Oregon Public Broadcasting

The U.S. Supreme Court Monday struck down a national injunction barring farmers from planting a genetically modified strain of alfalfa. The seeds, which are manufactured by the Monsanto corporation, are engineered to be resistant to the company's pesticide Roundup.

David Nogueras reports the case grew out of a complaint from an Oregon organic farmer.

In 2007, a U.S. District Court ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture violated federal law when it partially deregulated Roundup resistant alfalfa without doing an Environmental Impact Statement.

Oregon alfalfa farmer Phillip Geerston argued genes from the modified strain could spread to his fields and prevent him from labeling his products as organic.

The Supreme Court struck said there was no evidence the modified seeds would do irreparable harm.

Ross Nishihara is an alfalfa farmer in Adrian.

Ross Nishihara: "Well it's good to certain people and it's not as good to others.  There are places where it's necessary, where they need this product.  But on the other hand, it doesn't always fit everybody."

Either way, farmers can't start planting quite yet.  Instead they have to wait for the green light from the USDA.