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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services Council jostles over Travel Medford contract Wallan ousted in Medford School Board election Census Bureau adds 2,196 to Jackson County population Gray skies will stick around for the Rogue Valley Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services New suspect arraigned in 2014 robbery of Ashland gas station Flood warning issued for southwestern Jackson County Ashland fire torches woodshed, greenhouse Emergency services Politics and Elections Case, Salmon leading in Central Point School Board race Lundberg, Mannenbach leading Eagle Point races Jackson County district election turnout under 17 percent Arthur I. 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Cyr: Secretary Kerry’s reply to North Korea Letters to the Editor, May 21 Our View: Josephine voters choose lawlessness again Guest Opinion: Medford needs SkyPark more than it needs parking Dana Milbank: Hillary Clinton's hypocrisy Editorials Our View: Josephine voters choose lawlessness again Our View: Renovating the Capitol is important but costly Our View: Take it easy on hunting and fishing fees Our View: Kicking state government down the road Other Views: Keeping marijuana away from minors Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 21 Letters to the Editor, May 20 Letters to the Editor, May 19 Letters to the Editor, May 18 Letters to the Editor, May 17 Columns Arthur I. 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Onorato: Saturday brought treat for supper Taste of Alba Wine by the keg, growler, box and ammo can Potluck: A Gooey Butter Cake to cherish Home and Garden Homeowner’s insurance: What it covers, what it excludes Monarchs are disappearing, but you can help with a wildflower garden Linda Cobb: Time to make a list of spring garden chores Dear Monty: Novice homebuyer’s first attempt disappointing Home Help: Keep a man cave top of mind when choosing a new home Health Donna Knight: How to lessen your risk Community blog: Little Free Libraries Community blog: Fasting out of Cancer Brent St. Germain: Weight loss goes to the dogs Community blog: Don't Fall for This Part 2 Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, May 15 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 8 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Milestones and Achievements Prefontaine-style running trail proposed in south Medford Bukair-Hinkle Wedding: Stephanie Anne Obad and Mark Douglass Schmor Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Drones helping create unique wedding photos Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Rogue Rage Duo at The Point SOU presents Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale' Laurie Lewis, Tom Rozum at The Mountain House Sly & Robbie play Historic Ashland Armory Live Music in Local Clubs Theater SOU presents Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale' OSF commissioned plays tour throughout country 'Cuckoo's Nest' is a big play, well presented 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' REVIEW: Randall Theatre's 'Little Shop of Horrors' a rollicking good time Music Rogue Rage Duo at The Point The Farr Side: Swift dominates Billboard Music Awards Interview: Country mainstay T. Graham Brown reflects on career Laurie Lewis, Tom Rozum at The Mountain House Sly & Robbie play Historic Ashland Armory Community Events Third Friday: 'Into the Woods' is a must-see 5 things to see at Art in Bloom Flowers, art and music highlight Art in Bloom Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic at OSF's Black Swan in Ashland Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Dwayne Johnson rocks in a new way in ‘San Andreas’ Movie review: Cast keeps laughs coming in ‘Pitch Perfect 2’ Movie review: ‘Mad Max’ is a fresh, fantastic approach to a classic idea Your A-to-Z guide to the ‘Mad Max’ franchise Movie review: ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ will leave your inner 12-year-old giggling with glee Dining Wine by the keg, growler, box and ammo can 6 stars of the Rogue Valley food universe Cool down with a cold one (or two, or three) Nguyen Street Food From rustic to elegant: Wine tasting in Southern Oregon Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW SkyPark development approved for downtown Medford ... Bill would cancel 'kicker,' use money for budget reserves, education ... Oregon Senate passes bill keeping domestic abusers from having guns ... SkyPark development approved for downtown Medford ... Bill would cancel 'kicker,' use money for budget reserves, education ... Oregon Senate passes bill keeping domestic abusers from having guns ... Federal judge to rule on whether Jackson County's GMO ban can take effect Federal judge to rule on whether Jackson County's ban can take effect By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted May. 20, 2015 @ 5:51 pm By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted May. 20, 2015 @ 5:51 pm » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> A federal judge on Wednesday said he might rule as early as next week whether Jackson County's ordinance that bans genetically engineered crops can take effect on June 6. U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark D. Clarke listened to about two hours of arguments from attorneys representing farmers who are either for or against the ordinance, passed overwhelmingly by voters last May. Clarke is hearing a lawsuit brought by two local farmers opposed to the anti-GMO ordinance who have cited the Oregon Right to Farm Act that protects farmers from neighbors who might complain about  noise, smells, dust and other farming practices. Genetically modified crops or organisms are often referred to as GMOs. Bruce Schulz of Schulz Family Farms grows Roundup Ready alfalfa on his farm in Gold Hill. James and Marilyn Frink grow Roundup Ready alfalfa near Sams Valley. Both farms have indicated they would suffer financial hardship if GMOs are banned. Under the ordinance, f armers who already have genetically engineered crops can harvest this year but must remove the crops within 12 months. Tom Buchele, with Earthrise Law Center at Lewis and Clark College, which represents the supporters of the GMO ordinance, said the judge had a good knowledge of the case and seemed to understand that the Jackson County ordinance is designed to protect local farmers from contamination from genetically modified crops. "The law is trying to prevent something from happening," he said. Buchele said local farmers are concerned that genetically modified seeds will contaminate other crops, which has been of particular concern for those growing organically, particularly seed producers. "There should be local control," Buchele said. David Markowitz, a lawyer for the firm of Markowitz Herbold PC in Portland, said national acceptance of GMOs is almost universal, and GMO crops now cover an area the size of Texas in the U.S. "About half of all commercial agriculture is GMO," he said. Shannon Armstrong, another lawyer with Markowitz Herbold, said her side argued that farmers who grow GMO crops also should be accepted, and that Jackson County received an exception from the state to pass the ordinance but not its blessing. "The ordinance is prohibited by state law," she said. In October 2013, the Oregon Legislature passed a bill that gave the state the authority to regulate seeds but gave Jackson County an exception to pass its ordinance. One of the chief supporters of the local GMO law, Chris Hardy, said he had a fairly good feeling about the judge's line of questioning. "I think he realized that we did what we had to do to protect farmers from the eventual contamination by GMOs," Hardy said. Hardy, who is also involved in the legal action, plowed a field of chard under in 2013 after he found out that it could become contaminated by a neighboring field of GMO beets planted by Syngenta. "Farmers across the U.S. have lost billions of dollars from contamination of genetically mutated crops," he said. Hardy said the attorneys representing the anti-GMO faction tried to impress upon the judge that contamination of crops from nearby GMO crops is a serious problem. "We don't want to figure it out before our death," Hardy said. The courtroom was packed with local residents, most of whom supported the GMO ban. Another 75 people waited downstairs in the lobby but couldn't hear the legal arguments. "That's disappointing," said Donna Breedlove, a volunteer with the Our Family Farms coalition. Schulz Family Farms has estimated that if it were forced to tear out the GMO alfalfa, it would not be able to plant conventional alfalfa for four years, leading to a total economic loss of $2,205,000. James Frink, who is growing the same crop because it requires less money and labor, estimates his potential losses at $2 million. Also involved in the legal proceedings are the Oshala Farm in the Applegate and two Portland-based environmental action groups, Our Family Farms Coalition and the Center For Food Safety, who joined Jackson County as defendants. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/reporterdm .         By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted May. 20, 2015 @ 5:51 pm » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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