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Maybe this is why more farmers end up losing the farm

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 5:39 pm
by AsaJay
Read this

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 6:02 pm
by Rocketdork
Yeah, I've seen this before.

Monsanto developed a strain of wheat that is resistant to roundup...a product they also sell.

The farmers can then plant the seed, and spray with roundup to kill the weeds. The wheat survives and they get a bumper crop.

Monsanto OWNS the strain of wheat, the developed it, I think patented it. They make you sign a contract that you won't replant with seed you've grown. Don't they deserve to make money on the things they have developed? Its not piracy if you signed a contract (actual sig, not a EULA), its breach of contract.

Of course, you don't have to buy THEIR wheat...

And on the other side of the coin...Monsanto has been accused of being a bit unfair. The wheat is a fertile variety (as opposed to sterile) and can cross pollinate with neighboring fields...there have been claims that this happened...don't know the results of the claim.

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 7:11 pm
by ZIPPER
The best part about Monsanto's geneticly made wheat is it is banned in Eruope and a lot of other parts of the world. You can't even use geneticly modified foods for animal feed in Eruope. Without labeling laws here in North America, WE are Monsanto's biggest consumers.

I heard a report that over 30% of the food that we consume is geneticly modified. If the government would stop stuffing their pockets and pass a true labeing law, we would see a dramatic reduction in sales and more exports of our excess crops. It is a win-win all around to see a decline in modified ag products.

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 7:24 pm
by ironpants
ZIPPER wrote:if the government would stop stuffing their pockets and pass a true labeing law, we would see a dramatic reduction in sales and more exports of our excess crops.
Except that the constitution forbids such activity by the federal government. It has a responsibility to provide for commerce, not quell it.

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 8:34 pm
by ZIPPER
A labeling law would let the consumer's decide which product they would want to buy.

Which would you chosse to feed to your children.

GM foods are getting farther and farther from their original strains. Without long term testing we have no idea what affect they could have on the population of the world (including livestock). GM corn that is not allowed by the FDA to be used in food for the consumer is being fed to livestock that finds its way in to the marketplace.

If you think that the government is out for your safety do research on bovine growth hormone and the U.S. milk supply.

"If you're talking about PCBs, Agent Orange, Bovine Growth Hormone, water privatization, biopiracy, untested/unlabeled genetically engineered organisms, or persecuting small family farmers, you're talking about the Monsanto Corporation."
http://www.organicconsumers.org/monlink.html

Alsohttp://www.mindfully.org/GE/RBGH-Alarmi ... sJul95.htm

Don't let Monsanto do this again to us!

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 8:41 pm
by bio
ZIPPER wrote:A labeling law would let the consumer's decide which product they would want to buy.
This is already in place by law on several products. Just go to the record store or buy a pack of cigarettes for an example.

Why not include food?

Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 8:48 pm
by ironpants
bio wrote:
ZIPPER wrote:A labeling law would let the consumer's decide which product they would want to buy.
This is already in place by law on several products. Just go to the record store or buy a pack of cigarettes for an example.

Why not include food?
I would argue that federly mandated labels on cigarettes are outside the mandate of the constitution as well. Not saying they shouldn't be there, just saying the federal government isn't the proper authority. Ever seen the federal government do anything right?

Me neither.