Congressional Leaders Support Partial Deregulation of Roundup Ready® Alfalfa

ARDEN HILLS, Minn., July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has received a letter signed by 75 Members of Congress urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to allow limited planting of Roundup Ready® alfalfa. The bipartisan group supports action by USDA that would allow farmers to plant seed that's being held in inventory while the Department completes an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) related to the product.

The letter was supported by a coalition of agriculture groups that have encouraged timely completion of the EIS process on this biotech alfalfa variety. The groups include the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC), National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), and American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). Land O'Lakes also supported the letter. The cooperative's subsidiary Forage Genetics International developed Roundup Ready® alfalfa in conjunction with Monsanto.

The letter comes on the heels of a recent Supreme Court ruling that found a lower court was in error when it placed a nationwide ban on the planting of genetically engineered alfalfa seeds. A draft EIS, developed by the USDA, found "no significant impact on the human environment due to granting non-regulated status to Roundup Ready® alfalfa."

"The members of Congress sending this letter should be commended for their dedication to ensuring that America's farmers and ranchers have access to all appropriate technologies needed to operate efficient and economically viable businesses," said NCFC President Chuck Conner.  

Led by Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (R, KS-02), Congressmen Wally Herger (R, CA-02) and Joe Courtney (D, CT-02), the letter was signed by many key House leaders. Co-signers include much of the House Agriculture Committee leadership, including Chairman Collin Peterson (D, MN-07) and Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R, OK-03), most subcommittee chairs and ranking members, and several others – for a total of 27 committee members.

"The extensive list of signatories clearly demonstrates how important this product – and other goods produced through modern biotechnology – are to American farmers," said Russell Williams, director of Regulatory Relations at AFBF. "Those who signed the letter should be praised for their support. AFBF now hopes the USDA will move expeditiously to allow farmers to use RRA under interim deregulation," he added.

Roundup Ready® alfalfa increases efficiency and lowers operating costs by reducing the need for chemical applications and improving yields. These efficiencies result in an annual revenue increase for growers of approximately $100 per acre. After seven missed planting seasons, total lost farmer revenue is an estimated at $250 million. The impact of these losses is far reaching.

Dana Brooks, NMPF vice president of Government Relations, said, "As dairy producers experience tighter margins (due to higher input costs and lower milk prices), it is important that safe, beneficial technology is available to improve their efficiency. Such is the case with Roundup Ready® alfalfa, which has the potential to lower feed costs, by shrinking input costs, while increasing production yields. We appreciate the leadership of Representatives Jenkins, Herger and Courtney, and the commitment to agriculture shown by all of the leaders who signed this letter."  

The letter comes at a pivotal time, as the fall 2010 planting season approaches. NCFC President Chuck Conner said, "By taking the requested action now, USDA can provide producers with certainty as they plan for the fall planting season and beyond."

Mark McCaslin, President of Forage Genetics International, emphasized that in agriculture "there is room for many different types of products," and that with proper production practices Roundup Ready® alfalfa can successfully co-exist with traditional and organic alfalfa, while providing:

• Greater productivity / improved yields;
• Enhanced quality (feed value);
• Production efficiencies (such as longer stand life); and
• Environmental benefits.

Land O'Lakes President and CEO Chris Policinski added: "We appreciate the support of the members of Congress who signed this letter because it shows their commitment to help American farmers increase food production and provide a growing population with wholesome, affordable food – both here in the U.S. and around the world."

Land O'Lakes, Inc. (www.landolakesinc.com) is a national, farmer-owned food and agricultural cooperative with annual sales of $10 billion. Land O'Lakes, the nation's second-largest cooperative, does business in all 50 states and more than 50 countries. It is a leading marketer of a full line of dairy-based consumer, foodservice and food ingredient products across the United States; serves its international customers with a variety of food and animal feed ingredients; and provides farmers and ranchers with an extensive line of agricultural supplies (feed, seed, and crop protection products) and services. Land O'Lakes also provides agricultural assistance and technical training in more than 25 developing nations.

SOURCE Land O'Lakes, Inc.