Governor vetoes GE seed liability bill

By Lisa Rathke
The Associated Press
May 16, 2006

FAIRFIELD -- Gov. Jim Douglas on Monday vetoed a bill that would have made seed
manufacturers liable for damages caused by genetically engineered seeds that drift
into the fields of farms that do not want to use them.

Douglas said the measure was unnecessary and divisive and would have caused
manufacturers to raise prices or restrict the seed sales in Vermont.

"It is with regret that I veto this bill," Douglas said of legislation that passed
the House, 77-63, and the Senate, 19-8.

"I greatly respect how passionate the arguments are around the issue of genetically engineered crops and the work of the Legislature in attempting a compromise.
However, S.18 fails to find a middle ground between the competing interests, but
instead dives into new legal territory that may only promote needless litigation
that pits farmer against farmer and neighbor against neighbor."

The applause from the crowd of largely conventional dairy farmers showed how
passionate the debate had become. Some farmers and consumers are opposed to the use
of seeds that can be scientifically altered to resist pests or disease. Others say
the seeds are needed to control pests and keep food affordable.

"What irritated me the most was the organic and conventional farmer were split. We'd always gotten along before," said Bernard Dubois, who owns a 1,000-cow farm in Addison.

"With the obstacles that we face, we certainly don't need to have our feed taken
away from us or sold to us at an elevated price," said Bill Rowell, a dairy farmer
in Sheldon.

Margaret Laggis, a lobbyist for the biotechnology industry, which opposed the bill,
said her clients had not determined whether they would change their seed sales if the bill had not been killed.

"All the companies were really looking at the issue of selling in that climate," she
said.

Douglas said the discussion about the use of genetically engineered seeds in Vermont would continue. He said he'd asked the agriculture secretary to bring together conventional and organic farmers to try to resolve the issues related to the seeds' use.

"I look forward to working with the farming community in continuing this
discussion," he said.

Down the road following the veto, supporters of the bill gathered for their own news
conference and accused the administration of bowing to pressure from manufacturers.

"Gov. Douglas has chosen hypocrisy over democracy in siding with the chemical giants
and not listening to the farmers," said Rep. Dexter Randall, P-Troy, the primary
sponsor of the bill and a dairy farmer.

"This is a huge insult for the farm community of Vermont, only widening the gap
between conventional and organic farmers."

Advocates said they would continue to push for farmer protection from contamination from genetically engineered seeds.

Jack Lazor of Butterworks Farm of Westfield, who producers organic yogurt, cream and grains addressed the crowd.

"Go home and keep doing our work and keep talking about it and hopefully things are going to change," he said.