FYI: Email I received from Steve Troxler's office (NC Commish of Agriculture)

[Triana]

(I added the relevant links for your information so you can research the issue)
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Thank you for your email concerning House Bill 379. Some of the information you have received from Toxic Free NC about this bill is not correct. We support and promote small farms and organic growers, and there is nothing in this bill that would harm organic growers or small farms. The purpose of the bill is simply to make it clear that local governments cannot regulate the plants that North Carolina farmers choose to grow.

The Board of Agriculture has, for many years, been authorized by law to provide uniform, statewide rules to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive plants and noxious weeds that are harmful to agriculture or the environment. Imagine how confusing and inefficient it would be for each of our cities and counties to adopt its own list of prohibited plants, even though these plants are already regulated by State and Federal agencies.

You stated in your email that local governments should be able to protect farmers from “genetically-modified seeds that may contaminate their crops.” In North Carolina, farmers have chosen to plant nearly three million acres of crops produced from seed that would be considered “genetically-modified”. That includes 96 percent of all cotton, 93 percent of all soybeans, and 85 percent of all corn. Farmers have chosen these seed varieties because they have found them to be superior to others. Organic production has also increased in recent years, yet no organic grower has ever lost his or her certification because of drifting pollen. After more than twenty years of growing genetically-modified crops, where is the evidence of harm?

If a local government were to attempt to prohibit the planting of genetically-modified crops, it would cause severe hardship to the farmers who have chosen to grow those crops, but would not provide any benefit to organic growers. This bill is intended to prevent that from happening. The fact that certain groups like Toxic Free NC would try to fabricate a conflict between organic and non-organic farmers, and to promote arbitrary restrictions on farmers' freedom to grow the crops of their choice provides another reason why this legislation is needed.

Thank you for writing, and please let us know if we can provide further information.

Steve Troxler
Commissioner
NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
1001 MSC
Raleigh, NC 27699-1001 [e-mail]

NCDA&CS Main Line: 919-707-3000
Fax: [phone]

Please note: North Carolina has a very broad public records law. Most written communications to and from state officials are public records available to the public and media upon request. Therefore keep in mind your e-mail communications may be subject to public disclosure.

[mmonk]

1. Thanks.