U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White in San Francisco refused to immediately ban planting Monsanto's genetically modified sugar beets this spring. But he told growers that he was inclined to order that they make every effort going forward to grow conventional seed. And he warned them that he may ban planting the modified beets at a later date pending and environmental review. 

 

The judge's order came after agricultural economists, farmers, and the sugar processors warned of dire consequences of an immediate injunction. Planting season runs through  March and April and many growers had already planted their seeds.

 

Monsanto's genetically modified beets were developed to be resistant to its herbicide Roundup Ready. They were first planted commercially in 2008 and currently account for almost half of the U.S. sugar supply. White said economic damage from an immediate ban would be “immediate and widespread” due to a shortage of conventional seed and would potentially hurt processors, according to court filings.

 

Organic farmers and environmental groups had petitioned to ban planting genetically modified sugar beets saying that cross-pollination contaminates their crops and hurts their income. They had filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2008 challenging deregulation of the beets. A similar lawsuit filed against the planting of genetically modified alfalfa has effectively kept the crop from being grown. The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear Monsanto's appeal of the alfalfa ban and a hearing is set for April 27 with a decision expected by mid-year.

 

Modified sugar beet plants were found in a compost pile at an Oregon nursery last year. But White said the plaintiffs waited too long in seeking the ban and the potential harm from a last-minute ban outweighed the possible damage to organic and conventional crops from one more planting.

 

Another hearing is scheduled in July where White will consider a proposed permanent ban on GM sugar beets. And he made sure to warn growers that this week's ruling is no indication of how he'll rule in July.