the meal itself isn't modified, but a major part of the US corn crop is GM now, and it's unlikely they'll be using certified organic corn for the various processed products - which is to say it's likely that the corn it's made from was GM

Bill

You have to come up with your own definition of organic and what it means to you.

Corn is commonly genetically modified these days. Virtually none of the concerns over GM food apply to using the product as fertilizer.

If our motivation to garden organically is to 'stick it to the man' then stay away from corn and soybeans as both are commonly grown from seed made by Monsanto (makers of RoundUp and DDT and the many dioxins removed from the market while being proclaimed 'safe' for food crops by... erm... Monsanto and rubber stamped by governments).

OTOH if one simply wishes to grow healthy, tasty, safe for the dog, kids and parents produce or other gardens then GM grains are fine for fertilizer. They are organic, natural sources of nutrients and feed the soil critters.

There simply isn't a one sized fits all definition of 'organic'. Do what you, personally, are comfortable with and continue the life long process of educating yourself and feel free to change your opinions as you learn more.

What else can anyone do?

Since the majority of the corn is now genetically modified the resulting Corn Gluten Meal will have that gene in it, but that alone does not keep CGM from being organic. It may keep CGM from being an accetable organic product to some organic gardeners, while others that are for lessening standards would find it accetable. Your choice.

By this argument, getting a neighbor's bagged grass clippings is not organic -- unless they grow organically.

And as we spread the "Round-Up Ready" DNA to bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and microarthropods by using corn meal, eventually it will find its way into Johnson grass, dallis grass, crabgrass, bermuda, and other weedy plants so that Everything will be "Round-Up Ready." Oh Joy!

Dave, Iowa State University research has found lots of "weeds" today that are RR.

Sorry if this isn't the place for this, but what is round-up ready? I missed that discussion.

RUR seed is seed which has been genetically modified so that it produces plants which are not killed by the herbicide Round Up. So, a RUR soybean field can be sprayed with RU to control weeds without any effect on the cash crop itself.