Family Farm Defenders Joins Sixty Others in Filing Suit Against Monsanto’s Patent

Posted on March 29, 2011 by admin

For immediate release:                          3/29/11

Contact:

Joel Greeno – FFD vice president  #608-463-7634

John E. Peck, FFD exec. director  #608-260-0900

Dan Ravitcher, PubPat exec. director #212-461-1902


Family Farm Defenders Joins Sixty Others in Filing Suit Against Monsanto’s Patent

Preemptive Action Seeks Ruling That Would Prohibit Monsanto From Suing Non-GMO Farmers and Seed Growers If Contaminated


NEW YORK – March 29, 2011 – On behalf of 60 family farmers, seed businesses and organic agricultural organizations, the Public Patent Foundation (PUBPAT) filed suit today against Monsanto Company to challenge the chemical giant’s patents on genetically modified seed.  The plaintiffs were forced to sue preemptively to protect themselves from being accused of patent infringement should they ever become contaminated by Monsanto’s genetically modified seed, something Monsanto has done to others in the past.

The case, Organic Seed Growers & Trade Association, et al. v. Monsanto, was filed in federal district court in Manhattan and assigned to Judge Naomi Buchwald.  Plaintiffs in the suit represent a broad array of family farmers, small businesses and organizations from within the sustainable agriculture community who are increasingly threatened by genetically modified seed contamination despite using their best efforts to avoid it.  The plaintiff organizations have over 270,000 members, and includes Family Farm Defenders, based in Madison, WI.

“This case asks whether Monsanto has the right to sue organic farmers for patent infringement if Monsanto’s transgenic seed should land on their property,” said Dan Ravicher, PUBPAT’s Executive Director and Lecturer of Law at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York . “It seems quite perverse that an organic farmer contaminated by transgenic seed could be accused of patent infringement, but Monsanto has made such accusations before and is notorious for having sued hundreds of farmers for patent infringement, so we had to act to protect the interests of our clients.”

The threat of GMOs goes beyond organic, threatening the livelihood of conventional farmers, as well.  Joel Greeno, Vice President of Family Farm Defenders spoke to this effect at the USDA/DOJ anti-trust hearing on corporate control of the seed industry in Ankeny, IA on March 12th, 2010. “Monsanto does not have the right to dictate the value of my life, my work, and the food I produce,” he testified before U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, and hundreds of other family farmers, consumer advocates, and public officials.  By the end of March one of the few remaining independent seed companies in the Midwest – hundred year old Kaltenberg Seeds i based n Waunakee,WI – was driven out of business by the monopoly power of Monsanto. The DoJ has yet to take any anti-trust action against Monsanto, leaving farmers with virtually no GMO-free choices for seed.

“The USDA’s approval of Monsanto’s Round Up Ready alfalfa on Jan. 28th, 2011 was really the last straw for us,” noted John E. Peck, executive director of Family Farm Defenders. “Despite overwhelming public opposition, the Obama White House still chose to support the short-term profitability of corporate agribusiness over the long-term livelihood of dairy farmers, bee keepers, horse owners, and others who depend upon the genetic integrity of alfalfa for their existence.  The only recourse left to our family farmer members was to join this lawsuit and challenge the legitimacy of the absurd patent rights the government has granted to Monsanto.”

PUBPAT is asking Judge Buchwald to declare that if farmers are ever contaminated by Monsanto’s genetically modified seed, they need not fear also being accused of patent infringement.  One reason justifying this result is that Monsanto’s patents on genetically modified seed are invalid because they don’t meet the “usefulness” criterion of federal patent law.  Evidence cited by PUBPAT in its opening filing today proves that genetically modified seed has negative economic and health effects, while the promised benefits of genetically modified seed – increased production and decreased herbicide use – are false.

For a full copy of the lawsuit:

http://www.pubpat.org/assets/files/seed/OSGATA-v-Monsanto-Complaint.pdf

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Pull Together – Farmer Labor Tractorcade is a Roaring Success!

Posted on March 10, 2011 by admin

Fifty three tractors turned up in Madison for the Farmer Labor Tractorade on Sat. March 12th and met an enthusiastic crowd some reports say was the largest yet at 100,000+ people.  There were also a couple of manure spreaders with a clear message about what rural folks feel about the political shenanigans at the State Capitol.  Contrary to some media pundits,  the struggle for justice is NOT over in Wisconsin, and this powerful expression of working class solidarity from Wisconsin family farmers has given many more the heart and strength to stand up for what is right and fair for EVERYONE  – not just what is cheap and quick for Gov. Walker and his wealthy corporate donors.  An injury to one is an injury to all!

Here is the link to a 30 minute video on the Tractorcade produced by Max Balhorn of Macalester College:   http://vimeo.com/22138939

Here is coverage of the tractorcade from Democracy Now: http://www.democracynow.org/2011/3/14/worker_uprising_up_to_185_000

Here is the speech of  FFD board member, Tony Schultz, from the rally on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKOvqXoWB7s

You can also see another interview with FFD vice president, Joel Greeno, on why he organized the tractorcade at:

Another YouTube video of the tractorcade done by Pam Porter can be found at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDWVuuhnKiw

This is a link to an  interview with Joel Greeno and Tony Schultz on MSNBC:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show/#42081657

And here is an interview with FFD executive director, John Peck, on why WI family farmers wanted to stage the tractorcade:

http://theuptake.org/2011/03/12/tractors-and-manure-spreaders-to-circle-wisconsin-capitol/

You can also see pictures from the tractorcade posted at: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439×625304

There are some photos of the tractors on the New York Times website: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/03/12/us/20110313-WISCONSIN-6.html

Here is a striking set of black and white farmer portraits from the tractorcade: http://www.cdserna.net/2011/03/14/the-assault-on-our-rights-by-gov-walker/

Gabrielle Fine also took some photos she wanted to share via Flickr: http://www.facebook.com/l/0be8fL63M5ijV4g1IsrOx2FLvxw/www.flickr.com/photos/ellafine/sets/72157626128610909/

And FFD board member, Ruth Simpson, posted photos she took on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=66009&id=100000165356684&saved

Some additional media coverage of the event includes:

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_9f189108-4cbc-11e0-b9b8-001cc4c002e0.html

https://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/03/12-2

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_d3110dfa-4c5d-11e0-9e5a-001cc4c002e0.html

http://www.wiscnews.com/portagedailyregister/news/article_7ebb8a28-4ad7-11e0-a019-001cc4c002e0.html

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Family Farms and Unions: Wisconsin Farmers on Collective Bargaining as a Farming Issue

Posted on March 1, 2011 by admin

Some farmers are supporting union workers in Madison, WI who oppose a state bill that would cut collective bargaining for government employees.

Here is FFD board member and organic dairy farmer, Jim Goodman, speaking at a rally at the WI State Capitol on March 5th about why farmers and workers are in the same fight.

And here is an article discussing the same issue, featuring another WI dairy farmer and FFD vice president, Joel Greeno:

By Beth Borzone

Farm Fresh – Colesville Patch (Silver Spring, MD) 2/25/11

Five or six times a year Joel Greeno takes out his 1935 Allis Chalmers WC tractor to offer tractor rides in his Wisonsin community.

“We have a potluck dinner and go for a 35 to 40-mile tractor ride, come back and eat the leftovers, and then go back home and do chores,” Greeno describes, explaining that it’s a chance to enjoy life, have a good time with friends and get away from everything.  Now, he’s hoping to use his tractor on Saturday in a tractorcade of protests in Madison, WI.

“We applied for a police permit to take my tractor down and parade it around the capitol in support of the workers, but I haven’t heard back if they granted our permit or not, so we’ll see.  So if I don’t get that, I may just go down Saturday and partake in events.”

Greeno is a dairy farmer and Vice President of Family Farm Defenders, a Wisconsin organization that has been working to support union members demonstrating in Madison.

Demonstrators are challenging a bill in the Wisconsin state legislature that would end collective bargaining for public employees. The bill passed the Assembly on Friday and is moving towards the Senate.

Greeno and other family farmers in his organization fear that the bill affecting the union workers will also hurt them.

“This issue of collective bargaining rights hits a little bit close to home,” Greeno explained. “I founded a dairy co-op here in Wisconsin 12 years ago called Scenic Central Milk Producers. And that’s grown from the smallest co-op in the U.S. to the 40th largest in the U.S. now.

“Collective bargaining rights are the principles that all of our co-ops operate on.  And if they start eroding collective bargaining rights for workers, farmers in co-ops are just next on the chopping block, so if we don’t stand together and defend our rights, we all going to take cuts in turn.”

Greeno is also concerned that the bill could make it harder for family farmers to get healthcare.

“One of the things that’s involved in this bill 1318 is that it would give the governor and the Department of Health full authority at will to make decisions on Medicaid and the Wisconsin Badger Care program,” Greeno said. “It would be one thing if they had good intentions, but their intentions are to cut those programs to bare bones.  Many of our state’s farmers’ only health care is the badger care because they can’t afford anything else.”

John E. Peck, executive director of Family Farm Defenders, agrees.  “One of the reasons the farmers are concerned is that it also affects our badger care which is our state Medicare/Medicaid program.  A lot of farmers have no healthcare except what they can get from these taxpayer-subsidized programs.  That’s been a big deal for a lot of farmers.”

Peck is also concerned that the bill could hurt farmers who participate in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs in which members of the community buy shares in return for a percentage of the harvest. Many of the CSA members are teachers and public service workers.

“Consumers won’t be able to have as much money if their wages are cut,” Peck said. “The recession is bad enough already. Why make it worse by taking away what few benefits and living wages that people do have thanks to the labor unions?  It doesn’t make much sense.”

“Everybody deserves a living wage, not just a few people.  Farmers understand that because they are always at the bottom of the pile,” Peck continued.  “I think that’s why they can empathize with the workers. It’s just not fair.  It’s a human rights issue.”

In addition to Greeno’s tractorcade, Farm Family Defenders has been supporting the demonstrators in Madison by bringing them food.

“We had one farmer who brought 10 gallons of milk fresh from his cows,” Peck said, adding that he’s heard that people from around the country, even the world have been ordering pizzas on-line for the workers occupying the capital.

“What we’re seeing in the capitol in Wisconsin right now is that people are organizing themselves, they’re realizing that they can do things on their own.  You can do a lot of stuff on the local level,” he said.

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Family Farmers Express Solidarity with Wisconsin Workers Occupying the State Capitol – Condemn Governor Walker’s Attack on Labor Rights and Health Care

Posted on February 23, 2011 by admin

For Immediate Release                                                                         2/23/11

Contact: Joel Greeno, FFD Vice President & dairy farmer    #608-463-7634

Tony Schultz, FFD Board Member & CSA farmer  #715-432-6285

John E. Peck, FFD executive director  #608-260-0900

Family Farmers Express Solidarity with Wisconsin Workers Occupying the State Capitol –
Condemn Governor Walker’s Attack on Labor Rights and Health Care

Family Farmer Defenders, a nationwide grassroots organization based in Madison, has called upon its members to support the ongoing protests in Wisconsin against the ruthless power grabbing politics of newly elected Governor, Scott Walker.  Family Farm Defender members have already been picketing legislators’ homes, delivering food to those occupying the capitol, and participating in solidarity events across the state.

“Busting unions will only make all of us more desperate and widen the divide between the haves and the have nots,” noted Tony Schultz, a FFD board member and CSA farmer near Athens who helped organize a rally in Wausau on Sun. that was covered by CNN and drew 300-400 people.  “A lot of family farmers depend upon Badger Care since they have no other insurance options.  Many of our CSA customers also happen to be teachers, nurses, and other public workers so this backward proposal has a direct impact on our future livelihood.  Everyone deserves the right to opportunity in this state, not just wealthy campaign donors and their corrupt political allies.”

For a YouTube video of the 2/20/11 blizzard rally in Wausau, go to:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7enVDAr1IY&feature=related

“Gov. Walker’s so-called budget repair bill is part of a much more sinister ideological campaign bankrolled by the billionaire Koch brothers to undermine the basic democratic rights of all people in Wisconsin, family farmers included.” remarked John E. Peck, executive director of Family Farm Defenders. “In fact, many of his proposals to eliminate collective bargaining, privatize and outsource social services, as well as enfeebling regulatory agencies have nothing to do with the state budget deficit and will just make the current economic crisis worse.”

“Farmers need to stand behind workers and their freedom to collectively bargain.  All farmer cooperatives depend upon the same principle, so any attempt to take away that right needs to be challenged.  This struggle is all about human rights.  If you lower the bar for anyone, you ultimately lower it for everyone else.  An injury to one is an injury to all. Just because farmers are going bankrupt due to unfair prices does not mean workers should lose living wages, too.  There is no way to repair the budget until we restore fairness to the whole economic system,”  added Joel Greeno, FFD vice president and dairy farmer near Kendall.

Family Farm Defenders will continue supporting workers in this struggle, including spreading word about the general strike called by unions and a possible solidarity tractorcade to the capitol.

###

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Action Alert – Contact Congress to Oppose Korea U.S. Free Trade Agreement!

Posted on February 7, 2011 by admin

Korea U.S. Free Trade Agreement – A Bad Deal for Family Farmers!

The Obama Admin. is now pushing hard to pass a rehashed version of the Korea U.S. Free Trade Agreement (Korea FTA), first proposed by the Bush Administration back in 2006. Unfortunately, this trade deal – like so many others – will just repeat the broken promises of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), bankrupting family farmers at taxpayer expense while lining the pockets of big banks and food giants.

With Korea FTA, Agribusiness Wins – While Family Farmers Lose

Farmers don’t export, corporations do. According to the proponents, the Korea FTA could lead to billions in export earnings. In fact, many of the agricultural products that will be exported to Korea under this trade deal are not even made with products from U.S. farmers, but from processing of other food imports! Worse yet, these agricultural exports are only “competitive” on the global market thanks to massive U.S. taxpayer subsidies.

As the case of NAFTA has shown, farmers in the U.S. and around the world are actually hurt by global food trade. Due to corporate control of the commodity markets and financial speculation in food prices, farmers seldom get even their cost of production, forcing them to go into debt, seek off-farm jobs, and fostering dependence upon taxpayer checks to avoid foreclosure.

Since NAFTA passed in 1994, U.S. farmers have seen their incomes steadily decline, while in Mexico an estimated 1.5 million farmers have been driven off their land and across the border – all this despite increased food trade between the two countries. Family farmers in the U.S. and Korea will suffer a similar fate under Korea FTA as corporate agribusiness drives down market prices for the sake of their own profit margins.

Forced Trade Will Lead to More Tension Between the U.S. and Korea

No one should be forced to import and consume food they don’t want. Yet, that is exactly what will happen under Korea FTA. May 2008 witnessed the largest anti-government protests in Seoul in over two decades – triggered by the Bush Administration’s crude attempt to force Korea to accept Mad Cow tainted beef that even U.S. consumers did not want to eat.

Now the Obama administration would risk repeating this terrible mistake by foisting on a loyal ally such dubious “junk food” exports as irradiated meat raised with synthetic hormones, genetically engineered crops, high fructose corn syrup condiments and confections, as well as adulterated cheese products made with untested milk protein concentrate (MPC). This is not only insulting to Korean consumers, but a disservice to U.S. family farmers who pride themselves on producing safe healthy food.

Time Out on Free Trade! Demand Fair Trade Instead!

Concerned citizens should contact their Congress people to oppose the Korea U.S. Free Trade Agreement. Family farmers can not afford to bear the costs of such misguided trade policies designed to benefit multinational corporations and no one else. It is time to let Pres. Obama know that the U.S. deserves a fair trade policy that respects family farmers and promotes food sovereignty instead.

Take Action!    Contact Congress Now – Capital Switchboard:  #202-225-3121
Give the operator your zip code to reach your Representative or Senator’s office

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