Does anyone have definitive info on when the USDA will make a ruling on its Draft Action Plan for the Noxious Weeds Program? This has the potential to make it illegal to send heirloom seeds, (or any seed for that matter if it is not on the USDA's clean list) through the mail across state lines. First time offenses can range from $1000 to $250,000 if done for profit. If implemented as it is currently written it could be a death knell for organic gardening and even conventional small nurseries. We need to continue petitioning our representatives in Congress to pressure the USDA not to implement this rule. The USDA is out of control and needs to be reined in.

-- John Fritz (JohnFritz24@hotmail.com), April 11, 2002

Answers

The USDA is like all branches of our Corporate Government.... For the Corporation...

Wonder how much Monsanto has paid our elected officials to destroy the Non Genetically Modified Industry?

-- BC (katnip364@aol.com), April 12, 2002.

Heres the url for the USDA on line document. It contains most of the deadline dates as I recall.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/weeds/

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 12, 2002.

USDA is enforcing what respoinsible seed growers have been doing all along...it is not that hard to clean and inspect one's seed. Big brother would not be watching if we did not screw up so often so badly...I would rather abolish them, but ask yorself how did they get there? and how did they get the role of watchdog? We can either police ourselves or let others do it for us. Either way, Heirlooms will survive because there will always be some responsible producers.

Oscar

-- Oscar Will (owill@mail.whittier.edu), April 12, 2002.