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While some food labels already say whether a product contains GMO ingredients, Oregon voters Nov. 4 will decide whether to make such labels mandatory. Spending for and against Measure 92 is close to breaking the state's all-time record for total ballot measure spending.

(Associated Press)

With nearly three weeks left before election day, Measure 92, Oregon's mandatory GMO-labeling measure, is just a few major contributions away from becoming the costliest ballot measure in state history.

A new, $2.5 million contribution from chemical giant Monsanto brings total contributions to the No on 92 Coalition to just over $10 million. The donation's transaction date was Oct. 8, but it showed up late Wednesday on the Oregon secretary of state's campaign finance filing site.

The donation brings Monsanto's total contributions to just over $4 million.

The Yes on 92 campaign, meanwhile, reports raising $5.4 million in support of the measure.

Combined spending for Measure 92 stands at $15.1 million.

Oregon's current spending record when it comes to ballot measures is the total of $15.4 million raised for and against 2007's Measure 50. That effort, which proposed an 84.5-cent cigarette tax increase to fund children's health care, was defeated.

If approved Nov. 4, the Measure 92 would make Oregon the first state in the country to approve mandatory GMO labeling at the ballot box. The Vermont Legislature has already passed a bill calling for labeling, but it's now being challenged in court.

- Dana Tims