Debbie Coffey Investigative Reporter/Journalist
Copyright 2011 All Rights Reserved.
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USDA’s APHIS assessment determined that while the plant meets the definition of a “noxious weed,” Kentucky bluegrass has not been found to cause impacts significant enough to warrant regulation at the Federal level
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the center of one of government’s biggest shams.
As a member of the National Invasive Species Council, the USDA has a mandate to “not authorize, fund, or carry out actions that it believes are likely to cause or promote the introduction or spread of invasive species in the United States or elsewhere.”
Your tax payer dollars are paying for the eradication of invasive species like stink bugs and salt cedar.
Meanwhile, more of your tax dollars are funding the vast promotion of the ultimate invasive species: genetically engineered plants and cloned animals. This includes USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) which was formerly CSREES, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Economic Research Service (ERS), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
Invasive species are any species not native to an ecosystem, and with an intentional or unintentional release, are likely to cause, or does cause, economic or environmental harm, or harm to human health.
Consider this when you see what the USDA has allowed to be field tested in the U.S.:
- Human genes in barley, corn, tobacco, rice, and sugarcane
- Mouse genes in corn, along with human genes
- Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and Hepatitis B genes in corn
- Rat genes in soybeans
- Fruit fly genes in potatoes
- Pig genes in corn
- Cow genes in tobacco
- Jellyfish genes in corn and rice
What else?
In May, 2007 (Greenpeace): “WASHINGTON approved the open field trial cultivation of a genetically engineered (GE) rice that contains human proteins, defying the US rice industry’s opposition to the trial and ignoring the economic impacts that would be caused by contamination of GE-free rice…
The ‘cannibal rice’ is intended to produce drugs for alleviation of diarrhea and if contamination to rice food crops occurs, the effects could be disastrous.
Crossing human genes into rice is bad enough, but to engineer drugs into a food crop and then release it into the environment, is completely insane,” said Jeremy Tager, Agriculture Campaigner with Greenpeace International.”
Common sense should dictate that drug-producing plants should be kept in locked laboratories and not released into our environment.
In 2007, U.C. Davis and Cornell University received permits to field test experimental GE grapes inserted with Trichoderma harzianum, a fungus found in soil, anywhere in California. Other grapes were genetically altered with “CBI” or Confidential Business Information. What genes did they use that made them feel the need to hide the information from the public? And what steps did they take so the grapes weren’t eaten by birds, wildlife or people passing by? What prevented the dispersal of seed and pollen?
In 2000, GE StarLink corn, which was supposed to be used as animal feed or for industrial use (biofuel), was found in the human food supply. John Wichtrich, a top Aventis CropScience executive said that the food supply will never be rid of the new strain of corn that their company genetically engineered, and called for a change in federal regulations to allow some level of StarLink corn in human food.
In 2010, the USDA gave ArborGen permits to plant over 200,000 GE eucalyptus trees on 28 secret sites in 7 southern states. Eucalyptus trees are wildly invasive, spread into native ecosystems and displace wildlife. Additionally, the oil in these eucalyptus trees is extremely flammable. California spends millions each year to eradicate invasive eucalyptus because of the threat of wildfires.
In 2011, the USDA was sued for not doing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) of GE sugar beets. The USDA then implemented a “partial deregulation” of GE sugar beets, so they could be planted until the USDA completed the EIS for the court.
Now, the USDA is moving from extremely lax oversight to no oversight at all.
Earlier this month, the USDA announced their decision NOT to regulate Scotts Miracle Gro GE strain of Kentucky bluegrass, which is designed to withstand Monsanto’s “Roundup” herbicide.
Jeremy Bloom, in his article “Here Come The Superweeds – USDA Approves Invasive GMO Grass” noted the USDA isn’t doing tests on GE Kentucky bluegrass. The USDA only did an “assessment.” USDA’s APHIS assessment determined that while the plant meets the definition of a “noxious weed,” Kentucky bluegrass has not been found to cause impacts significant enough to warrant regulation at the Federal level.
Does the USDA only begin to regulate after some disaster, when it’s too late?
The continual spraying of Roundup has given rise to SUPERWEEDS, and farmers are now being forced to apply even more Roundup or more toxic products.
Bloom also notes that Michael C. Gregoire, who oversees biotechnology crop regulation at the Agriculture Department, has no background in either biotechnology or science. His degrees are in political science and public administration. He’s been a budget analyst… and the Chief Information Officer of the USDA. Bloom wonders “How being the department’s PR flack prepares one for making cutting-edge science decisions…”
Reports of risks:
In 2003, the report “RAISING RISK: Field Testing of Genetically Engineered Crops in the United States” by Richard Caplan, he noted that from 1987-2002, the USDA authorized 15,461 field releases of genetically engineered organisms on 39,660 field test sites spanning 482,226 acres. Monsanto submitted the most requests (3,309). USDA rejected only 3.5% of applicants, for incomplete applications or minor paperwork errors. 69% of field tests conducted in 2002 were done with genes that were considered Confidential Business Information.
That report was 9 years ago, so just imagine how many more field tests and releases have occurred since then. Not to mention all of that Confidential Business that affects all of us.
In 2005 an audit report by the U.S. Inspector General, found that USDA’s APHIS (which issues permits for field tests of high risk crops, such as those designed to produce pharmaceutical and industrial compounds) “lacks basic information…the precise locations of all GE field test sites planted in the United States are not always known. After authorizing field tests, APHIS does not follow up…in some cases, APHIS may only be aware of the state and county where an applicant plans to conduct a field test.
Before approving field tests, APHIS does not review…applicants’ containment protocols, which describe how the applicant plans to contain the GE crop within the field test site.
…APHIS does not effectively track information required during field tests, including…results of the field tests, including any harmful effects on the environment.
At the conclusion of the field test, APHIS does not require permit holders to report on the final disposition of GE pharmaceutical and industrial harvests…which may pose a threat to the food supply if unintentionally released.”
In 2008, the General Accounting Office (GAO) found that unauthorized releases of GE crops into food, animal feed and the environment occurred, but that the total number of releases was unknown.
The sham
The USDA, along with 13 other government agencies, is part of the National Invasive Species Council, which was formed in 1999 by Executive Order 13112 (signed by President Clinton) and is tasked with preventing the introduction of invasive species. Yet, the USDA promotes the ultimate invasive species, genetically engineered plants and cloned animals, both nationally and internationally. With your tax dollars.
And even more ironic, guess what company has been on the Invasive Species Advisory Committee, which is to “provide advice” to the National Invasive Species Council? Monsanto.
Does this seem like a farce?
AUTHORS NOTE: Thank you to researcher/writer Diana Hunter for her many hours of diligent research and consultations on Invasive Species and the United Nations’ Agenda 21.
SOURCES:
http://www.invasivespecies.gov/
http://cdn.publicinterestnetwork.org/assets/Ajy1if5X1_qoDUsoSjyKag/Raising_Risk.pdf
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/pdf/conf_ws_proc2.pdf
http://www.usda.gov/oig/webdocs/50601-08-TE.pdf
http://www.invasivespecies.gov/global/org_collab_budget/organizational_budget_orgchart.html
http://www.invasivespecies.gov/home_documents/EO%2013112.pdf
http://www.invasivespecies.gov/global/ISAC/ISAC_Members/ISAC%20Members%20List%20Class%206-2.pdf
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/05/business/05beet.html
http://invasivespecies.gov/main_nav/mn_about.html
http://invasivespecies.gov/global/org_collab_budget/organizational_budget_orgchart.html
http://ceq.hss.doe.gov/nepa/regs/eos/eo13112.html
http://www.rense.com/general9/forever.htm
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides/pips/starlink_corn.htm
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/biotechnology.cfm
http://plants.usda.gov/java/noxiousDriver
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=BiotechnologyAgencyDesc.xml&navid=AGRICULTURE
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Jul 28, 2011 @ 23:33:04
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Jul 26, 2011 @ 00:21:35
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Jul 23, 2011 @ 21:16:31
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Jul 23, 2011 @ 15:19:20
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Jul 23, 2011 @ 06:10:56
EdWren
Jul 23, 2011 @ 02:16:19
they squeal like little piglets dont’ they? They put out all kinds of phony crap, let the bio-pirates give them what they know is faked research and take the money and run! Hey! They need the money…..after it all costs a fortune to raid family farms and terrorize families and destroy family businesses. But if you are a big guy you get a warning letter and a fine, which you never have to pay and all is good. They need to shut USDA and FDA down or at least tell the truth. They don’t work for us they are just corporate shills and hind teat suckers.
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ppjg
Jul 23, 2011 @ 00:19:14
No Ray you don’t need to go to a third world country to find ignorance….you can log into USDA and get your fill right here at home!
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onephoenix
Jul 22, 2011 @ 22:25:22
A little more on Ray Knighton, who is a program director at USDA’s NIFA, and took time out from his very busy day at NIFA, which also monitors acid rain, mercury in fish & soybean rust, to comment here today
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said of NIFA:
“Formed in the main from the existing Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, NIFA will be the (USDA’s) extramural research enterprise. It is no exaggeration to say that NIFA will be a research ‘start-up’ company …”
Here’s NIFA’s Invasive Species page:
http://www.nifa.usda.gov/invasivespecies.cfm
and HERE is NIFA’s BIOTECH page:
http://www.nifa.usda.gov/biotechnology.cfm
NIFA’s animal genetics:
http://www.nifa.usda.gov/animalbreedinggeneticsgenomics.cfm
NIFA’s nanotechnology:
http://www.nifa.usda.gov/nanotechnology.cfm
and INTERNATIONAL:
http://www.nifa.usda.gov/nea/international/international.cfm
NIFA (the old CSREES) was heavily involved with the issues addressed in this article and others on this site.
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onephoenix
Jul 22, 2011 @ 21:52:45
Ray Knighton, are you the same Ray Knighton who has been a program director for USDA’s CSREES? (which is now USDA’s NIFA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, where you are currently employed?)
Just so readers can see a bit about what USDA NIFA Department is working on:
Click to access afri_climate_change_onepgr.pdf
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Ray Knighton
Jul 22, 2011 @ 17:39:20
Non-gm corn, soybeans, cotton, and wheat are not native to most U.S. ecosystems and are planted intentionally creating enviromental harm in most watersheds through erosion and application of fertilizers and pesticides. I guess you are right…USDA is involved in an invasive species sham.
You don’t need to go to a third world country to find alot of ignorance.
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Jul 21, 2011 @ 23:17:42
Tom
Jul 21, 2011 @ 20:29:04
Time to bug out of the system. no more obedience to government traitors and their regulations, no more paying taxes and no more trusting armed goons that enforce the governments petty regulations rather than protecting our rights. Don’t buy anything GMO and realize that the USDA and FDA stand for death, not protection of us..
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The USDA “Invasive Species” Sham
Jul 21, 2011 @ 19:41:49
Jason
Jul 21, 2011 @ 11:07:04
I read a tone of suprise and outrage in the writers voice. Speak louder when the FDA employs Monsanto former personnel to work at FDA. I persnnally have not had cows milk since learning how Monsanto fit into the mess. Give me a little Agent Orange, Glyphosate, and PCB with my cereal instead. Bill Gates will sterilize all of Africa with a GMO mosquito and it will accidentally get out. But the well to do have already had the mosquito vaccine and are immune. Makes for nice reading. Take the blue pill it will kill you without the cancer, FEMA sells them in quantity cheap. Donald Rummy Rumsfield owns them too with the Bush”s and Clintons I heard.
I have a strange feeling that the alien specie is the human race after a few years of Fukushima and GMO food. 6 fingers and strange looking.
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DEMO | Lesvosnews.net
Jul 21, 2011 @ 03:27:01
H Hoeke
Jul 20, 2011 @ 16:48:20
The US Government is rotten to the core!
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Don Quixote
Jul 20, 2011 @ 13:19:12
“Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and Hepatitis B genes in corn”.
Well gee whiz, I wonder what that could be for? I’m sure it’s for our own good.
They are already planting corn in sub-Saharan Africa that has an engineered protein that helps spread HIV. Created by a company called Prodigene I believe.
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RobertWilliams
Jul 20, 2011 @ 12:56:07
USDA intentionally allows or creates the problems so that the GMO and chemical companies make huge $$$ creating and pretending to fix food and invasive pest problems.
USDA doesn”t do it with guns, but the USDA is a murderer of millions of children’s lives, at least the quality of their lives if not their total demise.
And unfortunately the sheep continue to to allow the USDA to herd them towards their demise without question or suspicion.
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Robert
Jul 20, 2011 @ 11:00:50
The only way around the GMO threat is to radically change our diets. Many more nutritious and edible plants exist than what we are taught constitutes proper food.
With the loss of the family farm in the U.S. came the loss of general knowledge of botany, which became a topic relegated to agribusiness and ivory tower professors. Those who are serious about shifting their diets in response to the modern food crisis must be willing to do the research and reclaim the knowledge that our ancestors possessed.
Information is power. Here is a good place to begin:
http://www.pfaf.org/user/default.aspx
I suggest we get to work and plant some of these lesser known crops on our own land before someone declares them “invasive” and removes them from the marketplace all together.
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A frog looking over the rim of the pot
Jul 20, 2011 @ 09:31:07
1st Cook: The frogs are beginning to complain.
2nd Cook: Yes, that means the water is almost boiling…they have finally become aware they are in trouble – that their environment is being manipulated against them – but are by now far too weak from the heat to do anything but protest before their eventual demise.
1st Cook: Poor, cretinous creatures. See them squirm!
It is almost as if they begin to understand what is happening to them…
2nd Cook: Aye, they do in an instinctive sense. But…do not fret. They are lesser creatures and here for us to use as we see fit for that is they way of things and, deep down, they know this too, for do they not also abide by such natural ideaology within their own social structures?
1st Cook: True enough. I am glad you taught me how to boil frogs.
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Time To Cash Out With Self_Respect
Jul 20, 2011 @ 09:13:16
Hey, it’s all for depopulation of the World.
– Poison enough foods and people die
– Poison enough water and people die.
– Poison enough air and people die.
US government agencies set up to supposedly “protect people”, are REALLY setup to protect the companies FROM us! THe USDA, FCC, NRC, and all the other “alphabet” agencies FIGHT to keep the Public from hurting corporate profits!
All this time we thought the Government cared?
Remember, ALL politicians and their agencies are under no obligation to do “the Right thing.” Who is going to stop them and force them?
So, expect nothing to change.
Why would it?
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