Posted November 25, 2014
Two farms
in Southern Oregon are requesting the court end the County’s voter-approved ban
on genetically modified (GMO) crops or pay the farms $4.2 million, according to
a Capital Press article available here.
Oregon Live also published an article available here
and Mail Tribune here.
The
farmers stated the $4.2 million compensation is the value of Roundup Ready
alfalfa that would be destroyed if the ban stands.
The Jackson
County Circuit Court lawsuit
claims that the ordinance is prohibited under Oregon's Right
to Farm Act, which protects farmers from laws that would punish them for
the noise, smells, dust and other byproducts of agricultural activity that
neighbors might find unpleasant. The farmers also requested for an injunction
to stop enforcement of the ordinance until all legal arguments are considered,
according to Oregon
Live.
The
ordinance allows research, health and educational facilities to continue using
biotech crops, but limits other exceptions. Farmers with GMO crops in
production are allowed to harvest this year but must remove the crops within 12
months.
If farmers
do not comply, county officials are allowed to destroy the crops.
The farmers
also claim that they would be forced to destroy 200 acres of Roundup Ready
alfalfa resulting in a $2 million loss. Other crops would not be as profitable
on their land and if were forced to wait four years to replant, customers would
be lost, according to Mail Tribune.
For more information on food safety, please visit the
National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
