Minnesota farmers need Minnesota's U.S. senators to act on food labeling

Unless the U.S. Senate takes immediate action, Minnesota farmers stand to be seriously hurt within two months by a Vermont law requiring special labels for products made with genetically modified ingredients.   The safety of GMOs is well-established in the scientific community. They have been part of our nation's food supply for more than 20 years without incident. Every major scientific and health organization that has examined GMOs has concluded they are as safe as any other food. Despite the great benefits of GMOs, small numbers of activists are fighting to impose new state laws that would require special labels for food produced with this technology. They succeeded in Vermont, where a GMO-Iabeling law will go into effect in July. In spite of being a small state, Vermont's law will have massive ramifications around the country and especially here in Minnesota.   Food producers understand that these labels will have a stigmatizing effect on their products, with many consumers incorrectly viewing them as a warning. As a result, many food companies have already begun to reformulate their products and only source non-GMO ingredients. Last month, Dannon became the latest food company to make such an announcement, which included a commitment to ensuring their farmers' cows are given non-GMO feed. Minnesota farmers will face immense pressure to abandon GMO technology. This will raise costs and require the use of more resources such as land and water.  It's never been more important for Minnesota Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken to be our voice in Washington. With her position on the Senate Agriculture Committee, Klobuchar in particular could be a leader in getting a solution enacted. We need it now. Time is running out.