By Mike Waters
Organic activists and environmental extremist groups would have the
public believe that Roundup Ready (glyphosate tolerant) alfalfa is a "threat
to organic alfalfa and alfalfa export markets." Reality says otherwise.
Of the 22 million acres of alfalfa grown in the U.S. last year, USDA
estimates that only about 200,000 acres were Roundup Ready - about 0.01% of
the total. And the risk of cross pollination in forage production is
extremely remote. According to the Univ. California Davis
(http://alfalfa.ucdavis.edu - click on 'Biotech Alfalfa') for gene flow to
occur from one hay field to another, the following must occur: 1) Fields
must flower simultaneously, 2) pollinators must move between fields; 3)
pollen must fertilize plant; 4) embryos must turn into seeds: 5) seed must
fall to ground and germinate; 6) germinating plants must compete with
existing alfalfa. Agronomic experts point out that there are severe
environmental limits to each of these steps happening, and further, most hay
is harvested pre-bloom; the few surviving seeds that may germinate do not
contribute significantly to hay biomass (estimates at <0.001%).

RR alfalfa a threat to export hay markets? Hardly. About 90% of
alfalfa produced in the U.S. is consumed domestically, much of it consumed
on the farm where it is produced. Japan - the largest recipient of U.S. hay,
representing over 75% of all U.S. alfalfa hay and hay product exports -
approved RR alfalfa for import last year. Over 98% of U.S. alfalfa hay/hay
products exported is concentrated in five countries: Japan, South Korea,
Taiwan, Canada and Mexico. All five countries have a process for approving
import of biotech crops and currently import products derived from U.S.
produced biotech soybean, corn, canola and/or cotton.

The U.S. court has already accepted the fact that Roundup Ready
alfalfa poses no harm to humans and livestock, and other regulatory agencies
around the world, including Canada and Japan, have confirmed the
environmental safety of RR alfalfa. Further, farmer stewardship agreements
provide an expected level of responsibility, following proper production
practices just as conventional and organic producers adhere to required
production practices.

Montana is a leading alfalfa producing state in the nation, and while
RR alfalfa isn't a fit for all producers, it offers distinct advantages for
some, including a better chance of stand establishment in the spring, and
for selling into segments of the hay and forage market that demands a high
quality, weed-free product, such as horses and purebred livestock breeders.

What really happened here is that a bunch of environmental groups bent
on an all organic, no biotech crop agenda went shopping for a judge friendly
to their cause. It's important to note, however, that the San Francisco
judge's ruling halting the production of RR alfalfa isn't permanent. It's
only until USDA completes an Environmental Impact Statement.

Longtime ag writer Harry Cline, editor of the Western Farm Press, was
sharply critical about the ruling. "All this to appease a bunch of radicals
bent on destroying the American economy," he wrote. "(The ag community) must
appeal this ridiculous decision to protect American agriculture from a
threat far more insidious than any transgenic gene or weed."

Mike Waters, Froid, MT, serves on the board of Growers for
Biotechnology, a group of crop producers who volunteer their time to promote
and facilitate the research, development and acceptance of biotechnology in
agriculture.



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