As someone new to “commercial” farming, I must admit I did not know a lot about GMOs when we launched our farm last year. However, over the past year I’ve learned enough to realize the use of GMOs is a very complex issue, with the discussion driven by passionate people on both sides who know a lot more about science than I ever will.
For those who may not know, GMO stands for genetically modified organism. Dictionary.com defines a GMO “as an organism whose genome has been altered by the techniques of genetic engineering so that its DNA contains one or more genes not normally found there. Note : A high percentage of food crops, such as corn and soybeans,are genetically modified.” Basically it’s inserting genes from one organism into another in order to accomplish a desired outcome in the host organism.
My intent with this post is not to try and persuade you to believe one way or the other, but to simply raise awareness. I want to encourage you to do your own research and make your decisions based on what you believe is best for you and your family. To help kick start the education process, here are 3 links I would suggest you read:
- Genetically Modified Organisms 101
- 10 Scientific Studies Proving GMOs Can Be Harmful To Human Health
- 10 studies proving GMOs are harmful? Not if science matters.
As for our farm’s stance, we will continue to operate utilizing natural, organic farming methods. This means not utilizing any chemical fertilizers or pesticides, utilizing only heirloom or hybrid seeds for our crops and feeding all our animals locally sourced, non-GMO feeds. My personal belief is the jury is still out on GMOs and as a result, we have chosen to ere on the side of caution.
Hill Family Farm 
November 20, 2014 at 12:22 pm
Reblogged this on labelgmo and commented:
A farmer’s perspective on the issue
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