartcl/est/99/dec/dec-news6.html one example of an organic corn chip company having to destory an $87,000 batch of corn chips because the corn they got from a certified organic farmer was contaminated with GMOs.

[PhilosopherStorm]

If a harm can be shown to come from contaminating the crops of another, then the responsibility lay exclusively with the farmer (or company) which plants the seed that contaminated that specific crop. Going after the producer is no different than going after cattle farmers because someone ate burgers all their life.. Or going after gun manufacturers because a firearm owner (or a criminal) fails to use the firearm in a legal manner.

From a practical side of it, if you go after the farmers, rather than the producer and hold them accountable, they will choose to forgo this risk and plant non-modified foods.

[Jodi]

another site you might want to check out. haven't been to it for a bit so hope it is still up. www.percyschmeiser.com usually has info on his situation and also what he is seeing. AFter being sued himself he has a mission to help protect the farmers and to let the people know.
Hope it is helpful!

[redneckplanter]

fascinating.....

[silverseeds]

I just wish tey had to label this science experiment food atleast.

[FAADAN]

Wouldn't it be great if Monsanto could be sued for contaminating someone else's crop?

[darwinslair]

Wouldn't it be great if Monsanto could be sued for contaminating someone else's crop?

I think you need the word "successfully" interjected in there somewhere.

I do not have an issue with general natural corn crosses. I have issue really only with genes that do not come from like plants. Kinda like taking an octopus gene and injecting it into a person to see if you can get someone who can change colors at will. Not really how we are supposed to work.

Tom

[winter_unfazed]

This is like the eleven-year saga of Schmeiser v. Monsanto.

[redneckplanter]

agreed.

[tughillcam]

maybe when the monetary world collapses and monsanto can't make a buck anymore- things will start to get better. In the meantime, I have heirloom sweet corn on hold until I can grow it without it getting tainted by frankencrops.