1/17/05

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1. Monsanto "Polluting American Farms"
2. Complaint Alleges Organic Rules Abuse
3. Farm Bureau Ad Campaign - "Delay and Deceit"
4. Bush Budget Axe Sharpened For Ag

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1. MONSANTO "POLLUTING AMERICAN FARMS"

The Center for Food Safety has just released a new report alleging the Monsanto Corporation has been manipulating U.S. patent law in an attempt to dominate the genetically engineered (GE) seed supply. The report, entitled "Monsanto vs. U.S. Farmers," shows how the multi-national corporation is using patent law to successfully sue farmers even in situations where farmers' fields were contaminated by genetically modified pollen or seeds. "Monsanto is polluting American farms with its genetically engineered crops, not properly informing farmers about these altered seeds, and then profiting from its own irresponsibility and negligence by suing innocent farmers," said Andrew Kimbrell, Executive Director of The Center. To date, Monsanto has filed 90 lawsuits involving 147 farmers in 25 states, and has collected over $15 million from judgments in their favor. In related news, anti GE movements are sprouting nation wide. Last week, for example, advocates for a ten year moratorium on GE-crops in Sonoma County, California turned in 45,000 petitions to qualify the initiative for a ballot measure. 

To view The Centers' report, see: www.centerforfoodsafety.org/Monsantovsusfarmersreport.cfm

To learn more about anti-GE grassroots efforts see: www.gefreesonoma.org

2. COMPLAINT ALLEDGES "ORGANIC RULES" ABUSE

The Cornucopia Institute of Wisconsin this week filed a formal complaint with the USDA's National Organic Program (NOP) asking them to initiate an investigation into alleged violations of the federal organic law by Colorado's Aurora Organic Dairy. At issue is the meaning of the NOP's rule requiring that organic dairy 
cows have "access to pasture." 

The Aurora dairy has 5,300 cows, which live outside but get virtually all of their feed from organic grains. The Dairy defends this interpretation arguing that there "simply isn't enough rain in the area" and that the practice is necessary to meet the burgeoning demand for organic milk. 

However, Mark Kastel of the Cornucopia Institute says, "It is our contention that you cannot milk 3000–6000 cows and offer them true access to pasture as required by the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, the law that governs all domestic organic farming and food processing." The USDA has responded by issuing "an internal memorandum requesting that the National Organic Standards Board develop a strict policy on the pasture requirement so that the agency can issue a guidance document, enhancing enforcement."

3. FARM BUREAU AD CAMPAIGN - "DELAY AND DECEIT"

According to an article in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the Attorney General of Oklahoma last week cancelled talks with the poultry industry over how to achieve clean water standards in the state's rivers. The move followed the airing, during the Orange Bowl, of a Farm Bureau-sponsored ad which stated that the 
measures sought by the state would "put farmers out of business and drive 12,000 jobs out of Oklahoma."

Attorney General Edmonson had been seeking a consent decree that would specify measures to be taken by Tyson's, Cargill and four other companies to reduce phosphorous pollution from poultry litter. Calling the 
television ad campaign "delay and deceit," Edmonson said, "My position is the industry must bear the costs of removal, disposal and storage of the excess chicken litter that cannot be safely land applied. The industry and the Farm Bureau believe those costs fall to the farmer. Farm Bureau is carrying dirty water for the industry. It's clear that Farm Bureau represents the big companies first, the farmers second and the environment somewhere after last." 


4. BUSH BUDGET AXE SHARPENED FOR AGRICULTURE

According to William Hoagland, the top budget aide for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, the Bush administration plans to freeze spending agriculture programs in FY06. The information, reported last week in the Bloomberg News, does not come as a surprise as a record federal deficit and tax breaks combine place a host of government programs on the chopping block. This week, White House aide Andrew Card told the E & E Daily that Bush is planning for"fiscal discipline in 2006. Card indicated that budget cuts on government agencies in the non-defense discretionary spending arena would be targeted. This includes the U.S. EPA, Army Corps of Engineers and Interior, Agriculture and Transportation departments. The budget process kicks off formally Feb. 7, when Bush is required under the U.S. Constitution to submit his recommendations for the next fiscal year.

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Scotty Johnson and Aimee Delach
National Rural Community Outreach Campaign
sjohnson@defenders.org