Monsanto's (MON) Alfalfa Faced with Another Lawsuit

Monsanto's (NYSE:MON) genetically modified alfalfa is indirectly under another lawsuit, as federal regulators were used by the Center for Food Safety, saying the U.S. Department of Agriculture's recent approval of genetically modified alfalfa was illegal.

The complaint alleges the approval is based on faulty information, and that genetically modified alfalfa will damage the organic industry because it could contaminate conventional or organic alfalfa. The alfalfa, developed by Creve Couer-based Monsanto, is engineered to withstand applications of the herbicide Roundup, which kills weeds but not the crop.

Monsanto said in a statement: "We are aware that CFS has filed yet another lawsuit, and we will be reviewing allegations. In late January, the USDA authorized planting of Roundup Ready alfalfa after preparing an extensive Environmental Impact Statement, providing several public comment opportunities and determining that Roundup Ready alfalfa is as safe as conventional alfalfa."

One plaintiff, Ed Maltby, head of the Northeast Alliance of Organic Dairy Producers, said, "Approving the unrestricted planting of GE alfalfa is a blatant case of the USDA serving one form of agriculture at the expense of others."

This is an odd comment in that the so-called organic farmers are doing the exact same thing Malty just accused the USDA of doing, creating an industry which is expected to be treated better at the expense of other forms of agriculture.

Monsanto closed Friday at $67.84, gaining $0.64, or 0.95 percent.

Monsanto (NYSE:MON) Wins Again, Modified Beets Given Okay to Plant

Monsanto (NYSE:MON) is enjoying another victory in its bid to expand it crop lineup, as U.S. agricultural regulators gave farmers the okay to plant genetically modified sugar beets this year, after a ban by a court.

Last week Monsanto got approval to have its alfalfa seed planted in the U.S.

Michael Gregoire, deputy administrator for APHIS' biotechnology regulatory services said, "After conducting an environmental assessment, accepting and reviewing public comments and conducting a plant pest risk assessment, APHIS has determined that the Roundup Ready sugar beet root crop, when grown under APHIS imposed conditions, can be partially deregulated without posing a plant pest risk or having a significant effect on the environment."

This was almost a surety, as the timing of the decision by the judge made it almost impossible to enforce, as farmers were close to making decisions on sugar beet seed, and it would have devastated the production in the U.S. by an estimated 21 percent this year.

Monsanto's sugar beet seed accounts for close to 95 percent of the U.S. sugar beet crop, and sugar beets account for over 50 percent of the sugar supply in the U.S.

The unfavorable ruling was from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White, who not only banned the sugar beet seeds, but had ordered sugar beet seedlings in the ground to be uprooted.

Those opposing the seeds vow to take the USDA back to court in order to have the judge's order reinstated.

Monsanto closed Friday at $74.66, dropping $0.17, or 0.23 percent.

Monsanto (NYSE:MON) Gets Go Ahead for GMO Alfalfa

The USDA gave farmers the go ahead to plant GMO alfalfa developed by Monsanto (NYSE:MON).

Also included in the decision is the allowance to plant alfalfa with no restrictions; something opponents of GMO though would be included in the decision, if the planting was allowed to go forward.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, "After conducting a thorough and transparent examination of alfalfa ... APHIS has determined that Roundup Ready alfalfa is as safe as traditionally bred alfalfa."

APHIS refers to Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, an arm of the USDA, and which made the decision.

While saying he understood the concerns of opponents, Vilsack added farmers in the U.S. need to be allowed to have a choice in whether or not they want to plant GMO alfalfa or other varieties.

Vilsack concluded, "I'm trying to bring people together. This set of actions, it seems to me, provides opportunities for preservation of choice in agriculture, creates a set of forms for building trusting relationships that could lead us to better policy in the future,"

Monsanto was trading at $72.36, falling $1.32, or 1.79 percent, as of 11:02 AM EST.