The Farmer's Daughter USA

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

There Is Someone I’d Like You to Meet….

Two people, actually. Although, I’m sure there are many more like them.

I’d like you to meet Bruce Schulz. He’s a fourth generation farmer in Oregon. Mr. Schulz’s family has a 250 acre farm. He dad grew up on the farm. His mom still lives on the farm in their family home. He currently grows alfalfa.

I’d also like you to meet Jim Frink. Mr. Frink is 72 years old. He started farming when he was 12 years old. He started out with 10 acres that he leased from his dad. Mr. Frink’s farm is now about 900 acres, including 150 that is currently in alfalfa.

Why do I want you to meet these guys? Because they’re both farmers that will be hurt by the Jackson County, Oregon ban on GMOs.

Source: Oregon Live

Mr. Schulz has GMO alfalfa that he will have to destroy at the end of the year. In a sane world, he would have gotten 5-8 more years out of that alfalfa field. He anticipates that he’ll lose 30% of his gross income next year as a result.

Mr. Frink has decided he’s not even going to bother. He plans on retiring, selling the farm, and moving out of state. He pointed out that GMO alfalfa can be treated with one pesticide at about $6 per acres, while non-GMO alfalfa requires three pesticides costing $75 per acre.

So there are at least two family farmers in Jackson County, Oregon that will be hurt by the GMO ban. One will close up shop and retire for good. The other will take a huge hit financially and his farm may not survive it. 

Less farmers, less food. 

Here’s the thing: anti-GMO activists have lied, cheated, and stole to promote their fear-mongering anti-science agenda. The result? They are destroying family farms. There has not been a single scientific study showing GMOs are harmful to human beings or the environment. But there are some people that cannot accept the truth when it is staring them in the face.

It breaks my heart to see these guys in this position. It makes me sick to know that this was promoted by people who have very little knowledge of agriculture. And it makes me mad that organic farmers -who have gotten away with negative marketing of conventional crops for years – supported this measure.

Consumers deserve the truth and farmers deserve the choice.
Which is precisely why we do this; right? Because I don’t want to one day see my brother’s face on the news as he tells everyone that our family farm will be divided up and sold off because of a ridiculous ballot initiative. I recognize that there are going to be great challenges within the next 50 years (and beyond) when it comes to producing enough nutritious food for our growing population. We cannot allow fear take away the tools that we need to reach those goals. 
It’s too late for Jackson County, Mr. Schulz, and Mr. Frink, but hopefully there is still time for the rest of us.
(Source: Oregon Live.)
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Comments

  2. Anonymous says

    I would like to thank all the farmers for all the hard work they have done to feed us. I am so sorry for these people that has no education telling how to do your job.

  4. Tiffany South says

    I work at an agriculture lab in eastern oregon. I can see this as effecting everyone in the ag industries. No farmers means we have no clients. That is not a good thing. Farmers are the most knowledgeable people I know and I am proud I get to work with them every day. I do work with organic and convential farmers and all kinds of crops. If the gmo movement keeps up by ignorant people it will be a sad day for all of us. I wish mr. Schultz and mr. Frink good luck.

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