Health, Science & Environment

Monsanto Roundup Ready beets given approval for spring planting

St. Louis Public Radio

Published Feb. 4, 2011 at 4:38 p.m. CST

Fields of sugar beets, Monsanto's Roundup Ready brand to be exact, are now eligible to be planted this spring. (via Flickr/Dag Endresen)

Farmers will be able to plant Monsanto's Roundup Ready sugar beets this spring.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today that planting could continue while the Agency completes an Environmental Impact Statement.

The beets have been genetically-engineered to tolerate Monsanto's Roundup herbicide.

The USDA initially approved the beets in 2005. The Agency was forced to re-evaluate its decision following a 2008 lawsuit filed by environmental groups, who say they will also challenge today's decision.

The Environmental Impact Statement evaluating the biotech beets is expected to be completed by the end of May 2012.

About 95 percent of the U.S. sugar beet crop is grown from Monsanto's Roundup Ready seeds.

For more, here's Monsanto's take on today's announcement.

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