Officials in Jackson County, Oregon, won’t enforce a voter-approved ban on genetically engineered crops until there is a U.S. District Court decision, says the Medford Mail Tribune. The ban was approved during a referendum in May. Two farm operations sued in November, on grounds the county ban would violate a state Right to Farm law. They said they would lose $4.2 million in GMO alfalfa. “The county agreed not to enforce the ban to give the court adequate time to rule on the case and to save money for the county and the alfalfa farmers during the legal process, according to a court document,” said the Mail Tribune.
The lawsuit was filed in Jackson County Circuit Court and later was moved to U.S. District Court in Medford. A group supporting the ban said it protects growers who use traditionally bred seeds from cross-pollination from GMO crops.
The Hawaii County Council voted, 5-4, to appeal a federal court decision against a county ordinance banning GMO crops, said West Hawaii Today. One council member said home rule was at issue as well as local concern about the crops. A U.S. magistrate ruled on Nov 27 the ordinance was pre-empted by a state law.