Ag groups seek extension of biotech rider in forthcoming Farm Bill

摘要

Once burned, twice shy. A handful of agricultural trade associations, whose farmer members were negatively affected by lawsuits brought by environmental advocacy groups, are eager to extend the controversial biotech rider, dubbed the "Monsanto Protection Act" by critics, which was approved by Congress and signed into law last month by President Obama . The biotech rider, known as the Farmer Assurance Provision (Sect. 735), requires USDA to allow the continued sale and planting of biotech crops even if a federal court has invalidated or vacated the regulations that approved them. Planting would be permitted until USDA completes any environmental impact analysis or consultations required by a court order.