PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ENDS FOR ROUNDUP READY ALFALFA

USDA’s public comment period for Roundup Ready alfalfa concluded on March 3. Hundreds of positive comments were submitted to encourage USDA to finalize their draft Environmental Impact Statement and deregulate Roundup Ready alfalfa.

We appreciate the strong support received from the American farming community. Your participation will help protect farmers’ freedom to choose biotech crops.

We look forward to the day when we can offer Roundup Ready alfalfa seed for sale. Benefits of Roundup Ready alfalfa include:

• Dependable, cost-effective weed control;

• Consistent, high-quality, weed-free hay;

• Improved production efficiencies;

• Increased dollar value for each ton of hay sold;

• Improved environmental characteristics; and

• Improved worker handling safety.

It will take the government several months to review all of the comments and finalize a decision about Roundup Ready alfalfa. We will post updates here during the remainder of the process.

Thank you again for your support.

Sincerely,

Mark McCaslin Steve Welker

President Alfalfa Lead

Forage Genetics International Monsanto Company

Roundup Ready Alfalfa is currently not for sale or distribution. The movement and use of Roundup Ready Alfalfa forage is subject to a USDA Administrative Order available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/pdf/RRA_A8_final.pdf.

Monsanto Company is a member of BIO’s Excellence through Stewardship (ETS) Initiative. This product has been commercialized in compliance with the ETS and Monsanto Product Launch Stewardship policies, after meeting applicable regulatory requirements in key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Monsanto encourages growers to talk to their grain handler to confirm their buying position for this product.

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS.

Roundup Ready crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup agricultural herbicides. Roundup agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate.  Roundup and Roundup Ready are registered trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC.2008 Monsanto Company.

Roundup and Roundup Ready are registered trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. Excellence Through Stewardship is a registered trademark of Biotechnology Industry Organization.