The fight to keep genetically engineered crops in their place

[nosmokes]

this would be a major step in the right direction and i hope the legislation passes in california. that still leaves a uphill battle in missouri(home of monsanto) and other states that have sold their soul to corporate agriculture which is all of em 'cept hawaii.
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original-mercury news

The fight to keep genetically engineered crops in their place

LEGISLATION ADDRESSES CONTAMINATION FEARS OF ORGANIC FARMERS

By Steve Johnson
Mercury News



Like many organic farmers, one of Jeff Fiorovich's biggest fears is that the apples, pumpkins and other crops he grows in Watsonville one day might be contaminated by genetically engineered varieties from a neighboring farm.

If that happens, "you can't be certified as organic," he said. "It destroys your business."

But if Fiorovich's Crystal Bay Farm was contaminated by wind, birds or people accidentally spreading the altered seeds or pollen, his ability to learn the source and seek legal damages would be severely limited. City, county and state authorities in California typically aren't told the specific locations of genetically manipulated plants.

Only the U.S. Agriculture Department's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service gathers such data, and it usually doesn't share it with state officials because farmers say that would compromise their confidential business information.

The federal agency also generally doesn't track where such crops are grown, only where farmers conduct initial tests of such crops in their fields. And even then, it often fails to determine the specific locations of such tests, according to a December 2005 report by the U.S. Inspector General.

Assemblyman Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, has introduced a bill, AB 541, that would require farmers to notify local county agricultural commissioners within 30 days of planting or testing genetically altered crops. It also would declare gene-manipulated plant contaminations

that cause more than $3,500 in losses to be a nuisance, making it easier for organic farmers and others to sue.
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complete article here

[Eric J in MN]

1. Why not require that they inform the agricultural commissioners BEFORE...

...planting genetically-modified crops, instead of up to 30 days after?

[Ian David]

2. Oh, good...

[no_hypocrisy]

3. And there's more. Your organic crop is contaminated by the pollen

and seeds of your neighbor's farm. They sue YOU for "using" their seeds.