In California it's going to start costing $100 for a license to save your own seeds. At least that's what I just read in DH's countryside magazine (jan-feb. 2003 pg. 72)fines range from $1000 for home gardeners to $250,000.00 for nurseries but only if the seeds don't comply with the usda noxious weeds program (docket no. 01-034-1) I don't know anything about this however I thought I should pass along to all of you in california. here's the source they listed for more information: Regulatory Analysis and Development Docket No. 01034-1
Included in this same article was information that in Salem, Oregon there's an ordinance regulating the size of backyard gardens to no more than a few hundred feet. I haven't checked either one of these facts out completely, just thought that they may directly affect some of you and you might want to check into it. Tracy
Informational Only - gotta license for those seeds?
I just found this...........
The USDA is now accepting public comments (Only open until March 29th)on their Draft Action Plan for the Noxious Weeds Program, which includes the "clean list" or "white list" proposal. They are now going beyond the clean list and are stating that they intend to require permits and inspections for ALL seeds and plants moving interstate ? this will effectively shut down many popular seed exchanges like the North American Rock Garden Society exchange and the Seed Saver's Exchange. These exchanges have been hailed as important means of preserving Biodiversity. How many home seed savers will be willing to get appropriate licenses and inspections when they cost a minimum of $100 (for a nursery stock or seed license here in California).
Penalties of up to $250,000 are proposed with a minimum fine of $1000 even for home gardeners.
Below is a sample letter that can be sent to your local congress-person, and to the USDA at the following land addresses and email addresses:
Contact Alan.V.Tasker@usda.gov (or send a letter to:
Docket No. 01-034-1 Regulatory Analysis and Development PPD,
APHIS Suite 3C03
4700 River Road, Unit 118
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238
Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman
Jamie L. Whitten Federal Bldg. Rm.200-A
12th & Jefferson Dr., SW
Washington DC 20250
Phone 202-720-3631,
Fax:720-2166
Email: agsec@usda.gov
comment objecting to the clean list.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sample Letter:
Honorable _________________________ As a concerned voter, I am writing object to the USDA Draft Action Plan for the Noxious Weeds Program, which will implement a "clean list" and other unwarranted restrictions controlling the import and movement of plants and animals in the U.S., allegedly
to stop the spread of "invasive species."
I feel that this "clean list" would be a reckless and irresponsible policy, for the following reasons:
1. Such a policy requires adequate, scientifically verified methods of predicting which species would be "invasive," yet all scientific attempts at predicting "invasiveness" have failed.
2. We already have adequate weed laws. We already know which species are pests; implementing a sweeping, poorly-conceived ban on what will amount to 99% of the world's species will cause more problems than it could possibly solve.
3. Scientific researchers need ready access to the earth's biological resources for new food crops, new medicinal plants, new industrial uses.
Limiting this access will place U.S. scientists at a disadvantage in the competitive world markets. Limiting our farmers' access to new crops will increase our dependence on foreign supplies.
4. It will result in greater usage of herbicides on our public lands.
5. It will do nothing to address the fundamental causes of "invasive" species - disrupted ecosystems.
6. Small entrepreneurial businesses are responsible for the majority of all jobs created in the past 20 years, and they will bear the brunt of the economic harm this measure will create. Small nurseries have been responsible for the majority of new plant introductions from overseas which have revitalized the entire gardening industry in recent decades.
7. According to the USDA Economic Research Service, horticulture and floriculture are the fastest growing sector of U. S. agriculture with 12.1 billion in revenues in 1998, and this has steadily risen since. In these difficult economic times, it is grossly irresponsible of the USDA to obstruct such an economic powerhouse with completely untested, unproven and unnecessary regulatory restrictions.
8. These restrictions may be illegal under free trade treaties, and are sure to invite retaliatory measures by our trading partners. This comes at a time when entrepreneurial free trade should be encouraged.
9. The clean list is only the latest in a pattern of USDA obstruction of legitimate business and biodiversity conservation efforts, as witness the recent imposition of outdated regulations that haven't been enforced in decades due to their inapplicability. The phytosanitary-certificate requirement for flower seeds which has been unnecessary and unenforced for over 50 years, and irrational prohibitions of modern sterile-culture orchid seedlings (essential for orchid conservation), have both been suddenly enforced by an out-of-control USDA, sending shockwaves throughout the nursery industry and gardening community. Antiquated, outmoded regulations from the 19th century should not be enforced in the 21st.
10. The clean list proposal is a reckless & irresponsible expansion of an antiquated, cumbersome and inefficient bureaucracy at a time when government should be moving towards a streamlined and efficient future.
11. When the USDA requested comments on the clean list proposal, American scientists, businessmen and gardeners were 8 to 1 against the clean list, yet the USDA ignored the clear mandate from the American people, and included this and even more restrictive proposals in the Draft Action Plan.
The USDA is totally out of touch with the American people ? remember the recent "Organic Rules" furor?
One of the founding fathers of our nation, Thomas Jefferson, said: "The greatest service a man may do for his country is the introduction of a useful plant." I hope you will stand with Jefferson on this issue, and rein in the out-of-control USDA and NISC.
I am totally opposed to any "clean list" policy as well as the new phytosanitary and orchid-seedling restrictions, and am opposed to any further restrictions and roadblocks to interstate commerce. The USDA must get back to its mission of serving agriculture, not obstructing it.
In closing, I want to point out that gardeners are the single largest common-interest group in the U. S., and that you can be sure we will Remember In November. I will be waiting for your response, indicating what you are doing to rein in the USDA & NISC, and where you stand on the "clean list" issue.
Got this from here http://www.farmpride.com/seedinfo.html so don't get mad at me for sharing. I didn't write this, but I do agree with it
thanks so much flowox i should have researched some more this isn't just going to affect CA is it? Yikes sounds like we need to post this hyperlink on every gardening site we can find? Has anyone else heard anything about this?
concerned, Tracy
Gardens in Salem (Oregon) Regulated Jan/Feb 2003
http://propertyrightsresearch.org/gardens_in_salem.htm
flowox - that's the article i read, i didn't know it was online! amazing, tracy
Tears came to my eyes when I saw this posting. This whole direction is quite frightening. Will we be legislated out of being self-sufficient on what we grow and collect and trade?
Makes me think of a bumper sticker I saw when I was driving home from the food co-op today.
"I love my country, but I fear my government"
'nuff said
Thanks for the eye opener. I am not the most politically involved person - but this one really stuck a chord with me - this type of interference is exactly what can strip away our freedoms and increase our reliance on a system governed by special interest groups rather than a government which represents the interests of the people.
What about those in Salem who integrate their entire landscape with edible ornamentals?
I have no idea what they do then. It would seem hard to regulate to me. Tracy
Is there anyone here who doesn't see this as waaaay too much government interference? Does anyone else think there are ulterior motives, fueled and perpetuated by greedy lobbying groups with special interests, and very little interest in the actual protection of the public from invasive or otherwise undesirable flora? Will we be subjected to the same kinds of snooping we have been told for years were inflicted upon people in other "dangerous" countries, in an effort to force us to buy from favored sellers with deep pockets open to the politicians behind this?
What possible danger can a garden which takes up an entire back yard pose? What actual percentage of Americans grow and preserve their own foods in this day of two job households and takeout dinners? Does this smell like a bold move to grab an unfair amount of control over our personal and private lives?
"The USDA is now accepting public comments (Only open until March 29th)...."
it ought to be against the law :(
Definately feel the same way as many of you, I too love my country but my government is getting way out of hand. Freedom doesn't seem to mean to them what it means to all of us. I agree that some parties with money must be influencing the government officials to start getting laws like this passed and will definately be making my public comment on this issue. Tracy
I have read that many politicians no longer will acknowledge or read emails that are "Form" types. we have been fighting environmental issues by sending emails in a form type. They worked to reach our goals in the past..but politicians no longer think that you really feel a certain way if a thousand people all send the same email.So say it in your own words to get your point across.Email your represenatives, fax them, or whatever it takes. Remeber YOU put these people in office..you can also remove them.The USDA is getting very narrow minded in its views.Nuff said.
Thanks Eclipse I didn't know that the form letters wouldn't get as much attention. I'll rephrase mine. Thanks, again.
This 'white paper' has been around for some time now.At least since the middle of the last administration.It has been passed by the Congress and all you are seeing are the little 'tag ends' that they are cleaning up to prevent loopholes.
The law was quietly snuk through with some other stuff and passed before anyone knew what was happening.I'm sure that the lobbiests made it sound like the government needed to prevent the spread of noxious weeds,and mind altering plant material(datura) and some legislators have no idea what they signed into law.
The Plant Police are real,and just one more thing that gardeners have to deal with.
Seed Savers Exhange(of which I'm a member)is going about business as usual.This is the cue that I am going to take,but at every opportunity,I have let my elected offiials know that some changes have to be made.
thanks melody I had no idea this was even out there until a few days ago. appreciate the information. Tracy
I get so mad when I read this kind of stuff,,,before you know it, we'll have to have coupons to live.... I wonder when we're gonna do something about all this...but..like everyone else, I'm so busy trying to make it through a day successfully I don't have the inclination to write (unread) letters to politicians who could care less. I'm so used to electing people to make the laws and supervise the world that I expect someone else to stand up and make changes happen... please forgive me,,I'm not poking my finger at anyone other than myself. I want things to change, but don't have the gumption to do anything about it,,and I get awfully mad at myself at times. I truly am one of the *masses*. I'll go calm down out in the garden,,maybe plant a noxious weed or something!
God I hope no one gets mad at me for saying this (remember, I "Do" plan to become a citizen)..........but I have always wondered............
America the land of the free
Free for whom and from what? Seems like there's not much freedom left :(
Plant regulation in other countries has been around for many years now.In Europe,only plants from government approved lists are allowed to be sold commercially.The selection is usually tilted toward hybrids,so that seed saving is useless.I don't think much has been done over there to the general public who save seeds and trade plants,and there are several good seed saving orginizations in Europe that preserve old heirlooms.Arche Noah is just one.
Big agri-business is at the root of all this,but that gets me started on GMO products and another teeth gritting subject alltogether.
I know it's true in the Netherlands,and to some extent in other Countries too.
Arsenic it's vegetable varieties, I don't know of any ornamental plant approved list. There is an EU approved list for all crops and if the plant isn't on the approved list you can often legally grow it and give it away or eat it but you can't sell it or buy it.
Now there is something in the back of my head nagging that some ornamental native seed has to be registered somewhere if it is to be sold but as far as I'm aware it's just veggies.
Certainly something to chew on!! Doesn't take any more than a piece of paper, a pen, and a stamp to let them have it!!!
"eyes"