GM Wheat Update

GM Wheat Update. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Line On Agriculture.

USDA-APHIS investigators have been swarming over wheat fields in northwest Oregon questioning farmers about their wheat fields and whether or not they have seen anything unusual. A test last week turned up a small amount of genetically modified wheat from a Monsanto test that was concluded almost 10 years ago. Both Japan and South Korea have responded saying they are not taking some wheat exports. Most industry leaders have kept mum on the subject mainly because there was no news from USDA. Now Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack gives us an update.

VILSACK: First of all let’s put this situation into context. This was “A” finding of a very small number of plants on 123 acres of land. There’s no indication that this particular circumstances found its way into the stream of commerce in terms of wheat or flour that’s being sold. In fact, we have numerous tests in adjoining fields, numerous test from some of our trading partners, it has been limited at this point in time to that particular field. We have protocols and very strong requirements and regulations. That’s why it’s important for us to investigate this particular circumstance which is unusual and odd to find out precisely what happened and why it happened so that we can determine whether or not our regulations were violated and if so, who’s accountable. Bottom line here - two issues. One, finding out what happened and two, making sure those markets get opened as quickly as possible and that we don’t have interference with market opportunity.
We’ll keep our eyes and ears on this situation.

That’s today’s Line On Agriculture. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.