Debate over Field Testing Monsanto
"Frankengrass" in Oregon

The Oregonian 11/20/01
DON'T RUSH GRASS RESEARCH, CRITICS SAY
STEVE LUNDGREN - Correspondent, The Oregonian

Central Oregon farmers want to test a genetically engineered grass
despite concerns about its spread.

A farmer and a genetic researcher said they are worried that a plan to
plant a genetically engineered variety of grass here is moving too
fast, but more than 20 others speaking at a public hearing Monday
were eager for the experiment to begin.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture is considering establishing
an 11,000-acre control area to prevent inadvertent spread or
cross-pollination of a modified variety of creeping bentgrass while it
is being field-tested by The Scotts Co.

That firm wants to start with between 300 and 600 acres in the Agency
Plains area, an irrigated bench above the Deschutes River. Since the
grass variety is under federal review, the initial planting is intended to
reveal performance in the region. The variety has been genetically
altered to resist Roundup, a common herbicide. Scotts and the
farmers hope that characteristic would provide a lucrative market
in golf courses, which could use Roundup to kill weeds without
damaging their grass.

Scotts, based in Columbus, Ohio, would likely have little trouble
finding farmers to go into full production should the crop pass its
tests and federal scrutiny. About 20 farmers in the area have shown
interest in growing the grass.

Plagued by low crop prices and the shriveling of their historic
potato, grain and peppermint markets, farmers here are eager for
almost any crop that promises a stable income.

"This leading-edge technology is just what this area needs to stay
viable," said local farmer Loy Petersen.

Farmer Bill Fine said the variety would give farmers another option
since the market for other varieties of grass seed grown in the region
has topped out or diminished.

"The bottom line is very low to the ground right now. Here we have a
crop that is not grown anywhere else in the world," Fine said.

But Bill Rose, a longtime Jefferson County farmer, is uncomfortable
with the plans to prevent accidental spread of the grass. He said
containment would be nearly impossible, and he is worried that
proceeding before better measures are in place could turn around
and bite farmers.

"Anything that is so good can also be bad," he said. "If we move too
fast, we could get the public against us and get (genetically
engineered crops) banned. "

Albert Kausch, a genetic engineering researcher with the HibriGene
Co., agreed, saying, "Outcrossing is inevitable. My main concern is
that we're moving ahead too fast on this."