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Farm or factory? (Friday, Dec. 13, 2002 -- CropChoice news) -- These are excerpts from some of the CropChoice news and commentaries this week.
1. Farm or factory?
The controversy surrounding Fremont Farms demonstrates the social and environmental impact caused by the unprecedented consolidation in livestock agriculture that has taken place over the past two decades. As profit margins wane, small-scale producers can no longer afford to maintain their family farms. In their place, dozens of large-scale confinement operations have sprung up across the Iowa landscape, contributing to its rank as the nation's top hog and egg producer and number 3 producer of beef... http://www.cropchoice.com/leadstry.asp?RecID=1179
2. Forgery issue important, says lawyer
During the trial, one seed dealer testified that he had forged the signatures of more than 140 farmers on the Technology User Agreements (TUAs) that accompany Monsanto's Roundup Ready seeds. Another dealer recalled signing 30 names, he says. Both witnesses testified that the practice is widespread... http://www.cropchoice.com/leadstry.asp?recid=1188
3. Seek out the details on EU labeling, traceability legislation
The tolerance is zero for those varieties that received no reviews, much less authorization, when the moratorium began. So, if Monsanto's new YieldGard Rootworm corn variety, for example, were to find its way into food or feed -- namely corn gluten feed-- it would be
turned back... http://www.cropchoice.com/leadstry.asp?recid=1194
4. Heffernan warning to farmers: transformation needed for food system, global economic organization.. http://www.cropchoice.com/leadstry.asp?recid=1189
5. Population in rural America declining, symptoms of economic despair spreading... http://www.cropchoice.com/leadstry.asp?recid=1190
6. Reading list for Right Living 101... http://www.cropchoice.com/leadstry.asp?recid=1198
7. Bill Moyers to cover wind energy TONIGHT on PBS... http://www.cropchoice.com/leadstry.asp?recid=1196
8. Seven members of Manitoba Canola Growers Association face charges... http://www.cropchoice.com/leadstry.asp?recid=1197
9.GM expert warns of cancer risk from crops... http://www.cropchoice.com/leadstry.asp?recid=1191
10. Living in an 'imperialist' nation which believes in responding to enemies with 'overwhelming force'
It is not that much of a stretch to see how this deification of technological solutions has also manifested itself in agriculture --- substituting capital for efficiency and technology for labor. Because of it we have witnessed over the last century the near total destruction of family farm agriculture... http://www.cropchoice.com/leadstry.asp?recid=1200
11. North Carolina farmer: 'When will we learn!!'... http://www.cropchoice.com/leadstry.asp?recid=1186
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