USDA PROPOSES DEREGULATION OF ROUNDUP READY ALFALFA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has published a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) that evaluates the potential environmental effects of deregulating Roundup Ready alfalfa. The analysis includes a preliminary conclusion that there is no significant impact on the human environment due to granting nonregulated status. If this decision is finalized, farmers will again have the choice of planting Roundup Ready alfalfa.

The next step in the regulatory process is a 60-day period for public comment on the EIS. The comment period began on Dec. 18, 2009, and will end on Feb. 16, 2010, and comments must be received by that date. Following the comment period, USDA will review the comments received, finalize the EIS and issue a new decision on the regulatory status of Roundup Ready alfalfa.

YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HEARD

Support for Roundup Ready alfalfa during the public comment can help bring back farmers’ choice to plant Roundup Ready alfalfa. Don’t give away your right to participate in this important regulatory process.

It is important that USDA receive letters of support from growers and other members of the U.S. agricultural community who know the benefits of crops developed using biotechnology or want to take advantage of them on their farm.

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.

Other biotech crops offer similar advantages, including reduced spraying of pesticides, better weed control and improved productivity and quality.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

For information on how to develop an effective comment and submit it to USDA, please click here.

If you mail your comment, you need to send two copies to USDA. Please mail your letter before the end of January to be sure it arrives in time to be counted. The deadline for comments is Feb. 16, 2010, and comments must be received by that date to ensure that USDA will consider them. A postmark isn’t enough.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

To obtain feedback and take comment from members of the public, USDA is also holding four public meetings during the public comment period. These meetings will take place in conjunction with the Western Alfalfa Seed Conference in Las Vegas, Nev., the week of Jan. 17, 2010; the Mid-America Alfalfa Expo in Kearney, Neb., the week of Feb. 2, 2010; and the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society Annual Healthy Farms/Rural Advantage Conference in Lincoln, Neb., the week of Feb. 2, 2010. APHIS will also hold a public meeting in the Washington D.C., area during the week of Feb. 8, 2010.

Additional information will be posted here when it is announced by USDA.

Comments can also be submitted over the Internet. Click here to visit the government Web site and submit your comment on line.

Comments submitted to USDA will be posted on the government Web site.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION LINKS

For additional information from USDA:

• Draft Environmental Impact Statement (PDF 6.5MB 1476pp)

• Roundup Ready Alfalfa Q&A:  (PDF 40kb 2pp)

• USDA News Release Announcement (PDF 50KB 2pp)

• USDA Background Information on Roundup Ready alfalfa

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.