GM WATCH COMMENT: According to item 1, America's Commander in Chief - the saviour of Baghdad and New Orleans - is now 'on top of' the GM rice fiasco. So, God help the farmers!

Item 2 is extracts from a Delta Farm Press interview with the president of the Arkansas Rice Growers Association (ARGA), John Alter. Among other interesting points, ARGA is saying researchers have identified 2 non-GM rice varities - Cocodrie and Cheniere - as harbouring Bayer's LibertyLink GM trait. And that, 'the various research universities in the six rice-producing states have been asked to submit samples of their seed stock for testing.'

Alter also says in the interview that this is an accident that's been waiting to happen because of the lack of regulatory control in the US, and it's fortunate in many ways that it wasn't a pharma rice contamination incident.

And when asked if his organisation is in contact with the USDA - the US Dept of Agriculture - and APHIS, he replies:

'Yes. But let's put this in perspective.

'APHIS is the department within the USDA responsible for monitoring test plots and outdoor development, growing and transportation of GMOs. I have a copy of a GAO [Government Accountability Office] audit (of APHIS) from last year that wasn't very flattering about APHIS' ability to monitor (GMOs).

'It's scary to read the audit and understand the lack of real oversight in place. We all assume someone is watching (GMO research) and protecting us. But this audit says APHIS doesn't have sufficient resources to do so.'

And if you think that sounds reminiscent of Katrina, remember this time there never were any levees!
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1.DUBYA'S 'ON TOP' OF GM RICE FIASCO

Bush brings in more than $400,000 for Hutchinson, state GOP
By Rob Moritz
Arkansas News Bureau, Aug 31 2006
http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2006/08/31/News/337565.html

LITTLE ROCK - ... During a three-hour visit to Arkansas' capital city Hutchinson [a former congressman who worked in the Bush administration as undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security], his wife, Susan, Gov. Mike Huckabee and other Republican dignitaries greeted Bush president after Air Force One touched down at Little Rock National Airport just after 11 a.m. and rode with the president to the fundraiser. Hutchinson and his wife accompanied the president back to the airport after the event...

Along with discussing the gubernatorial campaign, Hutchinson said he also talked to the president about genetically modified long-grain rice that has been found in rice in Arkansas.Two lawsuits were filed  Monday in federal court against Bayer CropScience LP, the maker of the genetically modified rice. Tuesday, 20 farmers in Lonoke County filed a lawsuit against Bayer and Riceland Foods Inc. Farmers say they are losing money because the European Union has stopped receiving the tainted U.S. rice.The president "was certainly aware of that and on top of that," Hutchinson said.
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2.GMO rice: Lawsuits, legislation, markets and frustrations
By David Bennett
Farm Press Editorial Staff
Delta Farm Press, Aug 31 2006 [excerpts only]
http://deltafarmpress.com/news/060831-alter-rice/

As president of the Arkansas Rice Growers Association, John Alter has had a busy couple of weeks. The Aug. 18 USDA announcement that tiny amounts of a Bayer genetically modified organism had been found in the U.S. rice supply sent rice prices down. Soon after, Alter's phone began ringing and it hasn't stopped since.

'The calls have flooded in. Mostly, (fellow farmers) are just trolling for information, ' says the Dewitt, Ark., producer whose own rice crop is nearing harvest. 'Everyone is scrambling to find out something - anything.'

'They're angry and confused and no one knows what to do. For some reason, there's a lot of mystery surrounding this.'

Although Delta Farm Press has been unable to confirm it, ARGA has reported Cocodrie and Cheniere are varieties harboring Bayer's LibertyLink trait. (Editor's note: to view that information, see http://www.arkansasricegrowers.com/archive_news.htm target_new.htm )

On Aug. 29, Alter - who also sits on the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board - spoke about the current swirl of farmer worries, lawsuits, Bayer's response and proposed legislation. Among his comments:

Anything new going on?

'... comments have been made that this problem is widespread and throughout rice-producing areas. What science has been used (to make such conclusions)? I'm not disputing that may be the case. But if the research tests have been done, let us know what they were and when they occurred.'

What about the information released by your organization stating that Cocodrie and Cheniere hold (the offending GMO traces)? How solid is that information?

'Respected researchers have told us they believe (the problem) is in those two varieties. We have no way of knowing that (independently)... If a farmer (has those varieties), we were told it would be a good idea to try and keep them separate.'

Can you characterize these researchers further?

'I've spoken with (them) off the record, so I have to be careful. But this comes from several (sources). There's no way to (independently) confirm that without adequate testing.'

'However, I understand the various research universities in the six rice-producing states have been asked to submit samples of their seed stock for testing. I don't know how far along that process is.'

On common questions in the farming community

'Farmers continue to wonder why it took so long for the information to reach the (field). As an organization, we're standing back and waiting for the investigations to prove what they will.'

'However, we hope any investigation looks at not only how this happened but if anyone - any company, or companies - profited from having knowledge farmers (weren't provided).'

Is ARGA in contact with the USDA and APHIS?

'Yes. But let's put this in perspective.

'APHIS is the department within the USDA responsible for monitoring test plots and outdoor development, growing and transportation of GMOs. I have a copy of a GAO [Government Accountability Office] audit (of APHIS) from last year that wasn't very flattering about APHIS' ability to monitor (GMOs).

'It's scary to read the audit and understand the lack of real oversight in place. We all assume someone is watching (GMO research) and protecting us. But this audit says APHIS doesn't have sufficient resources to do so.'

On ARGA and its umbrella organization (US Rice Producers Association) being involved in recent Missouri and Arkansas GMO legislation.

'This (LibertyLink) situation doesn't surprise me at all.'

'It will be two years in January that the ARGA was the sole organization that introduced legislation to regulate the transportation, outdoor growth of GMO rices. We told the Arkansas legislature then that this wasn't a matter of 'if' but 'when.'

We weren't using scare tactics. But we know the practicality of growing any (GMO rice) outdoors in close proximity to a valuable, commercial rice crop is a serious danger. And now we've seen a fraction of what that danger can be.