One of the biggest impacts of allowing the use of genetically modified alfalfa is contamination of other crops, including organic alfalfa, which is used by most organic dairies and organic grass fed beef producers. In its own report, the USDA acknowledges the problem with contamination but says that consumers may not care enough about it for the USDA to block Monsanto’s modified alfalfa seeds. This is absurd since one of the main reasons people buy organic food is to avoid genetically engineered crops.

Approval of Monsanto’s products in the US will have effects worldwide. The spread of modified genes by natural pollination is inevitable.

The USDA is accepting public comments for the next two weeks. Please take a brief moment to sign the petition below requesting that the USDA not approve Monsanto alfalfa.
Click here: http://action.freshthemovie.com/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1753

Thanks.

Rob Steves

If you happen across this page, jmb, thank you for posting the photos, and I hope you don’t mind that I borrowed one to include below.

Small Farmers: Vital Work, Slim Wages

Below are links to the entire series in The Tyee. Enjoy.
Good to Grow: Raising Food in BC’s Cities

• Good to Grow: A Series Funded by Tyee Readers
• Why Urban Farming Is the Future
• Replanting the City Farming Movement in BC
• Lots of Food, but for How Long?
• Peak Oil? Urban Farms? Cuba’s Been There, Done It
• Small Farmers: Vital Work, Slim Wages
• Ten Ways to Make BC a Model for Urban Farming