It’s somewhat involved, but a new piece from NPR about chemical giant Monsanto‘s roll-out of a herbicide-resistant soybean — and the damage drifting sprays are doing to the crops of East Arkansas soybean farmers who haven’t made the switch to Monsanto’s frankenseeds — is worth a read. Check it out here.

Monsanto released the new seeds, called Xtend, earlier this year. They have been genetically modified to resist the effects of a potent herbicide called dicamba, which is lethal to normal soybeans. Farmers who aren’t yet using Xtend seeds are reporting widespread crop damage to their fields, with area extension agents suggesting it’s caused by small amounts of wind-driven dicamba blown over from farms that are illegally using the chemical in conjunction with dicamba-resistant soybeans to fight pigweed.

Though Monstano is seeking approval of a new version of dicamba that doesn’t ride the wind quite so easily, researchers at the University of Arkansas tell NPR that the damage to non-Xtend soybean crops may continue even after the less-vaporous version comes to market. That ongoing threat could force more farmers in the region to buy Xtend seeds next year.

From the article:

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