The US Department of Agriculture has issued a decision allowing widespread planting of genetically modified alfalfa.

See this article, by Andrew Pollack for the NYT: U.S. Approves Genetically Modified Alfalfa

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Thursday that he would authorize the unrestricted commercial cultivation of genetically modified alfalfa, setting aside a controversial compromise that had generated stiff opposition….

Interestingly, some described this approval — the successful passing of a product through a regulatory process — as “deregulation” of GM alfalfa. For example, the Cornucopia News had this headline: BREAKING NEWS: USDA to Fully Deregulate Monsanto’s Genetically Engineer Alfalfa — Gene Contamination of Feed, Milk, Meat and Other Products to Follow…

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced this afternoon that the agency will fully deregulate Monsanto’s controversial genetically engineered alfalfa. The choice was favored by the biotech industry and one of three options identified in the USDA’s Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) released last month….