Rather than start laying down the law about the habits of baboons on the subject of farm bill strategy, I thought I'd just toy with a part of the bill and see where it gets me.

Yesterday, Sally Jo Sorensen scribed a piece on one section of the bill, §123, which preempts state or local law restricting the commercial use of anything that USDA has said is fine and dandy. Like GMOs.

Her particular MN angle is that, last month, the gov signed into law a bill banning (or otherwise restricting the use of) genetically modified wild rice. Apparently, MN Indian tribes lobbied for the provision: some of them have gaming interests, which may make backing their demands with moolah that little bit easier.

MN is not alone in legislating to restrict GMOs: according to the FDL piece she links, there is such legislation (state or local) in force in (parts of) 16 states.

There's more...