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09-11-2003, 02:56 PM
A study conducted by the USDA revealed that close to 20 percent of farms in the mid-west are not complying with federal biotech crop regulations. Officials actually defended the farmers' error by claiming they had not been properly advised. "Of those, only about four-fifths were complying with an Environmental
Protection Agency requirement that farmers grow Bt corn in fields surrounded with conventional corn. This perimeter is meant to be a refuge to prevent pests from developing resistance to the Bt variety."
The EPA has the burden of enforcing the regulations, but it has pushed the job onto biotech seed suppliers. In, turn the suppliers are selling the seeds without ensuring that the growers comprehend federal regulations on how it is to be cultivated. "They don't have an incentive to penalize and fine noncompliant farmers because those farmers are their customers," said Gregory Jaffe, the center's director for biotechnology."
To learn more go to: http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/6739974.htm
Protection Agency requirement that farmers grow Bt corn in fields surrounded with conventional corn. This perimeter is meant to be a refuge to prevent pests from developing resistance to the Bt variety."
The EPA has the burden of enforcing the regulations, but it has pushed the job onto biotech seed suppliers. In, turn the suppliers are selling the seeds without ensuring that the growers comprehend federal regulations on how it is to be cultivated. "They don't have an incentive to penalize and fine noncompliant farmers because those farmers are their customers," said Gregory Jaffe, the center's director for biotechnology."
To learn more go to: http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/6739974.htm