Organic farmers have a need, and a right, to protect the integrity of their crops, which must adhere to standards to be certified as ”organic.” It is also important that Maine assist organic farmers in a reasonable fashion. Organic farming is not a major part of the state’s economy, but it does represent an economic niche in a state that depends on piecing many niches together to create a solid economic foundation. A bill aimed at the manufacturers of genetically modified seed, however, is a measure that steps beyond reasonable bounds. Part of the bill, sponsored by Rep. James Schatz, D-Blue Hill, would hold seed makers financially liable if cross-pollination occurs between genetically modified crops and organic crops growing in nearby, or not so nearby, fields.