Part of the problem of food production depending so heavily on oil is the growing use of GMO foods many of which are modified seeds that produce much higher yields. They are designed to be resistant to pesticides allowing crops to be sprayed heavily with highly toxic pesticides such as Roundup and Atrazine. Farmers then need three times more water to irrigate GMO crops, resulting in further drainage of the world’s fresh water supplies.
To sever the relationship between oil and food will require a major paradigm shift in how we produce food. In the words of Richard Hienberg (2005): “Given the fact that fossil fuels are limited in quantity and we are already in view of the global oil production peak, the debate over the potential productivity chemical-gene engineered agriculture and agroecological farming may be relatively pointless. We must turn to a food system that is less fuel reliant, even if it does prove to be less productive.”
All of this is from the above link

In contrast to the paradigm shift in Cuba, the U.S. government is continuing to provide generous subsidies to agribusiness, thus postponing the day when a transformation in farming methods can be set in motion. For example, there were three types of agricultural subsidies and in 2008: the government paid our $12.2 billion in direct subsidies with 62% going to commercial farms; $5.2 billion in commodity payments with 76% going to commercial farms; $2.7 billion in conservation payments with 33% going to commercial farms.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Oil-is-Not-Food-but-Food-i-by-David-Model-101230-552.html
The solution may be a methodology referred to as permaculture which is a sustainable land use design. The strategy in permaculture is to create stable, productive systems that meet human needs while at the same time respecting the environment. It is a self-sustaining, synergistic closed-looped system in which outputs of one element become inputs to another.
Consider the example of Cuba after the breakup of the Soviet Union when Cuba lost key imports for large-scale farming and at the same time was facing a famine. The government responded by breaking up large state-owned farms and encouraged the formation of small agricultural co-ops and at the same time, sponsored widespread education in organic food production. Along with the creation of urban gardens on rooftops and public lands, Cuba was able to produce sufficient food to feed its people.

No freedom exists i having the government dictate your farming methods. I do not want my government foring anti-biotics on cattle lots and fertilizer on organic farms. That happens enough! Now the chemicals are in our drinking water.

The US needs to focus on the Transition Town movements, as we transition away from oil. Currently we are most likely at the peak of world-wide oil production. Oil is what the entire conventional farming system is based on. We need to get away from that. By passing this bill, the government will try to dictate that we must keep the disgusting conventional system, as they are influenced by some of the largest multinational companies ever created, companies like Monsanto, ConAgra, and Cargill. Just like the sponsor of HB 875, Rosa De Lauro, whose husband is an employee of Monsanto.

this is nothing more than more control this bill needs to die and fast

This bill hasn’t moved an inch in Congress since April 2009.
Like so many other bills before, it will probably end up dying of stagnation.

The progressive dems know that attempting to pass something like this right now would put a stake through the heart of their political futures for MANY years and MANY election cycles to come.

excuse me usda

most of the people in congress and the fda are employed by monsanto, tyson, smithfield. watch the movie food inc and it will explain it all. if this bill passes it will be another one of our rights taken away!!

I totally agree.

Putting this registration on our foods on not only us but also foreign countries usurps power totally.

This bill is very dangerous and can possibly restrict trade with other countries by way of requiring registration from not only domestic farmers but foreign farmers. I am disturbed by the constant reference of science in this bill when it comes to our food. This is dangerous.

Agreed. More uniformity also wouldn’t hurt.

If there’s a statistical difference in the number of foodborne illnesses spread by small farms and those spread by larger industry – as there naturally would be – then should we give some credit to the scale of operations? The more people you feed, the more you have the potential to make ill. The FDA has posted its share of letters of warning to small businesses with insufficient storage capacity/conditions, pest infestations, and unintended additives.

“Unfortunately many innocent people will be killed if this is passed.”

I’d be interested to see that remark qualified with any but the most elastic of examples. Even if you want to put this down to big business chasing the farmers out of town, it’s an enormous stretch to go from there to claiming innocent lives would be lost. How many innocent lives are lost due to food contamination when farmers and food manufacturers don’t bother to wipe the bird dung off their front steps?

This bill is sponsored by Rosa DeLauro, whose husband works for Monsanto:
http://blog.friendseat.com/rosa-delauro-hates-small-farms1/

I consider my self progressive and inclined to vote with whatever party is addressing the issues I am concerned about more appropriately. However in this case it seems as though the democrats are living up to what my father says about them in that they are creating a giant bureaucracy that cannot possibly address the concerns of all those that are to be regulated by it. Regulating our small farms and local food providers into oblivion is not in keeping with the environmental progressiveness that I support among the democrats. To pass this bill in its current form would be a horrible blow to small local farmers and would only act to further strengthen the food giants who typically contribute to the wide spread of food borne illnesses in the first place. I strongly encourage both my democratic and republican representatives for the great state of North Carolina to oppose this law as dangerous to our way of life, right down to the food we eat.

They can also take farmer’s to court who live next to farms that use monsanto seed, if the pollen travels to their farm and fertilizes non-monsanto seed, monsanto has been known to file a lawsuit against the farmer who didn’t even buy their seed and was saving what he thought was the seed he bought certified organic. Contamination rights, apparently.

The USDA doesn’t currently have the power to close factory farms that violate food safety regulations. Check out Kevin’s Law. The law has to be changed so that the USDA can actually have the right to close facilities down, otherwise they have no power except to cite the violation. That means factory farms that consistently violate health and worker safety codes can remain open, even with multiple violations.

I plan on putting a veggie garden in my yard this year. I will be damned if anyone is going to tell me diffrent. It will aid both in my families health and wallet. This seem like a nonsense bill that should be ended before it begins. Someone must be getting paid to try and pass it. What’s next you can’t plant flowers or trees anymore. The Big gov is getting to big for it’s britches.

This is an attempt by big pharma to keep people sick and keep them from eating organic food so they can sell more drugs. American food is so toxic other countries don’t allow it to be sold in there baorders. It,s designed to make you fat, addicted and sick.

Just when the nation is finally seeing that the cure to cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc…is found in good, chemically free local food. They appear to want everyone to take part in consuming preservatives, pesticides and what ever else they decide “appropriate” to add. We have become uninformed, and too involved in the shallow things of this fast paced life to realize that this is a BIG, BIG, BIG monster that has grown right under our noses. The FDA have a higher kill rate than the Taliban! Organic foods cure diseases that plague our health system and things will no doubt get rightfully ugly when we start losing our loved ones. The government needs to back off before they create an entire revolution. We need to take our power back to restore our health and be the owner of our own bodies!!

Barney Frank Chairmen of the House Finance committee can support MONSANTO’S
Food modernization Bill HR 875 to destroy ORGANIC FARMERS. but can’t Cosponsor HR-1207 to AUDIT THE FED that sits in his committee with 237 cosponsors. These Representatives that support HR-875 and do not support HR-1207 are representing big MONEY and not the PEOPLE of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA. TIME FOR A CHANGE FOR SURE before it is to LATE. I say if they do something against the CONSTITUTION of these UNITED STATES it is TREASON and they need to be removed from Office. I will take my chances with organic Growers over MONSANTO any day. VOTE THESE REPRESENTATIVES OUT OF OFFICE IF YOU ARE FOR THE PEOPLE.

When they start “scientifically” altering foods…we will start altering and mutating so that they can create medicines for the “medical conditions” and “disease” we will get. I have Lachen Plantus. Its not a disease but a skin condition resulting in my hyper-immune system pushing out the forgeign elements from medicines and foods that contain addatives and preservatives….Bill# H.R.875??? Go figure….

this bill would make it possible to eliminate the small or private farmer.90% of the food industry is controled by large corparation. this bill would make it possible for complete monopoly or socialist controlle of the food in this nation,and if they need bailed out the fed can step in & take controlling interest just like GM.

I live in the countryside and have a small garden patch every year of pure heirloom plants (Monsanto FREE) and im going to keep it that way.I am a Patriot in the United States and if our Non-Repersenting, Represenatives dont do something to stick up for the people,well, looks like to change that too.We do not need leaders in office in this country that are loyal to the Crown amd not the Constitution of the people and by the people.After the passing of H.R.1388 I guess this will be a crime because Free Speech will be stolen from us.Sometimes when you face down the Big Bad Wolf it turns out to be a little puppy.People stand up,stick together.It’s not about race or creed it’s about your FREEDOM,they want us to fight among ourselves so we want think about what they are doing to US……PEACE

Where does reply go?

Below is a link to a petition I started against this bill. It will be sent to Washington DC. Please sign, add a comment such as you have on Open Congress, and share with others to sign and comment upon. Thank you, Evelyn Bone
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Food-farms-seeds-HR875

This trade agreement is due to go into place by Dec. 2009, it will outlaw organic foods, seeds, and sprays. You will be forced by law to buy corporate owned patented seeds that are NOT in your best health

saving seed is illegal when you plant a seed designed by monsanto. you sign a technology agreement when you buy. this is just expanding this power a little at a time.

SECESSION