Monsanto Continues Draconian Approach Over Contamination
 

Despite all of my efforts to work out an arrangement with Monsanto because of the re-emergence of Roundup Ready Canola in my fields, they have refused to remove the canola plants from my field unless I sign an agreement that removes all my rights. The agreement that they wanted me to sign was asking me and my family members to waive their rights. Their property (the RR canola plants) continues to sit on my field, against my wishes. With the plants still sitting there, the pods are shelling and the canola is being scattered on my field again which will result in more Roundup Ready canola plants emerging in the future.

Because of the presence of these plants, I am restricted as to what I can seed on this field in 2006. I had planned to seed Mustard, and even Monsanto's lawyer is suggesting that I do not seed Mustard as it will be impossible to keep out or separate the canola from mustard.

Monsanto has admitted that the volunteer canola plants are theirs, but for them to remove them they want to be absolved of any responsibility for them. I have to absorb the costs of additional chemical (they will only pay for one removal) and removal costs as their agreement states that future costs of removal would be my responsibility. I also would lose any ability to sue Monsanto in the future.

Because of this contamination, I have lost control of what I want to seed on my land, and thus, control of my land. Monsanto's response? Sign this agreement waiving all of my rights and any claims against them and they will clean up the plants this one time.

Monsanto's response is completely unacceptable; they were the ones that polluted my land, but I am the one that has to give up my rights, my choices for crops that I want to seed, and I have to assume future costs for clean up if the contamination continues next year and beyond.

The only possible choice I have to is to sue Monsanto for the damage that they have caused to my fields. This is something that I am considering. But this whole issue could have been resolved if Monsanto would show some reason and not act in such a draconian manner.

View the release form here.