Protect farmers, not Monsanto
Rutland Herald (Vermont), February 7 2006
http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060207/NEWS/602070310/1037

Last April, the Senate overwhelmingly passed the Farmer Protection Act by a vote of 26-1. The House removed the strict liability from the Senate version and instead passed a severely weakened version of the bill.

The protection that Vermont farmers seek comes at a price for Monsanto and the other multinational seed manufacturers. As a result, the debate over the Farmer Protection Act has been clouded by industry spin and misrepresentation. To be clear, the Farmer Protection Act makes no statement for or against the use of genetically modified seed. Instead, it discusses who should assume the liability for economic damage that will inevitably be caused when these genetically modified seeds contaminate neighboring fields.

Liability caused by a product most commonly rests with those who own the product. It is important to recognize in this case, that farmers who use genetically modified seed do not actually own the seed. Instead, they sign a use agreement that allows them to lease the technology, but the manufacturer retains ownership of the seed. Under current law, Vermont's family farmers are made to accept all liability for damage caused by seeds that they don't even own.

Proponents of the House version claim that farmers are already protected as consumers. In actuality, neither farmer is protected in a contamination scenario. The farmer who has been harmed has done no business with Monsanto (and is therefore not a consumer), and the farmer who leased the seed will have no recourse to the company while being sued. Without the strict liability provision present in the Senate version, the only party that can claim any protection is the seed manufacturer.

Of the six-member conference committee formed to negotiate the final version of the bill, only Representatives Gervais and Jewett stand opposed to strict liability. I call on them to join their House and Senate colleagues in order to give all Vermont farmers the protection that they deserve.

RICK SCHARF
Duxbury

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