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Mass. Organic Farmers Sue Seed Company

Some Massachusetts organic farmers are suing Monsanto, the giant seed engineering company, with hopes that the company doesn't sue them over its patented seed.

Farmers across the country have joined the federal lawsuit.

There's no way to stop traits from genetically modified crops from showing up on farms that don't use Monsanto seeds, according to Barre organic farmer Jack Kittredge.

Kittredge said the wind carries seeds and pollen for miles.

"We don't know what crops are going to be engineered by Monsanto in the future, but it may well be crops that we are growing in a non-engineered state and then ours can be contaminated," he said.

According to the suit, Monsanto is committing "trespass" if the farmers do not use the transgenic seed and if their own seeds are contaminated.

But Monsanto said its practice is to not sue farmers over biotechnology traits that inadvertently show up in their fields.

This program aired on March 31, 2011. The audio for this program is not available.

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