On August 13th, a Federal District Court Judge ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) could not approve Monsanto's genetically engineered (GE) sugar beets before conducting an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Less than a month after the ruling, the USDA announced it would begin issuing permits for GE sugar beets anyway, without conducting an EIS.

Monsanto's Roundup Ready GE crops have already caused environmental destruction, prompting the growth of herbicide-resistant "superweeds" that choke out crops and force farmers to use even more chemical pesticides and herbicides. These plants also escape and cross-breed with organic varieties, ruining natural plants' genetics and threatening the livelihoods of organic farmers. If the USDA bothered to assess GE sugar beets' potential environmental and social-economic impacts, the agency would likely find that the plants are guilty of causing the same problems.

It's completely irresponsible for the USDA to put Monsanto's interests above the health of the planet, farmers, and consumers. Tell the agency it needs to conduct a thorough environmental review before issuing permits for any biotech crop.