USDA Poised to Approve Genetically Engineered Alfalfa
On December 16, the USDA released its Final Environmental Impact Statement on Monsanto’s genetically engineered Round-up Ready Alfalfa. Alfalfa is the fourth most widely grown crop in the U.S. and a fundamental source of livestock forage for dairy and beef farmers.
Alfalfa is a perennial crop that is open-pollinated by bees and other insects – with a pollination radius as large as 5 miles. Monsanto’s controversial GE Alfalfa threatens to contaminate both conventional and organic agriculture year after year with the drift and spread of its novel DNA. It has sparked an ongoing court battle and stiff opposition from both conventional and organic farmers, seed producers, beekeepers, exporters, and a mix of food and farm groups, retailers and organic food manufacturers.
Despite the risks, the USDA has now made it clear that they are not interested in regulating Monsanto’s GE Alfalfa but instead will either approve it for planting this spring by farmers or perhaps impose limited geographic restrictions on the planting of GE alfalfa in a few seed growing regions of the country. A final decision could be announced as soon as January 24.
Farmers and consumers: Contact President Obama and let him know that the USDA’s approval of GE Alfalfa is dangerous and unacceptable.
Tell President Obama that you don’t want organic and conventional agriculture contaminated by GE Alfalfa, and that you have a right to eat meat, dairy, and eggs from livestock who consume non-genetically engineered crops.
President Barack Obama
- Phone: (202) 456-1111
- Fax: (202) 456-2461
- Email:
For a fact sheet with additional information on GE Alfalfa, click here.
