|
Behind
the scene with Richard Benson
|
|
The Bill is in front
of Congress as I write this.
The Bill that will criminalize Organic Farming
As I quoted on the previous column , "New bill before US government could be the end of organic and small farming
in USA -- and before long would effect NZ agriculture too…"
You can read the Bill in full at
http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.1&thid=1216020ddab62a44&mt=application%2Fpdf
But I
believe the following points may simplify the relevant important parts of this
lengthy bill
I suggest you pay special attention to...
* Section 3 which is the
definitions portion of the bill - You will need to read in it’s entirety.
|
|
|
| * Sections 103, 206
and 207- read in it’s entirety. |
|
|
What it Does:
| |
* Legally binds state
agriculture departments to enforcing federal guidelines effectively taking
away the states power to do anything other than being food police for the
federal dept.
* Effectively criminalizes organic farming but doesn’t actually use the word
organic.
* Effects anyone growing food even if they are not selling it but consuming
it.
* Effects anyone producing meat of any kind including wild game.
* Legislation is so broad based that every aspect of growing or producing
food can be made illegal.
|
|
There are no specifics which is bizarre
considering how long the legislation is.
| * Section 103 |
* Section 103 is almost entirely
about the administrative aspect of the legislation. It will allow the
appointing of officials from the factory farming corporations and lobbyists
and classify them as experts and allow them to determine and interpret the
legislation. Who do you think they are going to side with?
|
|
| * Section 206 |
* Section 206 defines what will
be considered a food production facility and what will be enforced up all
food production facilities. The wording is so broad based that a backyard
gardener could be fined and more.
|
|
| * Section 207 |
* Section 207 requires that the
state’s agriculture dept act as the food police and enforce the federal
requirements. This takes away the states power and is in violation of the
10th amendment. |
|
Richard Benson welcomes other people's views - please post to
To look at the previous column..
BEHIND
THE SCENE
| 
