Wary of Monsanto, Farmers Sue USDA

Citing fears that Monsanto’s newly approved GMO  alfalfa seed would overrun the existing conventional seed stock, farmers have banded together to sue the USDA over the approval.

The farmers claim the USDA failed to adequately consider the impact of the new seed, citing general concerns over GMO products in foreign markets (Germany, Japan), the potential environmental impact of the seed if it supplants the existing seed, and finally, the impact on farmers, who would be forced to pay Monsanto a high price for using the seed if conventional seeds are supplanted by the "super-seed:"

South Dakota alfalfa farmer Pat Trask, one of the plaintiffs, said Monsanto’s biotech alfalfa would ruin his conventional alfalfa seed business because it was certain his 9,000 acres would be contaminated by the biotech genes.

Alfalfa is very easily cross-pollinated by bees and by wind. The plant is also perennial, meaning GMO plants could live on for years.

"The way this spreads so far and wide, it will eliminate the conventional alfalfa industry," said Trask. "Monsanto will own the entire alfalfa industry."

Monsanto has a policy of filing lawsuits or taking other legal actions against farmers who harvest crops that show the presence of the company’s patented gene technology. It has sued farmers even when they have tried to keep their own fields free from contamination by biotech plants on neighboring farms.

Link  (Environmental News Network)

More:

Feds sued over approval of genetically engineered alfalfa

Farmers, others sue USDA over Monsanto GMO alfalfa

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