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Protesters gathered at the Oregon Capitol in July to help block a bill that would have pre-empted local ordinances against genetically modified seeds.

(Yuxing Zheng/The Oregonian)

With next week's special session approaching in the Oregon Legislature, Syngenta Crop Protection of Greensboro, N.C. this week gave $5,000 to the

.

It may not have been obvious, but it's an example of the regular contributions that companies involved with genetically modified crops have been quietly pumping into Oregon politics.

Not surprisingly, these companies are particularly interested in the Legislature now that Gov. John Kitzhaber and legislative leaders have put the GMO issue -- the acronymn stands for genetically modified organisms --

.

As part of a deal to win support for legislation on taxes, spending and the Public Employees Retirement System, Kitzhaber and the legislative leaders have also agreed on a bill that would prohibit counties from enacting bans on the planting of genetically modified seeds. The bill would include an exception for Jackson County, where a proposal has qualified for the May ballot.

The secretary of state's campaign finance database shows that Monsanto, the world's largest seed producer and a key opponent of new limits on GMO crops, recently gave $6,000 to FirstVote.

In turn, FirstVote is a group closely allied with the agricultural industry. Paulette Pyle is listed as one of the PAC's directors. She is also a longtime lobbyist and official with Oregonians for Food and Shelter, which is supported by a variety of agricultural companies, including pesticide manufacturers.

FirstVote is a regular contributor to several legislators. Most recently, it's given to three Democrats who are usually key supporters of the agricultural industry: Reps. Brian Clem of Salem and Brad Witt of Scappoose and Sen. Betsy Johnson of Scappoose.

Witt chairs the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and is on the panel as well. Johnson, who received $500, has been

, where Democrats have a slim 16-14 majority.

Syngenta and Monsanto have not been among the big donors in Salem. The health-care lobby, public employee unions and the financial industry are all much bigger donors, to give a few examples.

But the companies have been regular contributors to FirstVote and the Farm Bureau Political Action Committee, which also donates directly to candidates.

since 2007 while

in cash and donated items over that same period of time.

Betaseed, which supplies genetically modified seeds to sugar beet growers,

. And Croplife for America, an association that includes several companies involved in GMO, has contributed $17,500 to First Vote and the Farm Bureau PAC since 2010.

--Jeff Mapes