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7 Votes
22 Comments
Industry avoid the truth about GM segregation problems
News Type: Other — Seeded on Mon Nov 9, 2009 9:54 AM EST
Article Source: Network of Concerned Farmersadvertisement
As farmers are commencing delivery of their canola, the agricultural industry is avoiding answering genuine questions from non-GM farmers who claim need answering prior to delivery. According to the Network of Concerned Farmers (NCF), the grain industry is accepting GM contamination but refusing to outline the difficult conditions and consequences for non-GM farmers.
"This is a tragic and deplorable situation where no one will answer my questions." said Geoffrey Carracher, canola farmer from Minimay and NCF spokesperson.
"It is not going to be possible to sell as non-GM which shows how Governments and Grower Organisations have been bought by big businesses to profit by sabotaging Australian rural industries and clean green image."
Victorian farmers were recently advised of a 3 day delay after delivery of non-GM canola while the storage and handler Graincorp determined if GM canola was detected in the combined non-GM canola silo. David Ginns of Graincorp was contacted with questions including reported GM price penalties up to $15/tonne, inability to meet contract provisions, compensation, further liability for accidental contamination and legal recourse.
"I also asked, what fines and what level of contamination is required before Monsanto deducts their end point royalty payment from my grain payments?" added Mr Carracher. "This appears to be up to Monsanto's discretion which leaves farmers wondering if we are signing a blank cheque to Monsanto on delivery."
David Ginns from Graincorp responded with "If you have any questions relating to Roundup Ready canola, please address them to either Monsanto, the owner of the technology, or to the Australian Oilseeds Federation."
The NCF contacted Monsanto, Nufarm, the Australian Oilseeds Federation and more recently, Grain Trade Australia. The only response to date is from the Australian Oilseeds Federation who stated:
"The questions you ask are really a matter between yourself and your receival site and/or bulk handler."
"But Graincorp is our receival site and bulk handler but they refuse to answer the questions," explained Mr Carracher.
"So we are left with the problem of all delivering our canola, not knowing if we have contamination or if we can fill our signed non-GM contracts, if we will lose our market or be paid less. We may even be fined or charged user fees for the contamination we could not avoid."
"Everyone is passing the buck as nobody wants to tell us the truth that non-GM farmers are faced with additional costs and liabilities that we have been previously told will not be a problem."
"It's just not good enough."
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- Groups: Brave New World, Corporatism, Free Market, GMO Vine, Organic Life, Our Orwellian World, RightsVine
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- Public Discussion (22)
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{"commentId":10571748,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
Farmers worldwide are struggling to keep their crops from contamination and the losses that come with the genetic pollution that carries a high liability for the victim with fees due for the unwanted gmo plants.
Who do you think should be liable for the economic loss associated with GM crops?
1. The GM grower? Unfortunately governments have refused to adopt a strict liabilty legislation that would have made this option workable.
2. The non-GM grower? Unfortunately governments have refused growers fair risk management and non-GM growers are likely to carry the burden of losses associated with a GM crop we do not want and do not need. The GM industry has been permitted "industry self-management" allowing them to impose all responsibilities, costs and liabilities for contamination on to the non-GM grower.
3. The GM grower? Governments have recommended that non-GM growers take legal action against GM growers for any losses that would occur. While this is not a preferred option, it is not unreasonable to claim some of the non-GM farmer losses from GM farmers.
It is recommended that the following letter be sent to all GM growers to strengthen the legal case against them and to warn them of the implications of growing GM and not containing their product:
{"commentId":10571748,"threadId":"720077","contentId":"3478544","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
- 5 votes
#1 - Mon Nov 9, 2009 9:58 AM EST{"commentId":10572596,"authorDomain":"whosthisguy"}
It just makes me sick to think about farmers who are being charged for the GMO technology because the GM plants contaminate the non-GM plants. How could it possibly be seen as their responsibility to keep the wind-blown pollens and such out of their fields? It just seems ludicrous to me. Has that ever been challenged in court?
{"commentId":10572596,"threadId":"720077","contentId":"3478544","authorDomain":"whosthisguy"}
- 6 votes
{"commentId":10573307,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
WDH....Has that ever been challenged in court?
Because legal expenses are a huge burden for most small farms to shoulder, most cases are reported to be resolved quietly, with gag orders attached to the settlement. We do know of some very public, well publicly known to the worldwide community, but unpublicized in American media.
In their own words, Percy Schmeiser, a Canadian canola farmer and The Nelson Family of North Dakota .
WDH... It just seems ludicrous to me.
It's worse than that, it is criminal that a country built on freedom and justice can erase both and eliminate any public discussion, while the public blindly pays to swallow more.
{"commentId":10573307,"threadId":"720077","contentId":"3478544","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":10573766,"authorDomain":"kperodin"}
It just makes me sick to think about farmers who are being charged for the GMO technology because the GM plants contaminate the non-GM plants. How could it possibly be seen as their responsibility to keep the wind-blown pollens and such out of their fields? It just seems ludicrous to me. Has that ever been challenged in court?
Yes! Those farmers are being victimized twice! First their crops get contaminated, then they get penalized for it. This is absurd beyond words. Bribery must be at the heart of these issues!
{"commentId":10573766,"threadId":"720077","contentId":"3478544","authorDomain":"kperodin"}
- 6 votes
{"commentId":10574047,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
Karl... This is absurd beyond words.
Yes indeed, but it is one more element of the deregulation madness that began giving corporate interests unlimited freedom to pursue profit, unfettered by government regulation or oversight. It was pitched as Free Market Capitalism from the Reagan Era forward.
It's totally bipartisan. Watch the continuity of industry representation in the regulatory laws and appointments and the big hitters from Monsanto, Goldman Sachs, et al, always keep watch over themselves. Like Vegas the house rules always pay the house, but with a Congressional multiplier thanks to lobbying, it pays long shot odds without risk or downside! Heck of a scam, eh?
{"commentId":10574047,"threadId":"720077","contentId":"3478544","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":10578731,"authorDomain":"kperodin"}
It's totally bipartisan. Watch the continuity of industry representation in the regulatory laws and appointments and the big hitters from Monsanto, Goldman Sachs, et al, always keep watch over themselves.
This is the sinister truth. We have ended up with the best democracy money can buy. Head: Corporations win. Tail: We lose.
{"commentId":10578731,"threadId":"720077","contentId":"3478544","authorDomain":"kperodin"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":10593569,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
Karl....We have ended up with the best democracy money can buy. Head: Corporations win. Tail: We lose.
It's true and it is unthinkable that we tolerate it. The only way to fight that is for the consumer spending that drives the majority of America's economy to shift from supporting the lobbying operations to alternatives that are small, local and part of a free market. We still control our spending and these folks can hear our voices at the cash register. Spend thoughtfully!!
{"commentId":10593569,"threadId":"720077","contentId":"3478544","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":10598283,"authorDomain":"kperodin"}
The only way to fight that is for the consumer spending that drives the majority of America's economy to shift from supporting the lobbying operations to alternatives that are small, local and part of a free market.
Within the same frame of mind, I can add that globalization ensures that the lowest common denominator prevails. On one hand, it certainly increases corporate profits since they can buy a $2 watch from China for resale here. On the other hand, it thoroughly destroys the local industry: We have - and rightfully so - minimum wage here, thereby we cannot compete against quasi slave labor production.
Our values are askew and we are heading in the wrong direction. As you pointed out, we need to awaken consumers here, no small task, mind you. Our best chances may rest on their realizing that they are selling their future down the river by settling for short term gains (buying for dirt-cheap, items from abroad) .
{"commentId":10598283,"threadId":"720077","contentId":"3478544","authorDomain":"kperodin"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":10598481,"authorDomain":"whosthisguy"}
selling their future down the river by settling for short term gains
A similar attitude lead to financial meltdown.
{"commentId":10598481,"threadId":"720077","contentId":"3478544","authorDomain":"whosthisguy"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":10598536,"authorDomain":"whosthisguy"}
selling their future down the river by settling for short term gains
A similar attitude lead to financial meltdown.
EEK! I'm a double poster now! Sorry about that.
{"commentId":10598536,"threadId":"720077","contentId":"3478544","authorDomain":"whosthisguy"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":10618244,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
WDH...EEK! I'm a double poster now! Sorry about that.
No worries it bears repeating; plus no one sympathizes more with technical errors than me.
Karl... We have - and rightfully so - minimum wage here, thereby we cannot compete against quasi slave labor production.
We have lots of ways around it as well. Much of the immigration problem is rooted in the agribusiness employment from fields to slaughter houses, construction and cleaning where subcontracting offers a way to cut labor costs and feed downward pressure on wages.
Even in the good times the industrial giants have shifted to outsourcing, part time and free lance talent to reduce the total cost of employees in the quarterly quest to return more to The Street that counts above all else we value!
Karl...Our best chances may rest on their realizing that they are selling their future down the river by settling for short term gains (buying for dirt-cheap, items from abroad).
In a sad irony, the economic collapse will do more to curb consumption and foster individual and community efforts at sustainable solutions. When people are struggling to survive it becomes clear that help comes from those around you and by uniting you can all do better. A great explanation of the high cost of low prices is the WalMart movie.
{"commentId":10618244,"threadId":"720077","contentId":"3478544","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":10620800,"authorDomain":"kperodin"}
A great explanation of the high cost of low prices is the WalMart movie.
Thanks for the link. "The High Cost of Low Price" says it all. This slogan expresses our financial conundrum in very few words.
Wallmart has destroyed local business in many a small town. It is a prospering international institution whose interests are at odd with that of its clientele in every country where it operates. There is no notion of social imperatives or patriotic duties in international corporations.
We seem to have already crossed the point where corporate rights outweigh that of the People.
{"commentId":10620800,"threadId":"720077","contentId":"3478544","authorDomain":"kperodin"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":10631371,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
We seem to have already crossed the point where corporate rights outweigh that of the People.
The balance has swung too far for sure but things always go too far in one direction before they reverse, so we're overdue for a huge shift back toward individual rights.
{"commentId":10631371,"threadId":"720077","contentId":"3478544","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":10573505,"authorDomain":"rochart"}
The contamination occurs wherever gmo goes and grows in spite of the industry claims.
{"commentId":10573505,"threadId":"720077","contentId":"3478544","authorDomain":"rochart"}
- 6 votes
#2 - Mon Nov 9, 2009 11:30 AM EST{"commentId":10574091,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
The contamination occurs wherever gmo goes and grows in spite of the industry claims.
Blame Mother Nature who doesn't look for property titles before dropping pollen everywhere.
{"commentId":10574091,"threadId":"720077","contentId":"3478544","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":10585371,"authorDomain":"curiousg"}
I'll blame Monsanto for corrupting both our government and our food.
{"commentId":10585371,"threadId":"720077","contentId":"3478544","authorDomain":"curiousg"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":10593645,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
CuriousG...I'll blame Monsanto for corrupting both our government and our food.
Monsanto's given us modified Democracy and substantially equivalent freedoms, with a fee!
{"commentId":10593645,"threadId":"720077","contentId":"3478544","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":10599009,"authorDomain":"kperodin"}
{"commentId":10606142,"authorDomain":"curiousg"}
Monsanto's given us modified Democracy and substantially equivalent freedoms, with a fee!
Right! A fee we'll be paying for generations. And, we don't know the depth of the damage their GMO crops have done and will do until some tragedy comes out. Can you say DDT and Thalidomide?
On the surface, GMO sounds great,but without proper studies and testing, we are their laboratory...with no recourse should we ultimately discover we're screwed by their playing around with mixing animal and plant genes.
You are what you eat, know what you're eating.
{"commentId":10606142,"threadId":"720077","contentId":"3478544","authorDomain":"curiousg"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":10618303,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
George...And, we don't know the depth of the damage their GMO crops have done and will do until some tragedy comes out.
Even if we're seeing the effects right now in population wide epidemics of diabetes and obesity we won't begin to address the problem when the basic safety testing hasn't even begun! Don't look-don't find is the best method for keeping bad news from ruining a great pipeline of profits!
{"commentId":10618303,"threadId":"720077","contentId":"3478544","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":10629423,"authorDomain":"curiousg"}
Agreed. I believe we're getting closer to good direct scientific links between our food and the rise in the maladies you mention, but not quite there. So, it's easy for the industry and their PR minions to feign astonishment at the accusations of harmful food and production methods.
{"commentId":10629423,"threadId":"720077","contentId":"3478544","authorDomain":"curiousg"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":10631407,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
They follow the old tobacco model where the executives purposely don't learn the dangers so they can swear that they know of no harmful effects. What a bunch of dirtbags these folks are, eh?
{"commentId":10631407,"threadId":"720077","contentId":"3478544","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}
- 4 votes
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