What’s important to you about feed?

[saysfaa]

Monsanto... I will support those who grow non-gmo and organic corn and soy.

That is a good reason to buy organic. I don't go that way because of how many farmers grow organic (in the old sense of the term) and just skip the cost, hassle, and opening up to invasive meddling by the regulatory agencies of getting certified.

 

[Percheron chick]

What's not on the list and just about at the top of my list is that it is milled locally.
Support local farmers and business, reduce transportation impact, fresher and typically less expensive because of lower storage, transportation and advertisement costs.

 

[Weeg]

What's not on the list and just about at the top of my list is that it is milled locally.
Support local farmers and business, reduce transportation impact, fresher and typically less expensive because of lower storage, transportation and advertisement costs.

This ^^
I much prefer my local brand too.

 

[Iluveggers]

This ^^
I much prefer my local brand too.

Luckily I found a local organic source with 21% protein and high level of methionine. I would go to one of the other local mills before TSC, even if it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for.

 

[high5]

I agree that the government control/regulation of organic farming has become extremely complex. However the control Montsano has over the farming industry is insane. So many corn farmers were out out of business and sued because they saved their own seed, yet a corn crop miles down the road would cross-pollinate with their field, and Montsano would come and accuse them of stealing. The lawyers would fight them til they had nothing left. It is extremely difficult to find non-gmo corn or soy, and the expense is getting worse. It is a risk for farmers to try to keep a “clean” field. I will support those who grow non-gmo and organic corn and soy.

I understand how the apple scare could make you upset as a fruit farmer, for sure.

Monsanto et al are clearly the problem. It's known that aluminium is being sprayed in large quantities via geoengineering (chemtrails), so it makes sense why Monsanto have developed seeds which will grow in aluminiun rich soils - why would they bother otherwise?

... and few folk seem to notice, few folk seem to care!

 

[K0k0shka]

Monsanto isn't all there is to GMO. The technology itself isn't inherently evil, or even harmful to anything, it's how you use it. Like the internet. Lots of abuse, cyberbullying, scams, political and economic damage etc. because of the internet, but also lots of helpful resources, means of connecting with people, this forum (!!!) and so on. Can't trash it all because of the people who abuse it. But people lump it all together and equate the technology with one company that exploits it for its own gain, and in their minds GMO equals bad. That's not fair, and it's not realistic. The technology itself is our future, the way we save the planet from ourselves. GMO is when you modify a crop to be able to grow on less water (to adapt to growing global water shortages). GMO is when you modify a crop to produce a higher yield per given area (so less deforestation for agriculture). It's when you modify a crop to be resistant to a disease, so you don't have to spray it with chemicals to protect it from said disease. And so on. It's not all about roundup. This is the way of the future, if we use it right. Like with anything, there will be the people/companies that abuse it, but let's not let them reshape the narrative and hijack the entire concept.

 

[high5]

But people lump it all together and equate the technology with one company that exploits it for its own gain, and in their minds GMO equals bad. That's not fair, and it's not realistic.

But it isn't one company, is it? It's a multitude of companies, MSMs and governments!

Monsanto has been mentioned here because of it's closeness to chicken feed, etc, because we're on a chicken forum. There's also the political side, which fits in so comfortably, too...

Ask Indian and Egyptian farmers (as well as farmers in a plethora of other countries, worldwide) whether they want to buy GMO seeds from companies which have patented the seed and made sure that the plants are mules and produce seeds which won't sprout in the ground the following year, forcing them to buy afresh each year, because their Governments' laws have been altered and make them do it!

Ask the struggling families of those thousands of farmers who comitted suicide in the past few years, if they think GMO is a good idea, and is "fair and realistic", and if "the technology itself is our future, the way we save the planet from ourselves", and see what kind of reception you get.

If altering genetic structures, and spraying deadly chemicals is the solution, then we might as well throw the towel in right now.

 

[K0k0shka]

But it isn't one company, is it? It's a multitude of companies, MSMs and governments!

Monsanto has been mentioned here because of it's closeness to chicken feed, etc, because we're on a chicken forum. There's also the political side, which fits in so comfortably, too...

Ask Indian and Egyptian farmers (as well as farmers in a plethora of other countries, worldwide) whether they want to buy GMO seeds from companies which have patented the seed and made sure that the plants are mules and produce seeds which won't sprout in the ground the following year, forcing them to buy afresh each year, because their Governments' laws have been altered and make them do it!

Ask the struggling families of those thousands of farmers who comitted suicide in the past few years, if they think GMO is a good idea, and is "fair and realistic", and if "the technology itself is our future, the way we save the planet from ourselves", and see what kind of reception you get.

If altering genetic structures, and spraying deadly chemicals is the solution, then we might as well throw the towel in right now.

It isn't just one company abusing the internet either, but we haven't thrown the towel in and banned it yet, and probably never will. Bans are rarely the answer. See how well the alcohol ban worked out. The solution is in using it properly, and making sure others don't abuse it, so we don't lose the baby with the bathwater and deny ourselves crucial technology that can help us on this steep path to hell that the planet is taking. The main problem with this approach is that the US sucks at regulating things that are potentially dangerous. From guns to heavy metals in your drinking water. Business wins over safety most of the time, but people want their freedom and bristle at any regulations, so there you have it. The EU is much better at this, and their people and their chickens eat cleaner food as a result (and their children don't get shot at school), so there are good examples we can learn from, but... The freedom thing tends to get in the way, and we lag behind.

 

[high5]

It isn't just one company abusing the internet either, but we haven't thrown the towel in and banned it yet, and probably never will. Bans are rarely the answer. See how well the alcohol ban worked out. The solution is in using it properly, and making sure others don't abuse it, so we don't lose the baby with the bathwater and deny ourselves crucial technology that can help us on this steep path to hell that the planet is taking. The main problem with this approach is that the US sucks at regulating things that are potentially dangerous. From guns to heavy metals in your drinking water. Business wins over safety most of the time, but people want their freedom and bristle at any regulations, so there you have it. The EU is much better at this, and their people and their chickens eat cleaner food as a result (and their children don't get shot at school), so there are good examples we can learn from, but... The freedom thing tends to get in the way, and we lag behind.

I don't think that the internet will ever be banned, it's too much of an easy way to glean information from people like you and I (many people still don't even use a good 'no logs' VPN, and so are giving all their personal info, thoughts, etc away for free) but it is clearly censored in a big way already.

We can study a more recent ban than the alcohol ban, too. France possibly has the tightest drugs laws in Europe, and I hear, there are more cannabis smokers here than any other European country. Portugal put an end to their drugs problem by legalising everything! France won't change their position... everything is upside-down, isn't it?

It's not just the US which has problems, the EU over-regulates, which is just as bad. Too much red tape here! The second amendment possibly holds the US together. Without it, you'd be walked over in no time.

Governments could help with the 'freedom thing', but they can't because they don't want it - I don't think it fits in with their plans for us. Your own George Carlin said it all - "It's a big club, and you ain't in it!"... but no one seemed to listen.

 

[AnnPann]

Just jumping in here after reading this interesting discussion. May I recommend a book? Eating to Extinction by Dan Saladino, published this year. Absolutely fascinating read about what we've done to eliminate diversity in our food supply. Sounds like those contributing to this discussion would all enjoy it. There's even a section on chicken breeds!