Over the past six months a tug of war has been going on over genetically engineered, insect-resistant corn that produces what is called Bt toxin. In July, the Board of Pesticides Control approved seven varieties of Bt field corn. Since then, opponents of the products have been pressuring the board for strict rules to protect organic growers. In a recent column “Rights and responsibilities of Bt corn” (BDN, Dec. 13), Logan Perkins – with a group called Protect Maine Farmers – wrote that strong rules and buffer zones were necessary to protect organic farmers from contamination. Though some organic farmers may agree, not all of us do.

I’m an organic-dairy farmer. I produce organic milk because it is one way for small dairy-farms in Maine to stay in business. Maine has the highest percentage of organic-dairy farms in the nation. Organic-dairy farming is the fastest growing agricultural segment in New England. The promise of higher and more stable prices for organic milk is driving growth in organic-dairy farming.

Yet, all is not rosy. In 2004, according to a report published by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, farms selling organic milk were paid $22.97 per hundredweight. Farms selling conventional milk recovered $18.07 per cwt. However, half of the higher price for organic milk was wiped out by higher production costs. Only one third of the farms in MOFGA’s study were profitable.

It may seem like a contradiction, but the precarious situation with organic-dairy farms is why I support growing Bt corn in Maine. To stay in business, farmers have to make tough choices – which crops to plant, which production methods to use. The more options a farmer has, the more likely he is to find products and methods that will keep the farm going. For some farmers the choice is to grow genetically engineered crops. It’s not my choice, but I respect their right to grow them. Any technology available to farmers in other states should be available to Maine farmers, without miles of red tape.

Some say organic farmers and farmers who plant genetically engineered crops cannot co-exist in Maine. Nonsense. For nearly 10 years conventional dairy farmers in Maine have been planting genetically engineered, herbicide-tolerant corn. A plan for co-existence was adopted by the Maine Department of Agriculture to encourage farmers planting genetically engineered crops to work out any conflicts with farmers not planting them. As far as I know the plan is working and no complaints have been made to the department.

Part of the problem for Maine farmers, both conventional and organic, is that well meaning people who don’t farm for a living sometimes find certain farming practices offensive. They go to their selectmen and try to get ordinances passed. When that doesn’t work they go to the Legislature. Usually our elected officials come down squarely on the side of farmers. But not always.

Neighboring farmers who have different ideas on how to farm have a way of working out their differences – they talk to each other, neighbor to neighbor. Most differences can be worked out – a little compromise here, a little change there. That’s how we’ve been doing it for generations.

As for the people who don’t farm for a living but think they know how we should run our farms: try running a farm for a while.

Philip A. Oliver owns and operates Blind Faith Farm in Palmyra.