Cooperative Extension Service Communications and Technology Department 3354 1000 E. University Ave. Laramie, WY 82071 (307) 766-2540 • fax (307) 766-3998 • www.uwyo.edu

 

For Immediate Release

 

Contact: Robert Waggener, Editor

Phone: (307) 766-3571

E-mail: robertw@uwyo.edu

 

Date: May 1, 2007

 

UW researchers say ban on genetic alfalfa could hurt Wyoming production

            A court decision temporarily halting the planting of genetically engineered alfalfa could hurt Wyoming production, according to researchers in the University of Wyoming’s College of Agriculture.

            “We’re a top state in producing the Roundup Ready seed for companies, and this could impact our alfalfa seed growers,” said Stephen D. Miller, associate dean in the College of Agriculture and director of the Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station.

            Miller and colleagues Andrew Kniss, Craig Alford and Robert Wilson have performed research on Roundup Ready alfalfa.

            Robin Groose, an associate professor in UW’s Department of Plant Sciences, agreed with Miller the decision could affect Wyoming production.

            “It’s unclear what the effect of the judge’s ruling would be at this point, but alfalfa is our most important crop,” Groose said.

            Wyoming, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), produced 1.5 million tons of alfalfa for forage in 2005, grown on approximately 600,000 acres. It also produced 3.47 million pounds of alfalfa seed from 5,600 acres.

            The value of the 2005 alfalfa crop was nearly $113 million.

            Comments by Miller and Groose are in response to a preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer of San Francisco, whose ruling stemmed from a lawsuit against the USDA.

            Farmers who already had purchased the herbicide-resistant alfalfa seed must have planted it by March 30. No new sales of Roundup Ready alfalfa seed will be allowed until the case is resolved, according to the judge’s preliminary injunction.

            The seed, produced by St. Louis, Mo.-based Monsanto Co. and Forage Genetics International of Nampa, Idaho, is resistant to herbicides including Roundup weed killer manufactured by Monsanto.

            Groose said genetically produced seed would help in weed control.

            “From an economic standpoint, Roundup Ready seed would benefit the growers who would want to use it,” he said.

            The judge ruled the federal government failed to fully consider the public health, economic and environmental consequences before allowing the sale of Roundup Ready alfalfa.

            The Center for Food Safety, a non-profit public interest and environmental advocacy group with offices in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, sued on behalf of farmers who complained the seed could contaminate organic and conventional alfalfa.

            Miller said it could take months for a decision, and that could hurt Wyoming’s seed producers this year.

            “What are the growers going to be able to do with the seed that is produced this year?” Miller asked. “What impact does the ruling have on growers contracted for this year? Those are big concerns.”

            Miller, Kniss, a research scientist in the Department of Plant Sciences, Alford, a former associate research scientist in the department, and Wilson, an adjunct professor with the department and an extension weed specialist with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Scottsbluff, Neb., published a bulletin on Roundup Ready alfalfa in February 2006.

            Roundup Ready® Alfalfa: A new technology for high plains hay producers is available at www.uwyo.edu/CES/PUBS/B1173.pdf.

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