Giving a Voice to our Clover Producers

Hi, All.  It’s me, Marcus Benedetti, back again.  Today I would like to address an issue that has been getting a lot of media attention of late: the deregulation by the FDA of GE (genetically engineered) alfalfa.  As you may have heard, this change in regulations has become a deep concern for many.  In my next blog I will address Clover’s stance on the issue but today I wanted to lend a voice to the people who will first experience the effects of the new law: our dairy producers.

I recently asked John Taylor of Bivalve Dairy in Point Reyes, CA, a Clover Organic Dairy Producer since 2006, to talk to me about his thoughts and concerns.  What he had to say was interesting and I would like to share it with you here.

“Our biggest concern is primarily an issue of supply and demand.  If alfalfa farmers choose to utilize or migrate to genetically engineered alfalfa for economic reasons, the supply of organic alfalfa will greatly influence organic market that is already undersupplied and overpriced.  The demand for organic products is growing.  In 2009-to 2010 we saw double digit growth of organic milk sales in the State of California.  Consumers are becoming more and more aware of where their food comes from.  Food that it is healthy, local, and green to market from family farms that utilize certified humane animal practices.  We dairymen, in the North Coast, have some of the most beautiful pastures in the world.  The economic choice to get more out of less by using genetically engineered alfalfa is yet another reason for Bivalve Dairy to continue our passion of developing and managing our native organic pastures and grazing our happy cows sustainably.”

John

We often hear the voice and opinions of large companies when researching this issue, but we are less likely to encounter the words of the very people who will be directly affected by this deregulation.  Thanks for taking the time to listen.

-Marcus