There are no restrictions on Roundup Ready alfalfa harvested this spring until growers are notified by USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), points out Dan Undersander, University of Wisconsin extension forage specialist.
Judge Charles Breyer's permanent injunction prohibiting the sale of Roundup Ready alfalfa allows that existing fields (planted before March 30, 2007) can continue to be grown, harvested and sold. But he imposed several conditions and required that APHIS draft regulations to implement them. APHIS is required to notify growers individually of the restrictions within 45 days of the May 7 order.
"The important consideration is that no restrictions are in effect until the growers receive the notice from APHIS," says Undersander.