In the aftermath of the GMO sugar beet ruling, which banned any new plantings until the USDA reviews the potential that the GMO crops could contaminate other crops, some sugar beet farmers are concerned that there may not be enough conventional seed available to plant as Michael J. Crumb reports for The Associated Press,
 
A judge’s ruling halting planting of genetically modified sugar beet seeds has left growers feeling uncertain as they wait for federal officials to decide the next step for a crop that provides half of the nation’s sugar supply.
 
Duane Grant, chairman of the board at the Boise, Idaho-based Snake River Sugar Co., said if a solution can’t be worked out to use the genetically modified seed, his company and its growers fear there isn’t enough conventional seed to plant next year. The company produces about 20 percent of the nation’s beet sugar.
 
“There has been no incentive, no market, no demand for conventional seed since 2008, and we believe there is not enough conventional seed available for our growers to plant a full crop in 2011,” he said.
 
Sugar beets are planted on more than 1 million acres in 10 states, with Minnesota, North Dakota and Idaho the top producers. At issue are seeds developed by St. Louis-based Monsanto Co., used to grow about 95 percent of the sugar beet crop. The seeds are engineered to withstand the weed killer Roundup, allowing farmers to reduce use of other chemicals and limit the practice of tilling fields to kill weeds.
 
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White in California issued a ruling Aug. 13 that put on hold future planting of sugar beets using the genetically modified seeds.
 
White’s ruling allows this year’s crop to be harvested and processed, but the current seed crop can’t be planted until the U.S. Department of Agriculture reviews the effect the genetically altered crops could have on other food.