My friend and I were just recently talking and she expressed some concern from a conversation she and her father were having. Basically, he told her about Corporate Agribusinesses lobbying and attempting to criminalize farmers who choose to farm organically. Furthermore, the vagueness of the bill would also penalize those of us who do it in our home.
So, naturally, I googled, "Ban on Organic Farming" and the first site hit showed a YouTube Video confirming what she had heard. I don't know if this is a spoof (it is not very funny, might I add, if it is). It just seemed very believable because the sponsors are none other than Monsanto (surprise, surprise), Tyson (oh, imagine that), Cardell (?), and ADF.
The content of the video summary:
Monsanto, Tyson, Cardell (?), and ADF are attempting to get a bill passed in Congress (with only a TWO WEEK time frame to stop it) that criminalizes organic farming on any level. It would be a crime to grow it in your backyard and even consume it.
The Agriculture Department of each state would function as "The Food Police" and enforce the federal mandate on the ban against organic farming.
The bill would allow these agribusiness giants to federally order small business organic farmers what to feed their livestock, how to medically treat them, and FORCE them to spray toxic chemicals on their produce. If they refuse, they will be fined up to HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
They would effectively criminalize ALL ASPECTS of organic farming by citing them as federal crimes because they would be sources of seed contamination [to Monsanto]. (If you are unsure as to what I am talking about, please watch the "Future of Food" by Lily Films)
Furthermore, small farms would be industrialized, where the farmers would be FORCED to buy said medicines, chemicals, and dietary products.
The Bill is H.R.875 in its entirety
Here is a link to it:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h875ih.txt.pdf
Can someone please provide me with any other pertinent information to further research this? How do we spread the word and protect our right to safe food? It seems like we are all going to have go buy heirloom seeds and start guerilla farming!
Sincerely,
T. Noble