The Farmer's Daughter USA

Hi, I'm Amanda! My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm also a practicing attorney.

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The Organic Trade Association Didn’t Like My Recent Article. Here’s the (Crazy) Reason Why.

August 5, 2019

Back in July I attended a webinar aimed at food manufacturers. It was supposed to tell them how to better market their organic products now that market growth is slowing. I wrote about it that week for my AGDAILY column. 

My biggest complaint was that the companies were encouraged to prey on consumer misconceptions about the organic label. For example, organic consumers think the label represents foods that are more nutritious. But that isn’t the true. Yet the presenters encouraged marketers to play up the nutritional aspects of their products. 

I made it very clear, as I always have, that organic marketing is a lie. And I’ll tell the truth whenever I can. 

Shortly after the article went live, I was contacted by Maggie McNeil, Director of Media Relations at the Organic Trade Association. She told me the article was intentionally misleading and full of inaccuracies. She offered to help me with “organic facts.” And she referenced my “well-known bias against organic.” (Well, perhaps, I’m not big on bullshit, so I guess you could say that.)

After the pleasant introduction, Maggie’s biggest issue was my “egregious” comment that conventional farms are regulated as much as organic farms. She insisted they aren’t. Why? Because, as an example, “25 synthetic pest control products are allowed in organic agriculture; 900-plus are registered for use in conventional agriculture.” She provided similar figures for livestock treatment and manufacturing ingredients.

Um, so what? 

Maggie is obviously a true believer in the natural fallacy. That is, that anything natural is good and anything synthetic is bad. It’s certainly an underlying theme to the organic narrative. And it’s a rather simplistic default position that some people take to try and grasp such a complex world.

But as we all know, that’s rubbish. There are lots of natural things that are actually really bad for us, like sunburns, arsenic, and viruses. And there are plenty of synthetic things that are actually really good for us, like medicines, computers, and air conditioning. 

Here’s the other thing: synthetic vs. natural is completely unrelated to whether something is regulated. Yes, organic farmers have to follow the label’s confines. But that doesn’t mean that those confines are smart or safer. And it doesn’t mean conventional farmers have no confines. 

Conventional farmers deal with regulations in almost every aspect of our operation. And perhaps nothing is more regulated than the pesticides we apply. In fact, if we don’t follow the instructions for restricted-use pesticides, we risk losing our applicator’s license. So following regulations is actually really important for conventional farmers! 

Ironically, genetically-modified foods are probably the most regulated foods in the world. Yet Maggie isn’t a big fan of those.

Here’s the important part: notice what Maggie didn’t take issue with in my article. She didn’t challenge my assertion that organic marketing is a lie. And that was the main point of the article. Organic trade groups and marketers want to tell us that organic products are more nutritious, healthier, and better for the environment. But the label means none of those things. 

So what does the label mean? 

Quite simply, organic producers are only supposed to use production methods and inputs that are derived from so-called natural sources. We can quibble about the fact that Maggie admitted the label doesn’t even mean that anymore (apparently there are 25 synthetic substances they can use, too). And I understand that definition isn’t sexy, won’t sell as many products, and doesn’t fuel a well-funded activist organization. But that’s all it is. 

And saying something else doesn’t make it true.

By the way, when I didn’t immediately respond to Maggie’s email (I’m sure she was expecting me to apologize and admit she was so right), she jumped on Twitter to make the same bad argument. I didn’t bother looking at the replies. I’m just glad it seemed to bother her so much. 

??? guys, I told you the Organic Trade Association is all pissy!! https://t.co/Hn5HWxnQ2g

— Farmers Daughter (@farmdaughterusa) July 31, 2019

And not surprising. She probably realizes what will happen if people start to hear the truth.

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  1. dennis laughton says

    August 11, 2019 at 7:35 pm

    Keep up the good work. The devoted organic folks will not be changed but others who are questioning will at least see the other side of the story. We need to challenge them at every opportunity.

Hi, I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney and I'm passionate about agriculture!

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thefarmersdaughterusa

I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney by day, and "agvocate" at night.

Amanda Zaluckyj
Green soybeans as far as the eye can see. I took Green soybeans as far as the eye can see. 

I took this photo over the weekend. These beans should be turning yellow and drying for harvest. So why aren't they? Because...the spring drought.

Seeds need water to germinate. But after we planted we didn't have rain for weeks. So those seeds just sat in the dirt and never sprouted. Then, finally, it rained. And the tiny plants started popping up.

The problem? It was several weeks too late for planting. The question is whether they'll be ready to harvest before the snow flies. We have shorter seasons in Michigan, so it'll be close.
Sunsets on the #farm are the best. 😍 Sunsets on the #farm are the best. 😍
💜💜 💜💜
Don't let anyone make you feel bad about not purch Don't let anyone make you feel bad about not purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables. It all counts.

#modernagriculture #foodproduction #usfarmers #usagriculture #usfarms #food #knowyourfarmer #knowyourfood #modernag #farms #sustainableagriclture #sustainablefarming
I visited one of my favorite local farm stands ove I visited one of my favorite local farm stands over the weekend. I thought I'd buy a couple zucchini and cantaloupe. But the zucchini looked more like clubs, and the cantaloupe was too ripe for my taste. So I passed on those and bought some tomatoes that maybe cost more than I would have preferred.

But you know what I didn't do? I didn't complain about the zucchinis' size. I didn't fuss about the melons' ripeness. I didn't criticize the tomatoes' price. Instead, I smiled at the lovely lady and made small talk as I paid and went about my day. 

Why? Because I remember what it was like being out by the side of the road hot day after hot day. I know that we all poured everything we had into that produce. I remember how defeating it felt when some criticized it. I know that the price is probably around market value, even if it's cheaper in the grocery store. And I know that the farm family behind that cash register is giving everything they have to chase a dream.

I won't be the one to rain on their parade. 

#Respect
Happy #nationaldogday from Mischa! #nationaldogda Happy #nationaldogday from Mischa!

#nationaldogday🐶 
#pittiemix 
#blacklab 
#mischa
Mischa and I are home on the farm for the weekend. Mischa and I are home on the farm for the weekend. And we're loving it.
It isn't one or the other. Farmers care about all It isn't one or the other. Farmers care about all of it.

#agriculture #farming #sustainablefarming #sustainability
I threw a birthday party for Mischa! It was over t I threw a birthday party for Mischa! It was over the top and wonderful. And she had so much fun surrounded by people that love her. 💕

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate my little love. 💜
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