I’ve seen a few emails from members about our press
release about the recent Supreme Court decision about Monsanto’s intellectual
property rights and thought a few comments to the world in general would be
appropriate.
First, the Grange, since its earliest days, has
always been in favor of technology being used to improve crops, livestock, and
all the associated practices and methods in raising them. While those early
members likely never dreamed of the capabilities of science that we enjoy
today, our policies have remained consistent in promoting the use of science to
advance agriculture.
While GMO’s are a controversial issue for some, the
science from our land grant colleges, the USDA, and others continue to show
that there is no detectable difference from the food grown from GMO or non-GMO
seed.
The Grange continues to support all aspects of
agriculture, from a small operation feeding a few families to large farms
helping to feed the world. The diversity in agriculture in practices and
produce are good for American consumers and the starving in the far corners of
the world. We will always advocate that we are good stewards of the soil,
water, and air regardless of the size of farm. Science remains a tool to assist
all farmers to continue to do a better job of protecting our resources while
increasing the food, fiber, and fuel we’ll need in the future.
Second, the Grange has never supported or opposed
specific business, or corporations, with the exception of co-operatives which
we introduced to America and have continued to support. Our organization
advocated for many railroad lines and just as often advocated against some of
their monopolistic practices such as unfair rate structures. The end result of
our fight with the railroads was the adoption of the idea that monopolies can be regulated for the public good. Even today, we take many policy positions for
or against the practices of businesses. This does not mean we support or oppose
them, just how they are doing business.
Monsanto is a large business, but it does not meet
the definition of a monopoly as there are other large companies competing in
the same field and many smaller companies in competition with them. We
supported Monsanto’s right to own and protect intellectual property that they
developed. While some of their practices may garner our opposition, on this
issue, we believe that their rights were being infringed upon.
Third, our policies are the result of many
discussions and debates and each are eventually adopted by the delegates of the
National Grange. These policies then are advocated for by the officers and
staff of the National Grange. The strength of the Grange is this deliberative
policy-setting process rather than allowing leadership to create policies based
upon their personal views.
