Farmers of the Country Unite

(Sigh)  Not many family farms left in the Northeast. Growing up close to a dairy farm, as well as my uncle's farm and pear orchard, brings back memories of hard work and the gathering of the fruits of said hard work.  Did we really have this many law suits back then, when all farming was organic, or were we more busy making a living, raising the family, and waiting for the corn-on-the cob to mature and enjoy it with lots of butter and lots of salt........  This just might be the year for everyone who has a little space to start growing something to eat.  At least you can say you did it yourself and know where and how it was grown. Just remember that just because there is a gigantic supermarket not far from home, does not mean it will always be there or full.

A farming association in Massachusetts is spearheading a lawsuit against biotech giant Monsanto Co., challenging the company’s patents on genetically modified seed.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Massachusetts chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association by the Public Patent Foundation of New York. The suit was filed in federal district court in Manhattan.
St. Louis-based Monsanto (NYSE:MON) has sued farmers for patent infringement in cases where the company’s genetically modified seed has landed on the farmers’ property, Dan Ravicher, lead attorney in the case and the Public Patent Foundation’s executive director, said in a statement.
“It seems quite perverse that a farmer contaminated by GM 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,” Ravicher said.

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