Attack on Sugar Beets

Attack on Sugar Beets. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Line On Agriculture.

Recently, in two separate incidences an unknown person or persons uprooted approximately 6500 sugar beet plants from two different fields. The FBI has been called in to investigate and is calling it “economic sabotage.” The Ag Networks Lacy Gray has more.

GRAY: Over the course of two nights in early June, an unknown person or group of people did significant damage to two plots of land used to grow genetically engineered sugar beets in Jackson County, Oregon. The plots are on private farmland leased and managed by Syngenta. The financial losses are significant, but the actual estimates will not be released at this time due to the needs of the investigation. The FBI considers this crime to be economic sabotage and a violation of federal law involving damage to commercial agricultural enterprises.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Director Katy Coba issued a statement saying quote: “I am shocked and disappointed to learn about the acts of vandalism and destruction against sugar beet seed fields that have taken place earlier this month in Southern Oregon. To my knowledge, this is the first time someone has deliberately taken the cowardly step of uprooting high value plants growing in our state.” The ODA is not taking part in the FBI’s investigation.

The group Oregonians for Food and Shelter is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the person and people involved. If you have any information be sure and contact the FBI.

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