 |
| Editor’s
NOTE:
Response to Richard
Glenister’s letter Organic
farmers left holding the bag for substandard seed
in response to Jeff Moyer’s column titled
Let’s
get real, and all commit to using organic seed.
We serve a diverse audience of readers engaged
in regenerative, organic and sustainable agriculture
at many levels for many reasons. We want to hear
from you about the issues that are important to
your life and work, and your vision for agriculture
that builds a strong future.
We run selected comments from readers in this
space. Please tell us who you are, with name,
address and phone number for verification. Sending
correspondence to us conveys a right to us to
publish it as is, or in a form edited for length
and/or style. Opinions expressed in this space
do not necessarily represent the perspective of
The New Farm® or The Rodale Institute®.
If you have something important to say about
agriculture in a sustainable global food system,
please -- speak
to us.
NF
|
|
Posted March 15, 2007: As a consultant in
the organic industry I have to agree with Richard on the status/condition
of the organic seed. I deal with many organic farmers who
have had tremendous problems on their farms with organic seed.
My first question to the suppliers is why they are charging
so much for their seed. My second question is why many companies
in the seed business will not share genetics with us. How
are we to know that the labeled hybrids and varieties are
right for our area?
I was in the seed industry for 28 years. I still am in a
smaller way. The genetics that are being offered to the farmers
are not the best for the regions they farm. Many suppliers
think that organic production is less yielding anyway, so
they offer the same hybrids and varieties they produce in
the area that the home office is located.
I agree that the seed should be organically grown but the
rules need to change to a win-win situation to help the organic
farmer, who is taking the most risk.
|
