05/07/07 GMO alfalfa seed ban

It looks like genetically modified alfalfa seed is going to be banned for at least the next couple of years. A federal judge in California issued a permanent injunction against the Roundup Ready alfalfa until USDA conducts a full environmental impact study. For Idaho seed grower Jim Briggs of Marsing the ruling by Judge Charles Breyer makes sense. BRIGGS "It gave us in the seed industry some breathing room to re-evaluate the contamination that has occurred and the isolation distances and look and see where we need to be at." Judge Breyer's ruling re-regulates Roundup Ready alfalfa which USDA deregulated nearly two years ago. In March Breyer issued a temporary injunction follows complaints and testimony from growers that their conventional and organic alfalfa crops were being contaminated by the GMO alfalfa. BRIGGS "And as the documentation was entered into the court we found a lot more contamination had occurred around the Northwest as well as during the deregulated as well as the regulated periods." Roundup Ready alfalfa crops already planted have to be reported to USDA within 30 days so other growers can test for possible contamination. Briggs says with tolerance levels he's facing in contracts with seed companies he can't risk having the GMO material invading his fields. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott