By Nicholas K. Geranios
Bloomberg Business Week

Excerpts:

An Eastern Washington farmer says he has no idea how genetically engineered alfalfa started growing in his fields.

Joseph Peila says the alfalfa seeds were planted in the fall of 2010, and genetically modified seeds were not even approved by the federal government until January 2011.

“I want to protect other farmers,” Peila, who farms near the town of Royal City, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Tuesday in explaining why he is coming forward to tell his story.

Peila sold 70 acres of his hay crop to an export broker this summer. After the broker’s tests revealed the alfalfa was genetically modified, Peila contacted the state Agriculture Department in late August.

Peila farms a total of 230 acres with his wife, and seeks to export nearly all his alfalfa, which is used as animal feed. While Round-Up Ready seed is legal in the U.S., it is not popular overseas, and many brokers will not accept it for export, Peila said.

After finding positive results for genetic modification, the state Department of Agriculture referred the case to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Peila said he has heard nothing from the federal agency. Peila has contacted the Center for Food Safety, a consumer advocacy group.

The center has since filed a petition demanding the USDA conduct an investigation and take regulatory action.

“USDA has once again abandoned farmers,” said George Kimbrell, senior attorney with CFS, in a news release. “USDA feigns concern for conventional and organic farmers, but in reality the department’s policies only promote the interests of biotechnology-pesticide companies.”

Read the Full Story Here: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2013-10-08/farmer-wants-to-protect-growers-from-gmo-seeds

Ballot Initiative I-522 coming up in the state of Washington next month would require the labeling of GMO foods. More info here.