No Canola Right Now: Court of Appeals Issues a Stay

Friends of Family Farmers is reporting that the Oregon Court of Appeals has issued a temporary stay on the temporary rule that was to allow canola to be planted in an expanded area in the Willamette Valley. The Oregon Department of Agriculture’s plan to reduce the restricted zone in which canola could be planted was met with opposition from specialty seed and vegetable farmers who fear genetic contamination with their crops. Leah Rodgers, field director of FFF says “We have confirmed with the Court of Appeals that the stay is to remain in effect until the court hears further legal arguments and issues a final decision on the motion for a stay.”

For more on canola, see our last two stories “Growing Canola Controversy,” “Is No Canola Good Canola” and also read Frank Morton of Wild Garden Seed’s “Canola Nightmare” Viewpoint this week. Morton is a party in the case.