USDA Faulted On Oversight Of Test Crops

Associated Press
Wednesday, February 7, 2007; Page A07

A federal judge in Washington has ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct more detailed reviews of applications to plant experimental plots of genetically engineered crops.

In a ruling made public yesterday, U.S. District Judge Henry H. Kennedy Jr. said the department should have more thoroughly reviewed an application by the Scotts Co. to plant more than 400 acres of grass in Oregon. The grass was genetically engineered to withstand a popular weedkiller.