Organic Farmers Fear Cross Pollination of Roundup Ready Alfalfa

Farmers in the Midwest are concerned that pollen from genetically engineered alfalfa, that's grown primarily in the Northwest, could and would migrate to organic crops, which, by definition "cannot be exposed to modifiers of any kind." Roundup Ready plants have been genetically altered to allow direct application of a Monsanto-produced herbicide that kills weeds without harm to crops. According to an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Midwest farmers feel that the contaminated seed farms in the Northwest will ruin traditional strains of the crop nationwide and compromise those foods that they're raising by strict organic standards. Alfalfa is also used for livestock feed and those that raise organic beef are troubled that the Roundup Ready alfalfa may work it's way into the animal's diet via cross-pollination (by both bees and wind) spread amongst their crops. Biotech advocates are not as concerned, citing that there's "little chance of cross-pollination" if farmers practice Monsanto's planting and harvesting instructions. Monsanto also produces Roundup Ready corn, soybeans and cotton. Try telling that to the bee that clocks in about 500 miles during its industrious but short lifespan.

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