Sussex LWV to host program on agriculture Nov. 12

What about eating genetically modified food? Do package labels really tell what one is eating? What is agricultural nanotechnology? Can organic food feed the world? What are the benefits and risks of herbicides and pesticides? Should large corporate farms continue to be subsidized?

The League of Women Voters of Sussex County will present an introduction to the League of Women Voters United States (LWVUS) study of the United States policy on Agriculture from 1 to 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 12, at the Beebe Medical Arts Building, Beebe Medical Campus, 18941 John J. Williams Highway (Route 24) in Rehoboth. The study will seek answers to some of the questions listed above.

This is an opportunity to learn how the LWVUS determines its non-partisan positions on issues of importance to the people in America and to be part of the process.

At the 2012 LWVUS National Convention, the delegates voted to study the U.S. agriculture policy focusing narrowly on two important issues facing American agriculture:

• Current technology issues in agriculture including genetically modified organisms, herbicides, pesticides, agriculture water pollution, aquifer depletion, antibiotics in livestock, and accurate food labeling; and

• Current agriculture finance issues, including consolidation in agriculture industries, crop subsidies and the federal agricultural regulatory process.

The public forum will begin with brief presentations addressing questions raised by the study. That will be followed by the attendees asking questions, suggesting additional resources for information, or providing additional insight into the topic. This meeting with its interactions with those present is an important part of the LWV study process. The information gathered will be used by the committee as it moves forward with its work.

The study will conclude with a second public forum Jan. 12, 2014, presenting the findings of the study committee.

For more information contact the League of Women Voters of Sussex County at sussexlwv@gmail.com.