FYI ----- Original Message ----- From: Iowa Farmers Union<mailto:[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005 11:26 AM Subject: [rural advocacy] Letter to legislators on GMO seed bill Rural advocates, FYI, Leigh March 7, 2005 Dear Legislator, I am writing to urge you to oppose SB 259 and its counterpart HF 202, which seek to prohibit Iowa counties from regulating agricultural seed. Although neither bill uses the terms "GMO" or "GE" seeds, it is clear to us from researching these bills that they are being promoted by GMO seed corporations to guarantee their access to Iowa farm land. Our independent family farmer members do NOT want genetically modified seed contaminating their non-GMO acres, and they do not want to be targeted by agribusiness corporations in wrongful lawsuits. Additionally, it has been shown that some genetically altered foods can be unsafe for human consumption (e.g., Starlink, tryptophan contamination resulting in deaths). Clearly more research must be done on this subject, and that is why many markets worldwide have banned the sale of GMO food products. This legislation is being presented as necessary to address a "crisis". The Agribusiness Association frames it thus: "Current law does not prohibit local political entities from regulating the sale and planting of seeds. Legislation must be adopted as soon as possible before special interest groups disrupt accepted agricultural practices." We in Farmers Union can see no crisis other than the difficulty seed companies fear they'll face in penetrating the Iowa market. Their only concern is having the free and clear ability to push GMO seed to the grain producers of Iowa. It seems a couple of counties around the country have interfered with their sales efforts and that is a potential crisis for them. Are all Iowans convinced of the safety of GMO seed? I would think not. A local government might have an excellent reason to regulate the advertising and dissemination of misleading information about the safety of GMO seed, in order to protect local farmers who want to avoid GMO contaminationparticularly those organic farmers who currently make up the highest growth segment of Iowa's agricultural base. Biotech crops have already arrived in Iowa, and their influence was harmful. ProdiGene, a spin-off of Des Moines-based Pioneer Hi-Bred International, faces up to $500,000 in fines for allegedly failing to properly manage sites in Iowa and Nebraska where the company tested a type of gene-altered corn for a swine vaccine. It seems that there are enough questions unanswered to stop consideration of this legislation until it is proven that some crisis actually needs averting. A real crisis could very well be averted by allowing local government to work, as it might just keep some group of its local citizens from having their livelihoods destroyed by GMO contamination. At the very least, the legislature should allow Iowa's citizens to weigh in on this crucial topic, and not push it through without a public comment period. The Iowa code does not even contain a definition of "GMO" or "GE"; this would be an excellent time to begin that discussion. The biotech industry should not receive a free pass into Iowa without more responsible consideration from our lawmakers and citizens. Sincerely, Chris Petersen President Iowa Farmers Union PO Box 8988 528 Billy Sunday Rd Ames, IA 50014 800-775-5227 [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> www.iafu.org<http://www.iafu.org/> --^---------------------------------------------------------------- This email was sent to: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84KDk.bfhygz.bmVpbGFz<http://topica.com/u/?a84KDk.bfhygz.bmVpbGFz> Or send an email to: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> For Topica's complete suite of email marketing solutions visit: http://www.topica.com/?p=TEXFOOTER<http://www.topica.com/?p=TEXFOOTER> --^---------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp