Article Body
South Dakota Department of Agriculture
For immediate release:08-29-2007
Media Contacts: Brad Berven or George Williams
(605) 773-4432 or (800) 228-5254
Genetically Engineered Alfalfa Administrative Order
PIERRE, S.D. – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has released information on genetically engineered alfalfa specifying mandatory production practices for producers of Roundup Ready® alfalfa. The Administrative Order was mailed to growers who are believed to possess, grow, sell, or distribute Roundup Ready® Alfalfa. Complete information can be found on the South Dakota Department of Agriculture website at www.state.sd.us/doa/das and the USDA website ww.aphis.usda.gov/biotechnology/alfalfa.shtml.
The permanent injunction allowed the planting of Roundup Ready® alfalfa until March 30, 2007. The requirements specified in the Administrative Order apply to all Roundup Ready® alfalfa planted between June 14, 2005 and March 30, 2007 and will remain in effect for as long as Roundup Ready® alfalfa is a regulated article. Under permanent injunction, no Roundup Ready® alfalfa may be planted after March 30, 2007, except pursuant to an approved permit.
Growers of Roundup Ready® alfalfa must adhere to the following requirements:
1. Pollinators. Pollinators shall not be added to Roundup Ready® alfalfa fields grown only for hay production.
2. Equipment Cleaning Procedures. Equipment must be cleaned in the Roundup Ready® alfalfa field prior to moving to a non-Roundup Ready® field. If all equipment used is dedicated exclusively for the production of Roundup Ready® alfalfa hay or seed, then no cleaning of equipment will be required. However, the equipment must be marked “This equipment shall be used only with Roundup Ready® alfalfa.” Equipment may be moved between Roundup Ready® alfalfa fields without cleaning.
3. Identification of Roundup Ready® Alfalfa Hay and Seed. All bales of Roundup Ready® alfalfa that leave the farm on which it was produced must be identified by a bale tag securely attached to the binding twine or wire and marked “Roundup Ready® Alfalfa”. All Roundup Ready® alfalfa seed must be harvested, transported, and stored in a manner to prevent physical mixing with other seed. All storage containers (silos, bins, bags, etc.) must be labeled “Roundup Ready® Alfalfa”. Bags or Roundup Ready® alfalfa seed must be segregated from non-Roundup Ready® alfalfa seed.
Along with banning seed sales, the judge ordered the exact locations of an estimated 220,000 acres of Roundup Ready® alfalfa be identified. South Dakota has 49 counties that have Roundup Ready® alfalfa planted from June 14, 2005 to March 30, 2007.
Testing for the presence of Roundup Ready® alfalfa seed may be done by using one of three different methods of testing. The first two methods are herbicide bioassay tests and the third is a strip test kit. For more information about these methods, contact the South Dakota State University Seed Lab at 605-688-4589.
The level of acceptance in the organic market has not been determined for trace levels of Roundup Ready® presence.
On August 6, 2007 APHIS began operating a toll-free telephone number for use by conventional and organic alfalfa farmers to inquire about the proximity of their farms or fields to Roundup Ready alfalfa. The toll free number is 1-(866) 724-6408. The hotline is operational from 9 am to 5 pm (EST), Monday through Friday, and will provide the approximate distance of the five closest Roundup Ready® alfalfa fields to your location.
For more information, visit the South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) website and the United States Department of Agriculture website at www.state.sd.us/doa/das or www.aphis.usda.gov/biotechnology/alfalfa.shtml or call the SDDA at (605) 773-4432.
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