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posted by janrinok on Monday January 09 2017, @02:27AM   Printer-friendly
from the but-it's-safe-I-tell-you dept.

Sometime around 2003 Scotts GMO grass crop in Idaho escaped its plot and blew across the Snake River into Oregon up to 30 miles away. The crop in question is a Roundup ready creeping bentgrass that is used for putting greens. Regulators and locals are in for a fight as Scotts is ready to abandon the ongoing approximately $250,000 per year effort to eradicate the grass in favor of running an informative website on Roundup ready bentgrass removal. Scotts canceled the development program because the golf industry is experiencing a decline, yet the company still wants the product deregulated.

Locals are left holding the bag as it threatens Oregon's international reputation as a "GMO-free" grass-grower and its seed industry. Regardless of whether direct genetic modification is bad in and of itself, grasses are an important crop for the state. Additionally, the grass has been found interbreeding with other feral grasses. Interestingly, the company has hired an attorney that specializes in bio-diversity to defend its interests.

The battle pits farmer against farmer, regulator against regulator, seller against buyer. Scotts spokesman Jim King insists the company has done its part and significantly reduced the modified grass's territory. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which for 14 years had refused to deregulate the controversial grass on environmental concerns, suddenly reversed course last fall and signaled it could grant the company's request as early as this week.

Many find the prospect alarming. The Oregon and Idaho departments of agriculture oppose deregulation, as does U.S. Fish and Wildlife, which predicted commercialization of the grass could drive endangered species to extinction.


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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by fadrian on Monday January 09 2017, @03:47AM

    by fadrian (3194) on Monday January 09 2017, @03:47AM (#451306) Homepage

    All just so a bunch of stupid cunts can whack their balls all over the place.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 09 2017, @04:07AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 09 2017, @04:07AM (#451311)

    Golfers may be stupid, but many of them are part of what I call "the country club set" also knows as the old boys club and more recently the 1%. In many communities these rich guys (maybe a few rich gals too?) call the shots behind the scenes. Of course a big company like Scotts would love to have them for customers.

  • (Score: 2) by GungnirSniper on Monday January 09 2017, @07:40AM

    by GungnirSniper (1671) on Monday January 09 2017, @07:40AM (#451359) Journal

    Isn't that what the Internet is for?