Farmers in Idaho have filed a potentially class action lawsuit against seed giant Monsanto after genetically engineered wheat was found in an eastern Oregon field. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2013/06/12/us/ap-us-genetically-modified-wheat.html?ref=us  The federal lawsuit Friday contending that Monsanto’s development of Roundup Ready wheat resulted in increased production costs and lowered prices because the genetically engineered wheat is likely to infiltrate the non-genetically engineered wheat supply.   No genetically engineered wheat has been approved for U.S. farming, and the discovery of the Roundup Ready wheat growing in Oregon in May prompted Japan to suspend some wheat imports. Monsanto had applied to USDA for permission to develop the engineered wheat, but the company later pulled its application.
“Monsanto knew, or should have known, that the existence of genetically-engineered wheat — commingled with the general wheat supply — would cause significant disruptions in the wheat export market, and that such a situation could involve huge disruptions in the wheat trade while imposing additional costs on U.S. wheat farmers”
It has also increased costs for growers who must go through extensive testing to prove the wheat from their fields isn’t contaminated with genetically engineered wheat before they can sell to some buyers.
Farmers want a judge to order Monsanto to decontaminate the farmland and transportation and harvesting equipment of all affected farmers.