My experience is that the progeny of organically grown plants are stronger and healthier--Last summer, my husband & I planted 3 types of potatoes from the supermarket--not recommended, but we did it anyway:). 2 were non-organic, the other was organic. The organically grown seed potato jumped out way ahead of the conventional seed potatoes. We used the same organic methods growing all of these. According to Camille Kingsolver (Barbara's daughter) in Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, this is because plants that have to fend for themselves are genetically stronger than plants that are dependent on heavy loads of synthetic chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides) to do the work for them. Thus, the justification for the higher price is a naturally genetically stronger plant. But the choice is yours--couldn't say how many generations of seed saving it would take to build that strength back into the plant, but it's got to happen eventually. You may need to be more vigilant about selecting seed from the more vigorous plants if you decide to go the conventional seed route. I prefer organic seed when I can get it purely for results. Here is a link that might be useful: About Animal, Vegetable Miracle

Here a discussion from Queztal and Billy Meier in 1987 Looks like GM is here to stay but there will be some learning along the way... Billy: Then to something else. For now, I have, once again, heard of enough evil that the future will bring. �" How does it stand, then, with the progress relating to genetic engineering? You’ve already told me a few things, but now, in relation to this, the question arose in our group during a discussion: when will it have come so far that genetic science will merge plant and animal genes together, in order to cultivate plant-animals, respectively animal-plants? Do you have any knowledge about this and does such an action represent the natural scientific evolution of man? Quetzal: 16. The science of genetic engineering is established in the laws of overall evolution; therefore, it also cannot be prevented, even though in the future, irrational ones, who will unite together in whole organizations, will want to destroy such progress by all unfair means, even with lies and with false test reports and impact reports on genetically altered plants, animals, and humans. 17. However, genetic progress can’t be stopped, in spite of all these irrational machinations of the genetic engineering enemies, because the laws of evolution will allow it that even this branch of progress will find its fulfillment through human genius. 18. Of course, genetic engineering will need its time before it can function flawlessly because every beginning requires efforts, researches, and mistakes that must be made, for only through these can qualified and real successes be obtained and can progress be created. 19. But exactly this means that all negating things that will be undertaken in the future by those who are irrational and fearful, in reference to genetic engineering and, thus, to genetic manipulations in plants, animals, and humans, will be wrong and impeding to progress, as well as absurd, unrealistic, stupid, and irresponsible, for such actions will inhibit the progress and the better well-being of the Earth person and, thus, will slow down many vitally necessary solutions for humans, animals, and plants and even make such solutions impossible. 20. Due to the irrationality and irresponsibility of the genetic opponents, it will be that a lot of genetic progress for all humans, animals, and plants, as well as waters and air, and even for all of nature, will be prevented for many years, even though life could be prolonged by centuries through genetic engineering and just through the genetic manipulation of the person, by what means his health could be so stabilized, namely in a few decades, that he would almost never get sick. 21. Also plants, fruits, and vegetables, as well as other food products, could already be so genetically altered in a short time for the welfare of humans that ample benefits would arise from it, but the irresponsible, irrational and, thus, the gene-negating ones will work against this with lies, deceit, and fear, by what means the actual successes of genetic engineering will also have to wait a long time for themselves, for when the first actual successes are achieved, from which the people will benefit �" often not even knowing that their food or medicines are genetically engineered and are only actually useful and healthy because of this. 22. But concerning your other question: 23. It will be the year 2002 before a genetic attempt will officially become known, with which plant and animal genes will be brought together. 24. About this, we have acquired probability calculations, which show that the whole thing will report itself in Japan, in the sense that the genes of spinach plants will be transferred into pigs 25. Nevertheless, this won’t be the first case, for the same and similar things will already happen prior to this in different countries of the Earth from their scientists, as a result of their research; it’s just that the world public will learn almost nothing about this, like also not about the cloning attempts regarding humans and animals. 26. Even in the current time, many series of experiments like these are already running in scientific laboratories around the world; it’s just that these are concealed, and to be sure, with the full authorization of the irrational and irresponsible genetic opponents; therefore, ways of inhibiting progress are thought of by those who, out of complete ignorance and often influenced by sectarianism, try to restrain the development themselves, and to them, all unfair means are right, and this will also remain so in the new millennium, at least in the first two decades. Billy: Idiotic, especially when one considers that the progress cannot be stopped, not even when lunatics rant against it. But so it has always been on the Earth, for there have always been pathological idiots, who didn’t want to allow the progress, who braced themselves against it, and with this, often caused much disaster, by what means often many people lost their lives, who may have been saved if the progressive had been allowed, especially with regard to medicine and food preparation, etc. source link Here is a link that might be useful: Contact Report 215 This post was edited by konrad___far_north on Sat, Nov 9, 13 at 21:43

I'd like to re-open this post if that's ok. I am a small scale seed collector and I am going to grow corn this year, because space is not an issue anymore. I am lucky enough to try glass gem corn and I don't want to mess it up, because I'd like to save seed from it and continue the line. My concern is this: I would also like to grow Golden Bantam sweet corn b/c it tastes good. Golden Bantam is supposed to be 80 days and glass gem (all I could find online about it) is 110-140 days. Could I plant them at the same time and not worry about the two crossing? Do you know if these days to maturity are accurate? I may never be able to get glass gem again so I don't want to mess it up, but we also don't want to buy GMO corn to eat/can from the grocery either. Thanks :)

First of all, Marshall, there are several dozen RR soybean varieties to chose from grown by any number of companies. Secondly, the fungicide that contols this rust has been used for several decades to treat other diseases. The dealers I know are stocking up for more sales anticipating the arrival of the rust on the spring winds into the upper Midwest. Many farmers have also stocked up with the early discounts offered by chemical companies and to deduct the expense on this years taxes as most had a very profitable year. BTW, The rust does not discriminate between RR and non-RR. It is an equal opportunity pathogen infecting all soybeans. The seed companies have been searching for some resistance since this appeared several years ago in Brazil but with little success. I fail to see what RR has to do with rust. Grabbing at straws, I guess. You really need to watch AGPHD on the RFDTV channel. This has and is getting heavy coverage right now and no doubt will get more as spring approaches. Sam