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Monsanto Threatening Organic Alfalfa-Tell the USDA STOP IT NOW

  

by: AmericanRiverCanyon

Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 18:59:33 PST


(noon. - promoted by ek hornbeck)

Why America's Cows Need Your Voice at the USDA by Feb 16 To Stop GMO Alfalfa !

High quality, high protein Alfalfa is one of the primary food sources for dairy cows, especially in winter, with cows eating about 50 lbs or more of dry feed per day, or about 3% of their body weight of around 1500 lbs.  In return for munching all that feed, and drinking lots of water, (25 to 50 gallons)  a dairy cow can produce anywhere from 5 to 8 gallons of milk per day, depending where she is in her lactation cycle, about 56 lbs a day, or over 2,300 gallons a year or 19,825 lbs per year. (A cow's production is typically measured in hundredweights, or units of a hundred lbs of milk, about 12.5 gallons.)

Organic dairy farming has seen tremendous growth in the last decade, with the number of organic dairy farms increasing by 79% from 2002 to 2007.  Ag land used for organic production on those dairy farms increased by 83% over the same time. Organic milk and cheese is becoming more and more popular, especially for people and children with allergies and auto immune conditions who can't tolerate regular milk.  The 3 states with the highest number of dairy farms are Wisconsin, New York, and Vermont.  The price of milk production per hundredweight for those three states for organic dairies was about $29, $32, and $34 dollars cwt for the year 2009.  Prices, alas, for organic milk haven't been keeping up, neither has it been for conventional milk in the past year, and dairy farms are losing money. http://www.cattlenetwork.com/D...

Now, Monsanto threatens to put the nail in the coffin, by deliberately contaminating their feed supply with GMO Alfalfa, destroying the ability of organic dairy farmers to provide non GMO food for their herds.
http://www.cornucopia.org/2010...

Late last year, the USDA released a court-ordered Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on Monsanto's new genetically engineered Round-up Ready Alfalfa. A federal lawsuit, led by the Center for Food Safety and joined by The Cornucopia Institute and other plaintiffs, was won in 2007 compelling the USDA to conduct their first-ever environmental impact statement on a genetically engineered (GE) crop, alfalfa.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the USDA's assessment approves of releasing a new genetically modified crop into the environment, despite the known risks this version of alfalfa poses to organic livestock agriculture.

Public comments are being accepted until February 16. Please let the USDA hear your voice. A broad coalition, composed of both organic and conventional farmers, is opposing Monsanto's RR Alfalfa and the USDA particularly needs to hear from those involved with organic agriculture.  


http://www.dairyfarmingtoday.o...

What's different about organic farms?
A specific set of farming practices makes milk and other foods eligible for "certified organic" status. On organic dairies, cows must receive feed that was grown without the use of pesticides, commercial fertilizers or genetically-modified ingredients. They are not treated with supplemental hormones and are not given certain medications to treat illness. If they are given medication, then they must permanently leave the milking herd. They also must have access to the pasture.
Many of the same practices are utilized by conventional dairy farmers, as all farmers make the welfare of their animals and environmental stewardship top priorities.

But if Monsanto has its way, all Alfalfa grown in the United States, and eventually the world, WILL BE Genetically Modified to resist herbicides, being "Roundup Ready."   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R...   Why should you care ?  Because Alfalfa is a huge crop,  ranked 4th in production, and it is pollinated by bees.  Did anyone ask the bees if they wished to eat this ?  And this would force every alfalfa planting in the nation to eventually be cross contaminated against the will of of the consumer, the organic farmers, and anyone else who doesn't want to be forced to consume genetically modified products nor force animals to eat massive quantities of them.  
AmericanRiverCanyon :: Monsanto Threatening Organic Alfalfa-Tell the USDA STOP IT NOW
People in other countries, such as Japan,  have had the freedom to Just Say NO to genetically modified foods for themselves-  should not the American Dairy Farmer, not to mention the horse farmers/keepers, have the same right to protect their animals and their health and livelihood from Genetically Modified Forced Feeding ?

Here are some of the bad things about GMO Alfalfa, from the above link at cornucopia.org.  Remember, once you turn those genes loose into the general environment, you can't undo the genie and get them back out.  And these GMO seeds are patented by Monsanto, so if they catch you growing what they think they have the proprietary rights to, they can sue you for stealing their genes, even if the pollen just blew in with some honeybees. It has happened already with other crops.

• first perennial GMO crop. Open pollinated by bees. contamination could spread for miles.

• wild GMO alfalfa spreading and contaminating regular plants.  yes, I've seen lots of wild legumes here in CA.

• USDA tells people who don't want this, just plant YOUR stuff at a different time, it's your responsibility to avoid cross contamination.  You have got to be out of your cotton pickin' minds.

•  ninety percent of all alfalfa seed comes from a few geographic areas in the US, in the Pacific NW and Canada, yet these zones are not protected from GMO.

• risk to $25 Billion dollar industry.  and USDA claims production shift to larger farms isn't "significant."  there will be loss of export markets as foreign countries say NO to our yucky new GMO FrankenFalfa.

IS EVERYONE IN WASHINGTON, DC, A CROOK THESE DAYS?

•  In a few years, there is so much contamination, Monsanto pushes out other seed producers, uses lawyers to impoverish farmers, and now has a monopoly.  This pattern has been demonstrated again and again with Monsanto and other crops, here and in other countries.

How Does this bad science (monodiversity) and government creating a product NOBODY WANTS, NOT help ruin American agriculture?  Should the Obama administration be known for kissing Organic Dairy Products buh- bye ?  Hey, Mrs. Michele, weren't you just on the news yesterday with that concern for the kids and the healthy eating habits and exercise routine to prevent childhood obesity?   Would you care to tell the Moms of America, No More Organic Milk for You and Yours ?  


SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO THE USDA BY FEBRUARY 16.    Why should an American cow have to eat 50 lbs of this GMO crap a day ?  

Comments can be filed online at: http://www.regulations.gov/sea...

Written and mailed comments (please send two copies) should be sent to:

Docket No. APHIS-2007-0044,
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8
4700 River Road Unit 118
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.

Please state at the top of your written or electronic comments that they refer to Docket No. APHIS-2007-0044.

If you would like more information, you can review the draft EIS here: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/biot...

Remember when Democrats used to be the "good guys" that tried standing up for the small business owners and the little people? What happened ?  How would you like your cat drinking GMO enhanced milk ?
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Monsanto Threatening Organic Alfalfa-Tell the USDA STOP IT NOW | 37 comments
This is Very Important- Just Say NO (4.00 / 25)
... to the Monsanto Borg.  Spread the word.

May as well go for the triple.  Bring it on.  

Huh, I thought we were in a Democratic Admin (4.00 / 17)
why all the corporate whoring?

Did Obama say anything about the GMO/intellectual property of seed issue on the campaign?

Can we please give farm subsidize only to family farms and not to international food cartels?

Chaotic Neutral, Drinker of Milkshakes

Pinche Tejano

I'm waiting for some unique unforseen event to come up (4.00 / 14)
... that hasn't happened nor been anticipated, and Obama goes into his 6 weeks of contemplation on how to get Republican bipartisanship on ordering the lifeboats, and the apologists, in the meantime, keep saying, "but he never campaigned on a meteorite hitting DC."
[ Parent ]
Or two major snow storms (4.00 / 11)
hitting DC back to back.

"By the pricking of my thumb, something wicked this way comes.", Wm. Shakespeare, "Macbeth"
[ Parent ]
And since it's snow and cold and all - (4.00 / 8)
it has nothing to do with global warming, right?  

"Disappointment and bourbon are hard on the heart."  (Amanda McBroom, Errol Flynn)
[ Parent ]
It's the new Gilded Age, my friend (4.00 / 2)
[ Parent ]
brilliant post (4.00 / 15)
may i encourage you to post this at la vida locavore?

come firefly-dreaming with me..&..do no harm
thank you (4.00 / 4)
for the additional link. I am researching an article now on local food production and distribution in New York. Cheers!
[ Parent ]
there's (4.00 / 1)
a list of links at my wee blog, down on the right side... look just under the earth & moon for "self sustainability & resources"
many are for where to find local fresh food that you can plug in a zip code & get results specific to that area.

come firefly-dreaming with me..&..do no harm
[ Parent ]
Monsanto's new spokesman: (4.00 / 13)

Tag line: "There is only one Alfalfa."

-
Great essay.

thank you for the laugh, Night Owl. (4.00 / 9)
They are few and far between.

"Disappointment and bourbon are hard on the heart."  (Amanda McBroom, Errol Flynn)
[ Parent ]
The Illuminati Plan to Destroy America (4.00 / 8)
Agro Division

Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what your country can do to you.
the longer this administration (4.00 / 4)
is in office the more sense you make Lasthorseman. All divisions seem to lead to destruction, and all our politics end up down the memory hole and are regurgitated back at us in newspeak. We all need a copy of 'the book'the one that says 'The object of power is power.'

   

[ Parent ]
I didn't like the site - not very user friendly - (4.00 / 7)
but I did make a comment.  I don't know whether it registered, because it disappeared without any feedback ??
I often think I'm not intelligent enough, or I haven't studied a matter enough to make a worthwhile comment - but then I turn on Morning Joe or something - if they get paid, hey I'm good to go.

An important issue.  I'll call Lipinski's office as well.  They haven't heard from me for awhile.    

"Disappointment and bourbon are hard on the heart."  (Amanda McBroom, Errol Flynn)

A word about roundup ready. (4.00 / 8)
I'm no expert on alfalfa (the plant).  But there was a field of it nearby (Columbia County, New York, where there used to be dairy cows, but that's another story) and I watched it for a few years.  It didn't have weeds in it.  The alfalfa was very dense and very tall.  So I have some serious questions about why a roundup ready alfalfa is "needed" in the first place since the plant seems quite able on its own to dominate weeds.

I think this is all about patents and market domination and doesn't have anything to do with much else, except Monsanto killing us.

Visit The Dream Antilles, a Lit Blog.

OHH, I wish I'd read this before I (4.00 / 9)
commented.  

patenting seeds is an issue almost too huge to contemplate when people are trying to figure out how to pay the heating bill.  

As a vegetarian and animal rights person - these diaries and comments hit home.  There is a movie out now about a woman who has been instrumental in changing the way food animals are slaughtered to make it more humane and yet easier.  If an animal is slaughtered while in extreme fear - I believe those hormones - that terror and fear - affects the food. And that is in addition to the hormones they are fed thru feed.  If a baby chick is given enough hormones to affect its growth - growing to a full adult in a short time -- what the heck is in that hormone feed and how does it affect us?  As to the cruely inflicted upon animals in this world - I can't face it full on.  Who can?        

"Disappointment and bourbon are hard on the heart."  (Amanda McBroom, Errol Flynn)

[ Parent ]
My Mama always told me... (4.00 / 4)
"You are what you eat." Of course, as recently as 1982 the AMA was releasing policy statements asserting that "there is no evidence that diet is related to health." Go figure...

I'm green chili pepper and tomato on one side, pinto bean and potato on the other.

Some are born to weirdness, some attain weirdness and others have weirdness thrust upon them...
- OPOL

[ Parent ]
Don't even get me going on the "diet related to health" topic ; ) (4.00 / 6)
...  as we have an increased incidence of celiac/gluten intolerance- auto immune diseases occurring in this country and worldwide-  and researchers are discovering more and more genetic links between the probabilities of developing the the various auto immune diseases-  thyroid, celiac, gluten intolerance, diabetes, autism ..... I only wish I was making this up.

Well, our overall environment must be changing enough that we are changing, too.  How do we counteract these changes so we stay healthier ?

yet I can still think of a few places in the blogosphere where some people get their jollies insisting that there is no relationship between human diet and human health, nor animal diet and animal health, and that everyone/everything should be able to eat the same thing, because otherwise it's just...  anecdotal.  

[ Parent ]
Oh, I hear you (4.00 / 5)
loud and clear! I might even be more radical about it than you... once I get started it's hard to turn off! Once did an investigative report on the link between TSE and BGH that raised all kinds of serious ruckus. That was back in the height of the Mad Cow epidemic, officials were swearing on stacks of Bibles that you couldn't get it from milk or meat that didn't include CNS tissue, but FDA strangely kept right on filing its data on BGH (and HGH, which was the original alarm signal that shit was happening when patients getting it from cadaver pituitaries came down with CJD) in the same file as its data on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies...

There is an extremely good reason the U.S. is the ONLY nation on the planet where Monsanto's Prosilac (rBGH) is approved, and it's not about mastitis in dairy cows...

Some are born to weirdness, some attain weirdness and others have weirdness thrust upon them...
- OPOL

[ Parent ]
& monsanto (4.00 / 9)
keeping farmers in debt to them & practicing chemical gardening.

if we changed our farming practices in just a few years yields will increase, soil will return to its natural healthy state (not going towards another dust bowl) & costs of farming will go down.

increased labor costs is often raised as the reason we "need" to keep farming the way we do. but, in this economy...?
i know a LOT of people who would gladly work on a farm just to have work
it is the huge agri-business we must stop.
mono-culture is no healthier in a field than it is in a forest.  

come firefly-dreaming with me..&..do no harm

[ Parent ]
Well, chemical farming (4.00 / 3)
is about the only way to grow anything but deep-taproot weeds on dead land, you know. They keep it dead with chemical fertilizer (a separate branch of Monsanto, Inc.) containing more than 90% bulk of "inert ingredients" that include coal fly ash, radioactive waste and other industrial wastes with high content of heavy metals. It's considered "recycling" by the USDA and the Monsanto bureaucrats who run it via the good old revolving door. Gotta do something with all that toxic waste, might as well plow it into the breadbasket...

Some are born to weirdness, some attain weirdness and others have weirdness thrust upon them...
- OPOL
[ Parent ]
shit (4.00 / 2)
really?
but gha! i wouldn't doubt it one bit
the effin bastids would do anydamnthing for a profit
up to & including kill the planet
fehhhhhhh!

come firefly-dreaming with me..&..do no harm
[ Parent ]
Unfortunately, yes. It's real. (4.00 / 3)
Check out the PIRG report:

Waste Lands

Some are born to weirdness, some attain weirdness and others have weirdness thrust upon them...
- OPOL

[ Parent ]
thanks (4.00 / 3)
i guess.
:(

i was sooooo hoping you were just exagerrating.
fehhhhk!

come firefly-dreaming with me..&..do no harm

[ Parent ]
Exactly. Please see these links on growing Alfalfa SEED in China for profit (4.00 / 3)
... they are extremely educational.  

There is growing alfalfa for forage hay for animal consumption. Once established, a stand, as you have seen, is very resistant to invasion by other plants.

But alfalfa is also grown for its seeds, so the seed can be sold to seed distributors and then to other farmers.  This is a huge cash crop, and it requires that the young alfalfa undergo weed control at certain times in its life, so the resulting seed can be keep free of weed seeds. If there is going to be international sources of Alfalfa (or other seeds) then all the importing countries are more susceptible to infestations of various weed, insect, and fungal pests.  Making Alfalfa resistant to herbicides would allow it to be sprayed with them to kill weeds more easily.  Growing seeds cheaper in another country, then importing the cheaply grown seed here for markup and a monopoly on the market = BIGGER PROFITS.  Would Monsanto be interested in doing this ?  

Don't let the title scare you, this is very readable !


Alfalfa Seed Manual
Production of Alfalfa Seed in Xinjiang, project TCP/CPR/0065, by the United Nations and the People's Republic of China, edited by Dennis Cash, Montana State Univ at Bozeman

http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/agpc...

Alfalfa is the major forage crop produced in temperate regions of the world. In China, alfalfa has great potential for expansion, however domestic forage seed production is very limited. Over 90 percent of the alfalfa seed used in China must be imported, resulting in the use of un-adapted varieties, variable prices, and quality concerns. Presently, the demand for high quality seed of alfalfa and other forages is soaring in China to improve livestock production and for massive revegetation and construction projects. The Western Development Campaign will have a major impact on forage seed demands, and there are a number of seed production projects underway to increase the supply of domestic forage seeds.

Presently, alfalfa seed is an important commercial crop in six western US states, with an annual value of over $US 80,000,000 in farmer receipts.

The alfalfa seed industry has grown dramatically in the last 50 years. Alfalfa seed production increased, and there were other significant changes since the 1970's. University and federal research programmes developed disease and insect resistant varieties, improved production methods in irrigation and soil fertility, better pest management, and pollinators. Today, new US alfalfa varieties are developed almost exclusively (over 99 percent ) by private companies. Most of these companies are "vertically integrated" - they have in-house programmes for variety development, seed-stock (Breeder and Foundation seed) production, seed contracts with farmers, conditioning plants to clean and package seed, and employees or dealers for retail sales.

Alfalfa Seed Production in Xinjiang
There is tremendous potential for seed production of alfalfa and other forage crops in Xinjiang

For late summer plantings, several applications of irrigation will be necessary, but likely no other care until the following spring. Normally, these plants will begin growth ahead of weeds, which is an advantage.

After establishment, weed control will be a major priority

If frequent rains prevent cultivation, control weeds early with selective herbicides. Otherwise, cultivation can effectively control 80 percent of the weeds.

.... prior to first bloom...... At this time areas in the field known to be infested with dodder, and other difficult weeds should be spot-treated. In the USA, dodder patches (including the alfalfa and a perimeter of alfalfa) are treated with non-selective herbicide. This is the final opportunity to prevent wider infestation and seed production by dodder.

In the USA and Canada, most alfalfa seed growers provide additional pollinating bees to promote good pollination and seed yields. In fact, alfalfa seed is not a viable crop in most of the USA without additional pollinators.

After the first seed production year irrigation and fertility levels should be maintained for the duration of the stand. The importance of weed control remains critical in the alfalfa seed field for its life. Cultivation is the primary method of weed control. At this stage, several additional herbicide choices are available. Soil-active herbicides can be applied to dormant alfalfa, or alfalfa just starting to grow in spring, to control most germinating seeds. Of the soil active products, one (US trade name is Prowl) has excellent activity to control dodder. Glyphosate can be safely sprayed over the crop in the spring when it has very little new growth, to control winter annual weeds. Insect populations should continually be monitored, as these cycle from year to year.

A well-managed alfalfa seed field can remain in viable production for up to ten years. However, in the USA, the decision to terminate a field is primarily dictated by the three-year seed company contracts or by a stand limitation for variety Certification. Aside from these situations, seed yield yields generally decline, and weed invasions force the grower to terminate the field.  

In a regular hay/forage alfalfa field, as the alfalfa plants become less thick over the years, the farmer seeds in perennial grass seed to grow with it, and the resulting mixture of grass hay and alfalfa, all in one handy bale, is HIGHLY desirable for feeding horses. (ask any feed store dealer what is the most popular hay ) Straight alfalfa is way too high protein, too rich, and may be too high in certain minerals, resulting in illness,  but grassy alfalfa, typically about 80% grass/20% alfalfa, is considered the gourmet mix for equines on the West coast, not to mention it can be fed to cattle as well.

Remember, a well established perennial plant stand requires much less use of tractors running up and down it, burning fossil fuels.....


page 2 of this link, I pulled out a few sentences to help summarize that page

Water Use and Irrigation of Alfalfa Grown for Seed, by Dennis Cash, Montana State University at Bozeman, Montana
http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/agpc...

For international seed trade, presence and quantity of prohibited weeds or crop species must be tested.

The development of forage seed trade at home and abroad increases the opportunities for spread of disease, insect and weed pests.

International marketing of forage seed is rapidly expanding, and there is a great need to have realistic, logical and uniform seed quality standards.
_______
Maintenance and Quality Control in a Developing Forage Seed Industry, by Chen Mingshun, Xinjiang G.G.Station, Urumqi, Xinjiang,China

Alfalfa and other forage crops are vital for improving animal husbandry in Xinjiang. There are several reasons to strengthen the production of forage seeds and to develop the infrastructure to maintain high-quality seed:
• Forage seeds are critical production goods for grass and forage land development, feed production, ecotype building and afforesting cities and the surrounding areas. The demand for forage seed is soaring with the implementation of the Western Development Campaign, the project for bringing sand blown by wind under control in Beijing, Tianjing and their surrounding areas, other ecological construction projects, and the structural adjustment of the planting industry in farming areas. At present the supply of forage seed in China is insufficient and has the general characteristic of poor quality. The seed market is in chaos and flooded with counterfeit seed (mislabelled or misrepresented), and this will definitely harm the common interests of our country, farmers, herdsmen, and construction projects.

• For many years, China had limited laws and regulations concerning forage seed quality standards and marketing. There are many problems in the forage seed industry, such as deficient seed supply, poor farming techniques and low quality. The efficient production and operation of a successful forage seed industry require some basic standards, regulations, quality inspection and control, and supervision. All of these greatly influence the industrialization of forage seed and the economic development based on forage seed.


[ Parent ]
My boardering neighbor (4.00 / 4)
freaked out about 7 years ago and rounded up a section of my totally organic yard that had weeds that were too close to his property line. Nothing grows there anymore not even weeds, we turned into a rock pathway. Round up is truly nasty stuff.  The makers of Agent Orange shouldn't control our food chain.  
[ Parent ]
That's it. (4.00 / 2)
I quit eating beef and other meats a long time ago. And no dairy 'products' either (I refer to them as 'cow pus')

And now... no more alfalfa for me.

just grow it on your window sill (4.00 / 2)
like the god old days. My mom in the 70's was horrified because my brother grew his protein on the window sill (sprouts including alfalfa) and refused to eat the quivering red meat she served up.  
[ Parent ]
My mother asked me when I visitied at xmas... (4.00 / 4)
"If you don't eat meat what kind of meat will you eat?"

"Will you eat turkey?"



[ Parent ]
When the real 'climate change' droughts (4.00 / 3)

kick in and the mono-culture corn/wheat/alfalfa/soy monshithole has been selling everyone turns out to be a giant swath of dust then we'll get some real reform. Until then even the dems are going to 'follow' the fucking 'expert' idiots into the fucking ground. fucking lemmings. i mean really FUCK DIVERSITY !

end of rant

support your local farmers, get on a gsa, support people like this
http://www.landinstitute.org/
go to the farmers market etc etc...


'The first panacea for a mismanaged nation is inflation of the currency; the second is war. Both bring a temporary prosperity; both bring a permanent ruin. But both are the refuge of political and economic opportunists.' Hemingway

I will but (4.00 / 2)
as this administration seem to be a Clinton redo, I think they will not cross Montsanto. Big Ag was to the Clinton administration as is the Banksters to this one. I'm really pissed off that every time I turn around I have to call the crooks who won't listen and beg them to stop poisoning torturing, killing, stealing, destroying and lying. To add insult to injury they expect me to pay my taxes and donate, support and vote for this bs.      
write (4.00 / 4)
and then join your local organic CSA. How many of us know the names of at least one local farmer? Its up to us to support the folks who are doing the right thing. We can get to know the folks who are growing our food, or better yet, start growing food ourselves.  

In many other countries, including India and the EU, people have lost the right to save their own seeds, thanks to the great folks at Monsanto, et al. It can happen here too. This may just be the start of that trend.

The only thing that can stop them is us. We can stop buying their crap (and yes, it is still possible, for now.)

doensn't the wind or pollination (4.00 / 2)
just carry these genetically engineered seeds to other fields and areas where it cross pollinates with the organic plants?  
[ Parent ]
for corn, yes (4.00 / 2)
and some of the other wind born pollinators. (mostly grains)
but many many things you grow yourself are not wind pollinated. & the corn must be within a certain distance (i forget how far) for it to cross pollinate with yours.
buy heirloom seed & save seed from crops you grew & liked- next year you already have seed!!

& the wind borne pollination is what/why the smaller farmers are fighting. it makes them dependent on monsanto- to buy seed from, & fertilizer & round up (all of which is hurting their soil!).... it puts farmers in the "owe my soul to the company" state...which is just exactly what monsanto wants.
& why we should be fighting back. by growing your own food when you can & canning/freezing/drying it.... or supporting your local farmers who practice earth friendly methods of farming.  

come firefly-dreaming with me..&..do no harm

[ Parent ]
for alfalfa, the bees carry the pollen to other plants (4.00 / 4)
... it depends on what type of plant. For plants that just launch their pollen into the wind and don't need an insect, the pollen just goes willy- nilly wherever the wind takes it, like for corn. This has resulted in the GMO contamination of most of the world's basic ancient heritage corn varieties.

This isn't even the most horrible thing Monsanto does, or is contemplating doing. (that was fooling India into growing GMO cotton that needed too much irrigation water, and pesticides/herbicides, and the cotton crops failed, and hundreds of poor Indian farmers suffered.)  To me, the "terminator seeds" are the worst for potential damage-  breeding a plant which, when it makes its own seeds, (and then Monsanto would end up selling them)  only the first generation works, and the subsequent plant seeds won't sprout, so the seed can't be saved.  

Monsanto already, by patent, forces farmers to purchase new seed each year instead of saving it.

from wikipedia link
Because Monsanto specializes in production of genetically-modified seeds for crops such as corn, soybeans, and cotton the company has financial interest in protecting their intellectual property. This is advantageous to the company, since consumers must continue to buy new seed each season or risk lawsuit for violating Monsanto's patent.[46] Such patents are supported by the U.S. government under free-trade considerations[citation needed], though Monsanto's large market share over the seed buying market leaves a choice between Monsanto or its top competitor, DuPont.[47] This genetic engineering has brought more problems than just cornering the market.[48]

The technology exists, it was patented by "Delta & Pine Land Company" which produces cotton seeds, but it hasn't been used commercially.... yet.  Monsanto so far is saying they won't (because people have been very upset about this) but in 2007  Monsanto purchased Delta & Pine Land Co.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D...

There is now a type of Genetically Modified Eucalyptus Tree that some southern pulp wood growers would wish to plant in the southern United States, to replace pine trees.  They claim it wouldn't be able to seed itself around.  Eucalyptus is a native to Australia, and while it has its applications, (one either loves it or hates it as a landscaping tree, as it needs little irrigation water, but it's susceptible to catching fire, and in parts of CA, the stuff gets invasive. And it's very full of sap that most animals can't eat. I love it as a shade tree.  Not as a forest ! )  But the thought of GMO Eucalyptus taking off and growing berserk in the United States....  we have enough problems.  I don't know who the **** thinks up this stuff.  It's crazy.  This time it's not Monsanto but it's the same attitude- "don't worry, just trust us."
http://www.commondreams.org/ne...

[ Parent ]
GM-free, safe seed companies list (4.00 / 3)
thought you'd like this link!

http://www.councilforresponsib...

come firefly-dreaming with me..&..do no harm

[ Parent ]
Submitted (4.00 / 2)
Monsanto Threatening Organic Alfalfa-Tell the USDA STOP IT NOW | 37 comments
 

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