Activist Post

Dr. Michael McNeill, of Algona, Iowa, will deliver a lecture at the UM Presque Isle Campus Center on Friday, July 13, 2012, from 5:30-8:00 pm. Dr McNeill’s lecture is entitled “Genetically Modified – In the News and On Your Plate.”

Through the presentation of extensive peer-reviewed scientific research, explained in a manner understandable to farmers, consumers and lay persons, Dr. McNeill will present a strong cautionary examination of the agronomic and food security problems associated with an overuse of glyphosate; the main ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide.

Dr. McNeill is President of Ag Advisory LTD, an Iowa company that provides agronomic consulting services to farmers. He holds a PhD in Plant Breeding and Statistical Genetics from Iowa State University. His company advises on individual farm plans – organic and conventional – with an emphasis on healthy biological soil management. Dr. McNeill serves as an expert legal witness on livestock and plant diseases. His farm provides contract research capability for agricultural businesses and government on soil fertility, soil tillage, plant disease and insect control. His career includes a position as Research Biologist with the U.S. Army where he studied soybean and corn diseases.

In 2011, Dr. McNeill was one of a select group of scientists, including plant pathologist and retired U.S. Army Colonel and germ warfare expert, Dr. Donald Huber, from Purdue University, who traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with U.S. Department of Agriculture officials. There, the scientists expressed grave concern and urged caution based on observations from ongoing research which shows serious negative consequences from the overuse of the herbicide Roundup, which is extensively used in Monsanto’s Roundup Ready GMO crops such as corn and soybeans.

“Last winter, I was fortunate to have heard Dr. McNeill deliver this same lecture in Bangor”, said Jim Gerritsen, an organic farmer from Wood Prairie Farm in Bridgewater. “His lecture was so powerful and so well-documented, and the content so crucial for our families and to the food security of our country, that we immediately developed plans for bringing Dr McNeill back to Maine, so that he could speak to additional audiences including here in Aroostook County.”

Prior to speaking in Presque Isle, Dr McNeill will deliver his lecture to audiences in southern Maine. He will speak both in Starks on Wednesday July 11 (Maine Alternative Agriculture Assn, 699 Anson Road, 6pm); and at Bowdoin College in Brunswick on Thursday July 12, (Bowdoin’s Maine Lounge, 7pm).

Dr McNeill’s Presque Isle lecture is being sponsored by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), Maine Alternative Agriculture Association, Wood Prairie Farm Education Fund, and Slow Food Aroostook. Attendance is free and open to the public. All are welcome and invited to attend. Light refreshments will be served. Everyone who eats or farms should make plans to attend this important, informative and well-documented presentation. Any questions on the event may be directed to Jim Gerritsen at Wood Prairie Farm, 207-429-9765.

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About Maine’s Wood Prairie Farm (www.woodprairie.com; 800-829-9765)

Wood Prairie Farm is located in Aroostook County, Northern Maine’s historic center of potato farming. For over 36 years, Jim & Megan Gerritsen and their family have been farming organically and grow the finest potatoes, seed and vegetables. Wood Prairie Farm’s organic seed potatoes, kitchen potatoes, vegetable and cover crop seeds and other products are available direct to the customer by mail order from its website and catalog.