Calif. district judge halts planting genetically altered alfalfa seed; proposal for USDA research institute gains ground
On May 4, 2007, a California federal district court judge banned any further planting of GE “Roundup Ready” alfalfa seed until USDA conducts a complete Environmental Impact Statement on Monsanto’s patented seed. This is the first time a commercialized genetically-altered crop has been halted in the United States.
Judge Charles Breyer with the Federal Northern District of California criticized federal officials’ refusal to analyze the possibility of genetic contamination of non-GE alfalfa crops and how that contamination might be reduced. Those same officials instead insisted that the liability for protecting their crops should lie with those not growing the GE seed.
The National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) proposal appears to be moving forward in both the House and the Senate as agriculture research policy options are considered for the next farm bill. House Bill H.R. 2118 is sponsored by Representative Collin Peterson, and co-sponsored by Representatives Akin, Graves, Putnam, Boustany, Marshall and Thompson. Senate Bill S. 971 is sponsored by Senator Bond, and co-sponsored by Senators Harkin, Nelson, and Lugar.
NIFA would create an Institute at USDA focused on a set of national research priorities and led by a Chief Scientist appointed by the President. We are pushing that, if funded, NIFA should include a broad diversity of stakeholders in the panels making decisions about funding projects and that the research areas include applied and integrated projects that address sustainable agriculture and small and midsize family farm and ranch profitability.
Contact: Kim Leval, 541.687.1490 or
kimleval@qwest.net for information.
Dakota Rural Action has been a close ally of the Center for Rural Affairs since the South Dakota grassroots organization was established. In particular, Dakota Rural Action is a key ally in South Dakota on livestock market reforms, beginning farmer and rancher initiatives and on anti-corporate farming laws. Visit them online today. 
