If any of you have watched the movie Food, Inc. you were introduced to the craziness that GMO's (genetically Modified Organisms) and Monsanto reap onto the agriculture industry. They are a chemical giant that market themselves as an agriculture company, their most popular mainstream product being RoundUp weed killer. So, they have created these genetically altered seeds which they sell to American farmers. The seeds are so special because they can withstand the Monsanto chemical "treatments" allowing farmer's to spray for things like weeds without killing the crop, typically corn and soybean. Now, why are GMO's bad you may asks? Well, they have not undergone much testing thanks to some very well placed Monsanto board members in the US government. The theory that exist now is they may be less nutritious than non GMO crops. But most importantly they cross germinate with non GMO crops. So lets say you are an Organic farmer with a field across from a farmer using Monsanto seed. Your field will be cross pollinated with the GMO pollen. Now, you have a crop dependant on a weed killer to produce properly, not exactly Organic. Alfalfa is important because grass fed cows eat this. I personally don't want my grass fed cow to eat a GMO alfalfa and I have to wonder how will this effect those farmers who strive to raise organic grass fed meat? We also risks an extinction of seeds that are not GMO, a very bad thing even for those who don't eat organic. The nice people over at Legacy Family Farms, who aside from being super nice people sell fantastic grass finished and pastured meat, forwarded me this petition to stop the USDA from approving Monsanto alfalfa, it has to be entered by tomorrow evening so act quickly!
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