Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 3/13/15


A group called “Only Organic” has launched a video called “New MacDonald” that has raised the ire of the farming community across social media.

The video uses the set up of a children’s play with performers singing new lyrics to the tune of the song “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” and portraying typical farm life as one rife with injecting cattle with hormones, housing chickens in crowded cages, spraying crops with pesticides and metaphorically spraying them with GMOs.

Conversations about the video have gone viral on Twitter tagged #NewMacDonald.
Both traditional and organic farmers have objected to the video.

“I’m an organic farmer. I don’t support the #NewMacDonald message. Fear + Farmer bashing are not the answers. Support farmers,” one woman posted on Twitter.

“The more I hear about #newmacdonald, the more my blood boils. I've no problem with org production but this us vs. them marketing is shameful,” wrote another farmer.

A YouTube posting of the video has been viewed more than 900,000 times since it was posted of Feb. 22.

Only Organic describes itself as, “a group of folks devoted to telling the story of organic agriculture and food production with the hope of instilling the peace of mind that going organic gives. Our aim is to cultivate a better understanding of what being organic really means and the environmental and health benefits choosing organic provides.”

Group members listed on the organization’s website include National Cooperative Grocers Association, Stonyfield Organic, Orgain, Independent Natural Food Retailers Association, Nature’s Path Organic, Organic Valley, Earthbound Farm Organic, Allergy Kids Foundation, Honest Tea, Annie’s Homegrown, Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs, Rudi’s Organic Bakery, Uncle Matt’s Organic, Dr. Bronner’s Magic, Naturepedic and Happy Family Organic Superfoods.

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