2-7 IAN Alfalfa Approved

 For the first time since 2007, U.S. farmers will have the choice to plant Genuity® Roundup Ready® alfalfa. Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture authorized resumption of the sale and planting of Roundup Ready® alfalfa. The USDA decision comes in time for spring planting, and  Monsanto and other alfalfa seed companies have varieties of Genuity Roundup Ready alfalfa seed in stock and ready for sale. 

Douglas R. Jones, Executive Director of Growers for Biotechnology is very pleased with the announcement: “We are delighted with the news that it has been approved. It was the right decision based on sound science and USDA did the right thing. Now they need to take the next steps and approve sugar beets and corn. The genetically modified alfalfa was commercialized in 2005. More than 5,000 farmers had planted Roundup Ready alfalfa on over 250,000 acres before a court ruling regarding USDA’s administrative process halted further sales and planting.