9-13 FB Sugar Beets Back?

 The ying and yang of politicians and judges could make sugar beet growers psychological states turn into yo-yos. I’m David Sparks. Last week we told you 2011 could see no sugar beet production because of a judge’s ruling on genetically modified crops. In August, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that biotech sugar beets, modified to resist the herbicide glyphosate, may not be planted until the USDA completes an Environmental Impact Statement. An Idaho Farm Bureau blog just reported that may have changed. “The USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service is looking at temporary measures that could allow farmers to continue the production of biotech sugar beets uninterrupted in 2011. Among the interim measures being considered is partial deregulation. If partial deregulation is granted in a timely fashion, RoundUp Ready sugar beets could be approved for use by farmers before planting time next year.”  I called Vic Jaro of Amalgamated sugar and his reaction to this latest news was fairly predictable: “If everything comes across as this is describing, it would be terrific news.” Stay tuned as the ying and yang continues.