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Protesters gathered at the Oregon Capitol in July to to oppose a bill to pre-empt local ordinances against genetically modified seeds. the Legislature later passed the pre-emption but allowed the Jackson County anti-GMO ballot measure to proceed.

(Yuxing Zheng/The Oregonian)

Opponents of a proposed ban on crops in Jackson County using genetically modified organisms have been raising money from farm bureaus and other agricultural interests from around the country.

The state's campaign disclosure database -- which

after it had been taken down on Feb. 4 following a cyber attack -- shows that opponents reported

to fight the proposed ban on the May 20 ballot. All told, they report raising nearly $170,000.

Contributions include $10,000 from the Western Sugar Cooperative of Denver, $10,000 from the South Dakota Farm Bureau, $5,000 from the Texas Farm Bureau and $1,000 from the Indiana Farm Bureau.

Closer to home, opponents $10,000 contributions from the West Coast Beet Seed Co. of Salem and Wilco, a Mt. Angel agricultural supply cooperative. The Deschutes, Yamhill and Clackamas county farm bureaus also contributed.

The sugar beet industry, which primarily uses genetically altered seeds, has been particularly active in

. Supporters of the ballot measure include organic farmers who say they don't want their crops contaminated by genetically altered seeds.

-- Jeff Mapes