PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release December 29, 2005
Contact Persons:
Representative Dexter Randall: 802-744-2417 (h); 802-673-7382 (cell)
Armand “Bones” Pion: 802-744-2778 (h); 802-752-7776 (cell)
Jack Lazor: 802-744-6855 (h)
Farmer Neighbors Discuss Genetically Engineered Seeds Contamination Near-Miss
Farmer Protection Act Would Address Liability Issues
MONTPELIER, VT-Vermont State Representative Dexter Randall (P-Troy), with two of his
constituent farmers, discussed an incident that happened this spring concerning the
use of genetically engineered seeds. The neighbors had a contamination near-miss
when one of them (a conventional farmer) accidentally planted genetically engineered
seeds, after agreeing not to because his neighbor was growing organic heritage corn
for seed.
Armand “Bones” Pion explained, “It was mid-June, and it had been wet. I was waiting
in the field for the seeds, and when they were delivered, I planted them right away.
I didn’t know they were GMOs, and I wouldn’t have planted them if I had.”
Jack Lazor explained that he has been growing organic heritage flint corn for seed
for the past two years, and he visits all of his neighbors every winter to ask them
not to grow GMOs, so that he does not get contaminated. Lazor and Pion realized that
Pion had planted the GMOs when Pion complained about the high cost of the seed. “I
had a lot of investment in this crop – I’m not just growing corn for silage. It’s
for seed, so there are many extra steps, and more hired help to hand sort the corn.”
Pion and Lazor made it clear that they considered each other to be good neighbors.
“Jack is my friend and sometimes my employer. We grew up here – he farms my
grandfather’s farm,” Pion commented.
Lazor added, “I would never want to have to sue Bones just to get my investment back
if there were a problem.”
The farmers spoke in support of the Farmer Protection Act (S. 18), which was passed
in the Senate in April 2005, with a 26-1 vote. The bill was weakened during the
committee process in the House. Representative Randall will be offering an amendment
to strengthen the House bill and put the “strict liability” language back into the
bill. The Farmer Protection Act (with the Randall amendment) would put all liability
for any economic damages caused by the release of genetically engineered seeds into
Vermont on the manufacturers who always retain the ownership of these patented
seeds. The bill is scheduled for a vote in the Vermont House on January 3, 2006.
Under current law farmers have no recourse should damage occur, except to sue their
neighbors. Lawmakers and farmers want to avoid farmer against farmer lawsuits when
inevitable contamination occurs. The group discussed the Technology Use Agreement
(TUA), which is the contract between the company and farmers that use the seed.
Farmers agree to the TUA simply by opening the bag of seed, and although they never
own the seed, the TUA shows that they assume all liability for any damages that
occur because of the use of the seed.
A copy of Monsanto’s 2005 Technology Use Agreement and a copy of a statement by Jack
Lazor and Armand Pion can be found at www.ruralvermont.org.