300,000 Organic Farmers Sue Monsanto, Willie Nelson calls for"Occupy the Food System" action

[G_j]

http://www.readersupportednews.org/news-section2/312-16/9984-willie-nelson-and-300000-other-activists-sue-monsanto

300,000 Organic Farmers Sue Monsanto in Federal Court
By Jane Ayers, Nation of Change

15 February 12



Thanks to RSN for reprinting my article from Nation of Change... and thanks to the 13,000+ Likes so far... Just want to make one correction: The title that RSN used was not what I originally wrote so I wanted to point that out because Willie Nelson is not one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, he just called for the national Occupy the Food System. Read the article and find the group's name on the lawsuit, go to their website, and find the list of plaintiffs. Once again, thanks to RSN for reprinting this article, and also it was nice to see Willie's picture, as the editorial focused on his work for farmers too.

Take care, Jane Ayers

NOTE: Although it is clear that Mr. Nelson serves as an inspiration to Occupy the Food System groups, we have defaulted to the author's original title to avoid any confusion about his active participation in the lawsuit. - JPS/RSN

Little did Willie Nelson know when he recorded "Crazy" years ago just how crazy it would become for our cherished family farmers in America. Nelson, President of Farm Aid, has recently called for the national Occupy movement to declare an "Occupy the Food System" action.

Nelson states, "Corporate control of our food system has led to the loss of millions of family farmers, destruction of our soil…"

Hundreds of citizens, (even including NYC chefs in their white chef hats) joined Occupy the Food System groups, ie Food Democracy Now, gathered outside the Federal Courts in Manhattan on January 31st, to support organic family farmers in their landmark lawsuit against Big Agribusiness giant Monsanto. (Organic Seed Growers & Trade Association v. Monsanto) Oral arguments were heard that day concerning the lawsuit by 83 plaintiffs representing over 300,000 organic farmers, organic seed growers, and organic seed businesses.

The lawsuit addresses the bizarre and shocking issue of Monsanto harassing and threatening organic farmers with lawsuits of "patent infringement" if any organic farmer ends up with any trace amount of GM seeds on their organic farmland.

..more..

[russspeakeasy]

1. "family farmers" ? Bet you can't name 5.

[snpsmom]

2. I can

I live near more than 5.

[russspeakeasy]

6. I guess I should have asked for a definition of "family farm".

[G_j]

3. many in my area

http://www.farmtotableonline.org/2010/03/power-in-community-how-a-local-food-movement-changed-a-city/

[HopeHoops]

4. I can't name them, but I buy their produce at the farmer's market.

There's one in particular that always has the best produce and if they didn't grow it themselves they clearly label it as "local" (meaning REALLY local) or specifically where it came from. The latter is basically for the winter and when crops are just coming into season. Corn starts in FL and works its way north until it hits "local". The others aren't as good at labeling origin, but they do grow much if not all of what they sell. There's also a bakery and several meat vendors who are entirely self-supplied (including eggs). My wife works with a woman we get eggs from. She wanted to give them away because she has way too many but we pay her market rate.

To be fair, PA is mostly farm country and mostly small farms (certainly by today's standards). In some areas I'm sure it is impossible to find a local farmer. Not around here. Harrisburg IS the home to "The Farm Show".

[1monster]

34. I grew up in PA. Most of the lower end of the valley (and the next valley over) was family farms,

one family farm beginning where the last one ended. Sadly, that is no longer true. Most of those old family farms are now housing developments. The one I grew up on is a very expensive horse resort ranch.

[HopeHoops]

35. They pay a shitload for those farms to turn them into rows of boxes.

The land my house is on was a farm. Brown's Farm. It's all houses now.

Interestingly, there's a spot in Columbia, MD (the original Rouse cancer, well, in conjunction with Reston, VA) that is going to be worth a fortune in another fifty-some years. It's a vast tract of open farm land on Rt. 175 just east of Rt. 29. The will of the owner specifically restricted the sale and use of the property for 99 years (maximum allowed) to non-residential use only. They parked a city in the middle of farm fields, in both cases. Unfortunately, there is a "non-residential" complex there now: http://maps.yahoo.com/#q=Columbia%2C+MD&conf=1&start=1&lat=39.224989446576636&lon=-76.839280128479&zoom=16&mvt=h&trf=0

I grew up on Thunder Hill Rd. (to the right side) and there's open space there also. I don't know why it hasn't been abused but it's a good thing.

[Luminous Animal]

7. In San Francisco, our farmers' markets are well represented by family farms.

My CSA delivers food that is only grown locally on family farms.

[eShirl]

9. I can name more than 5 just among my own siblings & cousins.

There are many more family farmers in my area whom I don't know by first name.

[xmas74]

15. I can name more than five

I live in a rural area.

[dixiegrrrrl]

16. You lose.

[russspeakeasy]

18. What is your definition of a family farm ?

20, 100, 300, 1,000, 30,000 acres ? Leased land with contracts to farm ?
You may know the people that farm the land, (the hired help), but you are surrounded by corporate farms that negotiate with seed providers, fertilizer and herbicide and insecticide providers for thousands of acres at a time..

[dixiegrrrrl]

19. Well, let's see...I actually know the people who own their own farms.

My farm was 15 acres, I sold organic eggs, produce, raised rabbits, ducks, chickens,
and bought my milk from a neighbors farm, he had 50 acres, had goats and cows.

My best friend of 30 years is still on her farm, of 25 acres, she sells at the Market I used to sell at.

I get my organic beef from a local family who own 200 acres, mostly pasture, hay, and wood lots, the do mostly beef.
They have 2 of their sons living on the land with their family, so it is very generational.

I get my organic pork and chicken from another guy who owns 30 acres.
For the record, here in Ala. most of the land is owned by individuals, land that has been in the family for 3 or more generations, and Ala. is about 80% rural.

Where I live, I am surrounded by many farmers who own their own land, and plant peanuts, cotton, corn, hay, and soybeans, plus raise some animals.
And I was raised on my Grandmother's farm.

And no, where I live I am NOT "surrounded by corporate farms ".

[Tsiyu]

24. Thank you

There are many small, family-owned farms where I live as well, producing everything from goat cheese to greens to heirloom pork products. All the restaurants where I've worked bought from these farms to some degree or another.

We have several local (seasonal) farmer's markets and an online local farmer's market year round. You can buy herbs, eggs, juice, etc etc. I have sold produce at a couple of them.

I just bought seed potatoes today, and will raise another garden this year as well as raising hens for eggs. It's all organic here, too, though not "certified." The crap monsanto and dow are spewing affect my garden, too, as well as those of all my neighbors, who raise livestock and veggies and fruits.

Some people are really out of touch, if you ask me, yet they act as if they are really "in the know" and oh so sensible...it makes me wonder if they ever get out of their homes and/or chemical sales offices.

[russspeakeasy]

26. By your definition, if a person grows a carrot, they are farmers.

If you have an outhouse, you're in the fertilizer business.

[grahampuba]

29. advice

it would just be easier to own up to your reactionary miss-statement than to try and argue your way out.

and we can get all semantic on 'farmer' if you really want though, but we all make mistakes guy, we're here for you.

[eShirl]

32. Families who live where they farm and who farm for a living.

[Tsiyu]

36. I won't tell you what I think you are- by my definition n/t

[magical thyme]

27. I suspect Maine is the small organic family farm state capital of the US

Off the top of my head I can only think of Brae Maple Farm, where I did my Master Gardener volunteer work. They grow a wide variety of fruits and veggies, as well as herbs. There is Beau Chemin, where I've bought organic hay for my horses. They grow organic produce plus raise sheep.

Then there's Backyard Farms, from which I bought my tomatoes yesterday. My potatoes came from Green Thumb Farms in Fryeburg. In the past I've also bought potatoes from Mapleton Farms, another local grower. There's another local grower, forget the name, that provides my heavenly corolla potatoes. Oh, and my buckwheat comes from Bouchard Family Farm in St. John's Valley Maine.

That brings me to 6 named. I chose not to buy honey yesterday from a local grower...don't remember their name. Oh, how could I forget Spears -- I used to get my veggies from their farm stand before I started growing most of my own. Still get corn from them in season.

So I'm up to 7 named and 2 more I'd need to look up somewhere. I left my chair once to check my fridge for 2 names

[eShirl]

33. most I know are members of MOFGA

http://www.mofga.org/

[russspeakeasy]

39. Thanks, my point is, 3 % of the farms in the U.S provide 45 % of

ag production.
Corporate farming is a festering, price fixing, water polluting industry that will eventually starve more people than it feeds.
Congratulations on your good choices. I hope you continue to support them.

[MadHound]

38. I bet that the closest you get to farming is your corner grocery store

For the fact of the matter is that while there is a war on family farmers, has been since the mid seventies, there are still plenty of family farmers in this country. I'm one of them. And I know fifteen more within a four mile radius.

In fact, ninety one percent of the farms in this country are considered by the USDA to be small family farms, farms with a net income of $250,000 or less. That's hundreds of thousands of farms across the country.
http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/EIB12/EIB12c.pdf?

I suggest that you do your research before you speak on matters you have no clue about. It will prevent you from looking like a fool.

[raouldukelives]

5. k&r nt

[woo me with science]

8. K&R

[eShirl]

10. awesome

[paulk]

11. good.

now if only the Obama and rest of the Democratic Party would get behind this...

[G_j]

12. one would think at least Michelle would be hip to the crimes of Monsanto. nt

..

[lunasun]

21. Their sec of Ag is a big Monsanto schill -used to fly around on one of their planes in IA

* Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack's support of genetically engineered pharmaceutical crops, especially pharmaceutical corn:
http://www.gene.ch/genet/2002/Oct/msg00057.html

* Vilsack has a glowing reputation as being a schill for agribusiness biotech giants like Monsanto. Sustainable ag advocated across the country were spreading the word of Vilsack's history as he was attempting to appeal to voters in his presidential bid. An activist from the west coast even made this youtube animation about Vilsack

The airplane in this animation is a referral to the controversy that Vilsack often traveled in Monsanto's jet.

*Vilsack is an ardent support of corn and soy based biofuels, which use as much or more fossil energy to produce them as they generate, while driving up world food prices and literally starving the poor.
from organinc consumers.org

and yes I can name 5 farms some were getting infringed on by the housing boom since I am actually outside a large city. That has stopped andtheland looks like it will stay stable. All generational and longstanding family type places just far enough out to have land to plant /farm something people buy to eat.
Except for a couple co-op share farms which I do not know the hisitory of the land....good question on the leasing
there.

[proud2BlibKansan]

37. How much money has Monsanto given her husband's campaign?

[Zalatix]

13. Is this a class action lawsuit or are they going after Monsato individually?

[mia]

14. Organic farmers should sue Monsanto for GM contamination of their healthy fields.

"The lawsuit addresses the bizarre and shocking issue of Monsanto harassing and threatening organic farmers with lawsuits of "patent infringement" if any organic farmer ends up with any trace amount of GM seeds on their organic farmland."

[lunasun]

22. Yeah except this is wonderland now and everything is backwards

lots of doublespeak

[loyalsister]

17. Willie Nelson is awesome

He has shown amazing commitment and loyalty to farmers.

[ananda]

20. Wow!

Take down Monsanto!

[lunasun]

23. http://www.facebook.com/millionsagainst- Millions against Monsanto

http://www.organicconsumers.org/

[paulk]

25. the Obama administration's record on this is pathetic

http://www.tikkun.org/nextgen/obamas-deregulation-of-gmo-crops?print=yes

http://www.badseed.info/GMO-genetically-modified-crop-news/27153_monsanto-owns-obama-fda.html


makes me sick....

perhaps quite literally?

[magical thyme]

28. yeah!!!! I figured it would be just a matter of time before they'd fight fire with fire

Monsanto has some effing nerve, wrecking their organic crops with its genetically-modified pollinator-killing crap.

[chervilant]

31. Wow...

I wonder how many DUers remember that our honeybee population (our KEY pollinators) is being decimated...

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

30. K&R.

Since corporations have "person" status, how 'bout sending the Monsanto CEO and Board of Directors to Gitmo for their GM food supply terrorism -- no due process, no calling their lawyer, no visitation or contact with the outside world, just orange jumpsuits and a one way ticket to Guantanamo.

Here's an excellent 34 minute animated presentation on the absurdity of growth capitalism and the damage it has done: