Genetically modified alfalfa confirmed in Washington test sample

[Coyotl]

Source: AP - Oregonian online

SPOKANE - Alfalfa seed and plant samples taken from an Eastern Washington farm contain a low level of genetic modification, even though the farmer reportedly did not want to grow such crops, the state Department of Agriculture announced Friday.

The agency said the samples showed a low-level presence of a genetic trait called Round-Up Ready, meaning they are able to tolerate the well-known herbicide. The tests did not reveal the percentage of Round-Up Ready presence in the samples. The testing was ordered after a hay farmer who intended to grow alfalfa that was not genetically modified had his crop rejected by a broker who found evidence of genetically modified pesticide resistance.

"This is the end of the process for the Washington state Department of Agriculture," said Mike Louisell, a spokesman for the agency.

The results were shared with the farmer and with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, he said. The federal agency will make its own decision on whether to take any action in the case, he said.

Read more: http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/09/genetically_modified_alfalfa_c.html

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The dangers of GMO's include unintended spreading of the genes.

[BillyRibs]

1. Hello, Mr. Lawier,

I have a case for you to see!

[loudsue]

2. Monsanto is trying to corner the world's food supply. Why in the hell there is not more of an

outcry about it, I'll never know. That is one hideous company.

[Divernan]

3. Monsanto still hasn't managed to bribe the European Union; can't say the same for Congress/USDA

Monsanto has bought off the feds!. Riddle me this, Congress & the USDA, why are you protecting wheat farmers from Monsanto, but not alfalfa farmers?
(More from OP link)

Genetically modified alfalfa is legal to grow and sell in the U.S. That makes this incident different from May's discovery of genetically modified wheat in an Oregon field. Modified wheat is illegal in the U.S. outside of licensed test fields.

Monsanto spokesman Thomas Helscher said Thursday that major importers of U.S. alfalfa, including the United Arab Emirates, Japan and South Korea, have no restrictions on genetically modified crops, and negotiations with China over imports of modified alfalfa are ongoing.

State Sen. Maralyn Chase, D-Shoreline, said the incident shows the dangers of genetically modified crops.

"Our state's farmers are becoming collateral damage to the reckless practices of the agriculture industry in this country," Chase said. "More than 60 of our trade partners throughout the world have bans on the import of unlabeled GMO foods."

What many markets fear, particularly Europe and parts of Asia, is the impact of recombinant DNA on the human body in ways we haven't yet understood. That includes the potential for desirable traits in one species to transfer to another species, where the trait would be harmful. This is true of herbicide-resistant wheat and alfalfa. If such herbicide resistance were accidentally to slip into the DNA of a weed, for instance, it could form a superweed, impossible to kill with modern methods.

[Divernan]

4. ‘Monsanto Protection Act’ quietly extended by Congress

http://rt.com/usa/monsanto-protection-extended-house-741/

A budget provision protecting genetically-modified seeds from litigation in the face of health risks was extended for three months in an approved US House of Representatives’ spending bill on Tuesday evening.

Called “The Monsanto Protection Act” by opponents, the budget rider shields biotech behemoths like Monsanto, Cargill and others from the threat of lawsuits and bars federal courts from intervening to force an end to the sale of a GMO (genetically-modified organism) even if the genetically-engineered product causes damaging health effects.

The biotech rider first made news in March when it was a last-minute addition to the successfully-passed House Agriculture Appropriations Bill for 2013, a short-term funding bill that was approved to avoid a federal government shutdown. The current three-month extension is part of the short-term FY14 Continuing Resolution spending bill.

The Center for Food Safety, a vocal opponent of the rider, released a statement expressing dismay that the measure once again avoided proper legislative process while usurping the power to challenge GMO products in court.

“The rider represents an unprecedented attack on US judicial review, which is an essential element of US law and provides a critical check on government decisions that may negatively impact human health, the environment or livelihoods,” they wrote. “This also raises potential jurisdictional concerns with the Senate Agriculture and Judiciary Committees that merited hearings by the Committees before its consideration.”

[Divernan]

5. Obama's USDA had to be sued to force it to do Environmental Impact Statements

Regulations are absolutely useless if regulatory agencies don't enforce them. And federal regulatory agencies operate at the direction of Obama. Just google USDA and Monsanto to see how Monsanto is reported to have taken over the USDA.

USDA Greenlights Monsanto's Utterly Useless New GMO Corn
http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2012/01/monsanto-gmo-drought-tolerant-corn

USDA Forces Whole Foods to Accept Monsanto
http://www.whydontyoutrythis.com/2013/06/usda-forces-whole-foods-to-accept-monsanto.html

Is the USDA a wholly-owned subsidiary of Monsanto?
http://www.cornucopia.org/is-the-usda-a-wholly-owned-subsidiary-of-monsanto/

And more from: http://rt.com/usa/monsanto-protection-extended-house-741/

“It is extremely disappointing to see the damaging ‘Monsanto Protection Act’ policy rider extended in the House spending bill,” said Colin O’Neil, director of government affairs for Center for Food Safety. “Hundreds of thousands of Americans called their elected officials to voice their frustration and disappointment over the inclusion of ‘Monsanto Protection Act’ this past spring. Its inclusion is a slap in the face to the American public and our justice system.”

Largely as a result of prior lawsuits, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is required to complete environmental impact statements (EIS) to assess risk prior to both the planting and sale of GMO crops. The extent and effectiveness to which the USDA exercises this rule is in itself a source of serious dispute.

The reviews have been the focus of heated debate between food safety advocacy groups and the biotech industry in the past. In December of 2009, for example, Food Democracy Now collected signatures during the EIS commenting period in a bid to prevent the approval of Monsanto’s GMO alfalfa, which many feared would contaminate organic feed used by dairy farmers; it was approved regardless.

The biotech rider “could override any court-mandated caution and could instead allow continued planting. Further, it forces USDA to approve permits for such continued planting immediately, putting industry completely in charge by allowing for a ‘back door approval’ mechanism,” the Center for Food Safety said.

[blackspade]

6. GMO contamination is a danger to farmer's livelihood.

This fellow has lost his entire crop thanks to Monsanto and their political henchmen.

[toby jo]

8. There is plenty of Round-up ready alfalfa on the market, he just needs to take it there.

He lost one particular buyer, is all. I'd say the seed company lost a customer, and good for that . Politicos will pay more attention to businessmen bitching than to farmers.

[blackspade]

15. That's not the point.

If this is an organic farmer, who perhaps supplies organic businesses, it potentially destroys his business.
Just telling him to take it somewhere else, doesn't solve his problem.

[pnwmom]

16. Monsanto can sue farmers like him for "using" its seeds. Even though organic farmers

can't sell their products as organic if they include GMO strains.

[bigbrother05]

10. The GMO producers should be sued for not controlling their products

People have been successful in going after factories that pollute their surroundings, why not sue Monsanto when they do the same thing?

[Berlum]

7. Corporatists, Inc. expand their Global Domination of ALL THAT IS

[valerief]

9. Only the very wealthy will have access to real food soon. nt

[djean111]

11. The TPP will be fixing Monsanto's pesky critics.

If a corporation can sue the United states due to regulations affecting their business, Monsanto can sue other countries in the TPP for not accepting GMOs.
There will be no labeling for GMOs, either.
Monsanto just quietly went around any objections. They have their protection here, and will have the TPP in other countries.
Fait accompli.

[OrwellwasRight]

12. You got it.

But no one will pay attention to the negotiations. The "liberal" press certainly isn't reporting this.

[rug]

13. That explains the hair.

[DhhD]

14. Buckwheat

Alterantive grains:

http://healthybliss.net/alternative-grains-to-wheat-that-are-gluten-free/