Nathan Key

WOW the rhetoric on this one!!! I was interested to see what the Organic Consumer's Association had to say on this bill after reading your light-your-hair-on-fire headline and URGENT request for action. They are usually the first to freak out about legislation that will potentially harm organic farms and small, local growers. As it turns out, they are "fairly satisfied that the bill is intended to protect organic farmers from being negatively impacted by new food safety regulations (Sec. 419A directs the USDA to 'take into consideration, consistent with ensuring enforceable public health protection, the impact on small-scale and diversified farms, and on wildlife habitat, conservation practices, watershed-protection efforts, and organic production methods')."

In addition, the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association asks its readers to "Please call your Representative’s office and encourage him/her to support HR 2749 ONLY if the ideas included in the proposed Farr/Kaptur amendment are included in the final bill." These amendments will "Clarify that farmers are not facilities," "Make fees fair—low or no fees for small businesses, larger fees for larger businesses," and "Consider whole farm system when establishing food safety standards."

Consumer Reports' Consumers Union notes that, "The Act requires more frequent inspections of food processing plants, new standards for growing lettuce, company plans to prevent contamination, registration fees to help cover the cost of reform, and tough fines on those who dodge rules and put Americans at risk."

I'm honestly comforted (however artificially) by the fact that I live in a country where food safety inspections take place, and where the government is busy moving toward a more proactive approach to food safety (rather than just reacting after people have died). I think about the tainted baby formula in China that sickened over 50,000 babies (and killed at least 4), and the fact that even in this country foodborne illness causes 1,809 deaths per year (source: CDC), and -- YES! -- I am okay with government-mandated inspections and rules imposed on the businesses that produce the food I and my family consume. If you think businesses do a good job of regulating food safety, I dare you to sit through Food, Inc.

So I'm with the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. I support this bill as long as it contains the provisions put forth in the Farr/Kaptur amendment that PROTECT small, independent, organic farmers.

Also, Jamie

In regard to BIG safety concerns from China (which I agree are a problem)...

These safety concerns are usually because some huge government sanctioned conglomerate has determined to act unethically- This is exactly why we need to protect the small farms of America. By putting more of a financial burnden on these smaller farms, we're making it more difficult for them to counteract the evils of big business (big farm business in this case). We need to go to bat for everyone.

We can't push through legislation that institutes farm police that are going to run all over the country inspecting backyard gardens and co-ops. That seems improbable, but the reality is- there's such a loose definition on what a "farm" truly is, that anyone who grows vegetables in their backyard and gives them out to their neighbors could be subject to these regulations.

That may seem unreasonable that a government would try to control the food supply but there's plenty of RECENT world history to prove otherwise. The past 100 years have been chock full of governments and leaders who began to take away food from their citizens as a means of controlling them.

I don't want a bill like this to open the door for something like that to happen in the future here in our country.

First, I apologize for any mispellings... my work browser doesn't have spell-check and since I'm used to having the little red lines under incorrect words- I'm posting some really bad mistakes.

I'm guessing that the small farms don't realize that they're going to have to "pay to play." Or if they do, then they're assuming that the fees won't be that big of a deal.

Now, I'm totally not going to support BIG farm business. I've seen the uncut cornrows that have been doubly paid for through subsities, uncut, and unused in Indiana Farmland and I'm not about to go to bat for giving them more of an upperhand.

But I have a feeling that a bill like this- as it's written- will actually end up hurting the little guys more than the big guys since the big guys will have the means to pay fees and fines and get things quickly cleaned up while some of the smaller farms that aren't getting as much business will hurt from every extra dollar they pay for the "opportunity" to have their farm inspected.

I don't want that for the little guy, even if they want it for themselves.

I'll pay an extra buck for some health inspections (and I already DO pay extra for organic foods). Right now health inspections of factory farms happen about once every 10 years. American (excuse me, ALL) families deserve better. I just can't see where you're coming from. :\

I should have cited my source on that one... From "How not to talk about health care": http://ethicist.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/20/how-not-to-talk-about-health-care/

Nate, your talking points aren't even about the blog post topic anymore. You can't logically argue the fault of one bill simply by arguing the faults in two others; each bill should be evaluated on its own merits. Cap and trade (which I'm not convinced solves our energy crisis) and the ever-changing healthcare bill being debated in congress (which I'm not convinced solves much, either) should rise or fall on their own merits. So should food safety legislation. The whole debate got completely derailed when you started making logical connections that are flimsy at best, finding more and more abstract ways to argue your case.

I just wish you would call this what it is -- fear of big government. And that's fine. Argue the merits of not requiring any size farm to pay fees; argue that farmers and agribusinesses should police themselves like most other businesses; argue that they're doing a fine job of preventing foodborne illness and protecting consumer safety... Just don't pretend to be arguing for the organic and small farmers. Because they're working to improve the parts of this bill that could harm their businesses, rather than trying to get it thrown out altogether. You're arguing against the very people you're purporting to support.