Document text
1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Second suspect pleads guilty in cartel grow case City may restrict outdoor pot growing Middle school to sell discounted books What are your hopes for the new governor? Brown's inauguration brings hope to local lawmakers Education Middle school to sell discounted books AHS Principal Zundel up for national award Library receives grant AHS students get the skinny on wide range of jobs during career day Levy supporters kick off campaign Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area celebrates snow GMO opponents can join Jackson County in defending ban Grant will help restore 'legacy' oak habitat in Southern Oregon and Northern California Mt. Ashland Ski Area crew dips to five Mt. Ashland Ski Area announces layoffs Business Sammich does it Chicago-style Ride & Drive: 2015 Nissan GT-R Ride & Drive: 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Silvio Calabi: Range Rover Sport, the off-road GT Where do Ashland’s top chefs go to dine? Politics and elections Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Successor Kate Brown must run for election in 2016 Sadness, relief greet Kitzhaber resignation locally Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation State News Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Federal investigation of Kitzhaber to focus on potential financial crimes Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Read Gov. John Kitzhaber's statement on his resignation Legislative leaders join in call for Kitzhaber resignation (updated) Nation - World Obituaries Death Notices Death Notices Dominick (Nick) Dante Amorelli Arlene M. (Ryan) Mills Michael Wayne South Shareable Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society This $1 million Mercedes is like an armored private jet for the road Sports Latest Stories Former Trail Blazer Kersey dies at 52 His time to shine OSU's Reid reconciles past with present SOU hires first men's soccer, women's wrestling coaches Grizzlies open 2015 season with dominant performance at Mount Bachelor High school Millers smother Grizz on senior night Crater girls, boys cruise to victory in Midwestern League blowouts Grizz boys' upset bid falls just short in loss to Churchill Layton picks Western Oregon Ashland girls go 6-1 in multi-team dual meet Southern Oregon University His time to shine OSU's Reid reconciles past with present SOU hires first men's soccer, women's wrestling coaches Raiders perfect on senior day Three questions facing the 2015 Oregon State baseball team Voices Latest Stories Editor's notes: Want to make your own newspaper? Feb. 18: Letters to the editor Our view: Mt. Ashland shines Our View: Pooling resources Council Corner: Yes on welcome center Editorial Our view: Mt. Ashland shines Our View: Pooling resources Our View: Support schools — again Our View: Kitzhaber's Delilah? Our View: GMO ruling was correct Letters Feb. 18: Letters to the editor Letters to the Editor, Feb. 14 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 11 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 10 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 6 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Legal poisons in our waters Chris Honoré: Public schools: separate, still unequal Guest Opinion: Why so anxious to tax marijuana? Herb Rothschild Jr.: A good day for peace Guest Opinion: A message to my health care colleagues Columns Editor's notes: Want to make your own newspaper? Council Corner: Yes on welcome center Chris Honoré: The perils of religious hubris Workers need more power Guest Opinion: Legal poisons in our waters Revels Latest Stories Community blog: SOU creative writing faculty present their work Best Bets: Feb. 19-26 Community blog: Young poets need your help 'Dames at Sea' opens at Oregon Cabaret Theatre Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Theater 'Words' wordsmith went from copywriting to playwriting 'Dames at Sea' opens at Oregon Cabaret Theatre Looking inside yourself and finding a character is magic Classics, premiers highlight 2015 season for OSF Music Victor D. Infante: Just in time for Valentine’s Day, some favorite breakup songs The Farr Side: Smith dominates, Beck surprises at Grammys Frisell brings fine-tuned act to Armory The Farr Side: Trainor building a music niche A laid-back chat with Marilyn Manson Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘Fifty Shades’ of boring Movie review: ‘Kingsman’ transcends spy-movie tribute status Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Cotillard embarks on a journey of hope in 'Two Days, One Night' Movie review: ‘Leviathan’ tells a whale of a human tale Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Season Stepp: Cooking Chinese food should not intimidate you Garden Cameos: Winter is the time to prune Page H. Onorato: Food items help define the South Debbie Snyder: Fleas annoy you and your pet Brent St. Germain: King cake is my kryptonite Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business NEWS NOW Second suspect pleads guilty in cartel grow case ... City may restrict outdoor pot growing ... Middle school to sell discounted books ... Second suspect pleads guilty in cartel grow case ... City may restrict outdoor pot growing ... Middle school to sell discounted books ... GMO opponents can join Jackson County in defending ban Comment By John Darling for the Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling for the Daily Tidings Posted Feb. 6, 2015 @ 6:45 pm By John Darling for the Daily Tidings Posted Feb. 6, 2015 @ 6:45 pm » Social News Local anti-GMO forces celebrated a Friday ruling allowing them to join Jackson County in defense of last year’s voter-passed ban on growing genetically engineered crops in the county. Our Family Farms Coalition and others have said they question Jackson County’s knowledge of the issue and will to fight GMO proponents who are suing the county. Pro-GMO farmers say the new ordinance violates the state Right to Farm Act, which halts suits over perceived “nuisances” related to farming. The ruling Friday allows Oshala Farm in the Applegate, Ashland farmer Christopher Hardy and two Portland-based environmental action groups, Our Family Farms Coalition and the Center For Food Safety, to join Jackson County as defendants against the suit filed by local farmers — Schultz Family Farms and James and Marilyn Frink — who grow GMO-alfalfa and claim the new ordinance would cost them $2 million each. Some 120 GMO foes Wednesday packed District Court in Medford as both sides argued about the intervenors’ request. Now the main issue — the legality of the county’s new ban — moves forward in court. Our Family Farms Coalition promised to “vigorously defend” the ordinance, using lawyers from the Center For Food Safety and Earthrise Law Center at Lewis and Clark Law School. The plaintiffs Wednesday said anti-GMO forces had only political or ideological interests but no legally protectable material interest to defend, thus they lacked standing to be in court. However, Magistrate Judge Mark D. Clarke ruled that, in the interest of rapid resolution and access to courts, the law around intervenors should be liberally interpreted. Clarke wrote that Hardy and Oshala Farm do have significant protectable interests because they are local farmers with “concrete agricultural and economic interests that will be just as impacted” by the outcome of the suit. Invalidation of the ordinance, Clarke adds, would impair their interests, as they can’t market seed or food with “transgenic contamination.” Clarke tackled the question of whether Jackson County can provide adequate legal representation for the ordinance because it must represent all constituents, this in contrast to the more narrow and concrete economic interest of the anti-GMO intervenors. He noted the county lacks that economic interest in the law, so the intervenors should sit at the table. Local farmer Elise Higley, director of OFFC, said in a statement, “Monsanto and the chemical giants have created a product (Roundup) they can't control. After the people expressed their will through the democratic process, they turned to the courts to protect their profits. They intimidate and bully with high-priced law firms, but we won't back down.” “This is a big win for family farmers,” said Center For Food Safety attorney George Kimbrell. “The court has correctly recognized local farmers' right to protect the ordinance, farmers that championed the ordinance and are directly threatened by the lawsuit.” Tom Buchele, with Earthrise Law Center, stated, "This is a good start to the case, but it’s not really surprising given the compelling agricultural and economic interests that farmers growing traditional crops have in seeing the ban on genetically engineered crops upheld and legally enforced." The pro-GMO campaign spent nearly $1 million in last May’s primary election, but lost after capturing only a third of the vote. The campaign was sparked by Hardy three years ago after he found Syngenta GMO crops growing near his sugar beets. John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Email him at [email protected] . By John Darling for the Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling for the Daily Tidings Posted Feb. 6, 2015 @ 6:45 pm » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501