Growers Can Continue to Grow and Use Roundup Ready Alfalfa Until…

Many farmers planning to use Roundup Ready alfalfa will be affected by a preliminary injunction, according to Monsanto Company. The preliminary injunction was issued in a lawsuit currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. In this case, the court had previously ruled that United States Department of Agriculture had failed to follow procedural requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act in granting non-regulated status to Roundup Ready alfalfa under the Plant Protection Act, and would have to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

The March 12 preliminary injunction order allows continued harvest, use and sale of Roundup Ready alfalfa, but placed limits on the purchase and planting of seed until further hearings are held. Growers who have already purchased Roundup Ready alfalfa as of March 12 have only until March 30 to plant. After the deadline, farmers must plant non-genetically engineered alfalfa. Sales of Roundup Ready alfalfa seed are prohibited after March 12 pending the court's decision on permanent injunctive relief.

The press release is available at http://monsanto.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=469.