Monsanto has reached a settlement with wheat farmers in the Pacific Northwest in a lawsuit over genetically modified wheat. But plaintiffs in the Midwest and other parts of the country are still in negotiations.
The trouble started at an Oregon farm in 20-13, when some wheat plants would not die, even when they were sprayed with Roundup herbicide.
Turned out they carried Monsanto technology abandoned 9 years ago. Genetically modified wheat isn’t authorized for commercial use anywhere in the world, so the discovery of it in the U-S roiled wheat markets, especially overseas.
Japan and South Korea stopped shipments of soft white wheat, which is used for Asian noodles. Prices dropped.
Farmers growing all types of wheat sued Monsanto. But the company has agreed to pay only soft white wheat producers, who are all in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.
Standing outside the federal court house, Tom Bender…who represents soft white wheat plaintiffs…says they’re still working out the details of the settlement.
CUT: That part’s still being worked out but we should have that done in the next 30 days or so.
Wheat farmers in eight others states…including Kansas and Missouri…are still negotiating with Monsanto.
