Biotechnology Industry Organization. The group represents more than one thousand biotechnology companies and other organizations. Mr. Greenwood says the current decision is a reasonable step. He says it lets farmers make planting choices while the environmental statement is being completed.

But activist groups for the environment and food safety question the product’s safety. They will take legal action in the same federal court that issued the ruling last year. Lawyer Paul Achitoff of the organization Earthjustice said:

PAUL ACHITOFF: “We do expect to be able to challenge that decision before the district court.”

The Roundup Ready opponents say genetically engineered crops can cross-pollinate and damage other crops. And they say the crops can cause the growth of weeds that resist Roundup.

Last year, the United States Supreme Court considered its first case about genetically engineered crops. The court rejected a lower court’s decision to ban sale of genetically engineered alfalfa seeds until the government completed a study of their effects on the environment.

And that’s the VOA Special English Agriculture Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. I’m Karen Leggett.