Document text
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 Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Alfalfa farmers reach settlement over Jackson County's GMO ban ... It's true: In-N-Out Burger eyes Grants Pass site ... Light One Candle: New clothes would lift brave Medford teen's spirits ... Alfalfa farmers reach settlement over Jackson County's GMO ban ... It's true: In-N-Out Burger eyes Grants Pass site ... Light One Candle: New clothes would lift brave Medford teen's spirits ... Alfalfa farmers reach settlement over Jackson County's GMO ban By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Dec. 7, 2015 @ 1:34 pm By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Dec. 7, 2015 @ 1:34 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 proposed settlement of a lawsuit against Jackson County’s ban on genetically engineered crops would allow continued growing of Roundup-ready alfalfa if it has already been planted. Farmers with the genetically modified or GMO alfalfa would have an eight-year period where they could grow their crops under the terms of the settlement. “I think that we will be really thankful when this grace period is over,” said Elise Higley, director of Our Family Farms Coalition and a farmer who supports the ban. The settlement will need to be approved by Jackson County Commissioners and federal Magistrate Mark D. Clarke, who earlier ruled that Jackson County’s ban on GMO crops did not violate Oregon’s Right to Farm Law. Shannon Armstrong, attorney for Schulz Family Farms LLC and James and Marilyn Frink, said she could only reveal the names of her clients who presently grow genetically engineered alfalfa, but there are other growers as well. “Imagine how some growers of GE crops don’t want to be identified.” Armstrong said. “We need to respect their privacy.” She said a “confidential” registry would be created of farmers who were growing Roundup-ready alfalfa when the GMO ban took effect. “We hope to do outreach so they know about the potential settlement,” she said. Bruce Schulz of Gold Hill and James and Marilyn Frink of Sams Valley filed the lawsuit against the county, with Schulz saying he would lose more than $2.2 million if he had to remove his alfalfa . The Frinks have said tearing out their alfalfa would cost them $2 million. No other crop would be as profitable on their land and, after waiting four years to replant, they would have lost customers and would be too old to start anew, the lawsuit says. In their lawsuit, the farmers say that forcing them to tear out their GE crops amounts to an “unconstitutional taking.” As part of the settlement, the Frink and Schulz families have agreed that after the eight years is up, they would revert to crops that aren’t genetically engineered. The Swiss biotechnology firm Syngenta has confirmed it has stopped growing test plots of GMO sugar beets, which it grew on leased land in the Rogue Valley. Voters in May 2014 overwhelmingly supported the ban on genetically modified crops in Jackson County. Higley said local farmers already feel better after the removal of the Syngenta crops since voters approved the ban. "GE crops do harm non-GE farmers," she said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/reporterdm " href="http://www.twitter.com/@reporterdm"> www.twitter.com/reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Dec. 7, 2015 @ 1:34 pm » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( 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 Mobile Site 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. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501