PETER SHINKLE, ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH -- A farmer opposed to Monsanto Co.'s genetic seed licensing practices was sentenced pMay 7] in federal court at St. Louis to eight months in prison for lying about a truckload of cotton seed he hid for a friend.

Kem Ralph, 47, of Covington, Tenn., also admitted burning a truckload of seed, in defiance of a court order, to keep Monsanto from using it as evidence in a lawsuit against him.

The prison term for conspiracy to commit fraud is believed to be the first criminal prosecution linked to Monsanto's crackdown on farmers it claims are violating agreements on use of the genetically modified seeds.

Ralph pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on February 21 of lying in a sworn statement in the civil case.

At issue is seed-saving, the age-old agricultural practice of keeping seed from one crop to plant another. Monsanto's licensing agreement forbids it, a policy that has drawn bitter opposition from some farmers.

In court Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Richard Webber ordered Ralph to serve the prison time and to repay Monsanto $165,649 for about 41 tons of genetically engineered cotton and soybean seed he was found to have saved in violation of the agreement.

Monsanto says it has filed 73 civil lawsuits against farmers in the past five years over this issue.

Officials of the company, based in Creve Coeur, hoped that Ralph's case would send a stern message. Monsanto has distributed information about it and about the civil litigation as a warning.

Before Ralph's sentencing Wednesday, a Monsanto official told Judge Webber that other farmers would closely watch the outcome.

"Their behavior will be set according to the results here today," said Scott Baucum, an intellectual property protection manager for Monsanto.

The ruddy-faced Ralph appeared in court in blue jeans and a plaid shirt. He made no comment during or after the hearing. His attorneys have asked him to hold his peace because his civil case with Monsanto --- in which he has already been ordered to pay more than $1.7 million to the agribusiness giant --- is still not over.

But Ralph has been outspoken about his feelings. He said in a deposition in

2000 that opposition to Monsanto led to his decision to burn the bags of seed.

"Me and my brother talked about how rotten and lowdown Monsanto is. We're tired of being pushed around by Monsanto," he said then. "We are being pushed around and drug down a road like a bunch of dogs. And we decided we'd burn them."

Monsanto's new seeds have won widespread acceptance among American farmers. An example is genetically modified soybean seeds, which are designed to work with Monsanto's herbicide Roundup.

The seeds, which won government approval in 1994, are expected to account for 80% of the 73 million acres of soybeans planted in 2002 and 2003, the Department of Agriculture says.

Monsanto and its supporters say its fees are justified so the company can recoup costs and pay for future research.

Farmers who refuse to pay the fees obtain an unfair advantage over others, Monsanto says.

Some critics contend that the company's pricing is excessive and too tough on farmers.

"Farmers were always able to compete by saving seed. It's really a question of the corporate profit - that's what's being protected. If you can't save seed, you've got to buy it," said Lou Leonatti, an attorney from Mexico, Missouri, who represents Ralph in his civil case.

People from Tipton County, near Ralph's home, wrote to tell Judge Webber that farmers there had suffered some hard years.

Paul D'Agrossa, attorney for Ralph in the criminal case, argued for probation so his client could continue to work the soil and support his teenage son.

But Webber, who explained that he had saved seed on the family farm where he grew up, said he could not ignore Ralph's efforts to conceal evidence.

"I'm not interested in making an example of Mr. Ralph. At the same time, I can't turn a blind eye to his conduct," the judge said.

Taking note of the planting season, Webber said he would not require the farmer to report to prison before July 1.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/prison051403.cfm

Comment

 

From Horst
horst@nakis.gr
6-20-3

 

1. Why don't they start with organic farming? It is a viable method with the same profit after the first couple of years needed for the soil to recover.

 

2. Obviously, there are many farmers who suffer under this evil conduct of Monsanto.

 

 

What will happen when thousands of farmers do the same? i.e. save seeds for the next year.

 

They can't send them all to prison!

 

Civil disobeyance is the right way to answer this and it is usually successfull. Use the internet to get organized!

 

By the way, here in Europe Monsanto is THE symbol for evil Amerikkkan companies.