Use of biotech seeds on wildlife refuges questioned

Farming is a common strategy to restore natural habitats, but some organic farming advocates are worried about using genetically engineered crops there. "Prompted by a lawsuit, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the next few months is conducting an environmental review of the use of genetically modified crops on wildlife refuge lands, including those in Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas and Iowa," Clay Masters of Harvest Public Media reports. FWS is inviting public comment on draft Environmental Assessments through Feb. 14 for the Midwest Region and through March 4 for the Mountain-Prairie Region.

"When we turn it into farming, the farmer is out there controlling the weeds on our behalf, he’s doing it for his crop, but by the end of three years most of that weed seed in the ground is gone and then we come back and seed it back with native grasses," said Gene Mack, project leader for the Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District. About 60 to 70 percent of the land farmed in the Rainwater district is seeded with genetically modified "Roundup Ready" seeds, Masters writes. Charles Benbrook, chief scientist at the Organic Center in Boulder, Colo., said resistant weed species may grow on those lands due to overuse of genetically modified seeds. (Read more)