ISU’s Weekly Update
March 15, 2010
New articles in the ICM Newsletter for the week of 3/8/2010 – 3/14/2010.
April 28, 2006 Agronomy
The state House passed legislation Tuesday that aims to block local regulation of genetically modified crops but includes an exception if the Michigan Commission of Agriculture signs off on the regulation.
As approved by the Senate, the measure would have pre-empted local governments from adopting ordinances that regulate or ban the planting of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.
But the House version, approved on a 74-32 vote by the Republican-controlled chamber, would let governments ban seeds if they find the seeds will hurt the environment or public health and the bipartisan Commission of Agriculture agrees.
The state Agriculture Department also would have to hold a public hearing and issue an opinion on whether environmental or public health effects will occur.
The legislation now heads back to the GOP-controlled Senate.
Five California counties and cities have restricted farmers from growing genetically modified crops since 2004. Fourteen states have since passed laws barring similar measures, prodded by large seed companies and an increasing number of farmers who plant genetically engineered products.
Republicans have said federal regulators are better equipped to regulate GMOs than are local counties or townships, and they argued that landowners should have the right to plant what scientists have determined is safe, free from local interference.
But some Democrats have said GMOs threaten public health and organic farmers, who worry about losing their “organic” certification because genetically modified crops could contaminate their fields.
The seed bill is Senate Bill 777.
March 15, 2010
New articles in the ICM Newsletter for the week of 3/8/2010 – 3/14/2010.
March 12, 2010
Welcome to a new year of the Pest&Crop Newsletter! Here is the link Issue 1.
March 11, 2010
ANAHIEM, Calif. (DTN) — While a few companies will shoulder the brunt of criticism in upcoming discussions on the competitive climate — or lack of one — in agriculture, the reputation for all of agriculture may be at stake.
March 11, 2010
Editor’s Note: Dan Davidson provides insight into what farmers might do this spring to deal with wet soil conditions. The information was provided specifically to AgProfessional so that readers can talk with customers about alternative field work that might be necessary this spring and to allow consultants and ag retailers to determine recommendations for fertilizer programs fitting into a farmer’s unusual spring workload.
March 11, 2010
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