BISMARCK – Monsanto officials said Friday if a bill to prohibit farmers from growing genetically modified wheat for two years passes in the Legislature, the company may stop funding research of GMO wheat in the state.

House Bill 1338, if passed in the Senate, would prohibit farmers from growing GMO wheat for the next two years, but would allow research to move forward.

"If this legislation passes, I simply cannot ask them (Monsanto) to continue to fund and develop the research that is necessary to develop biotech wheat in North Dakota," said Michael Doane, the industry affairs manager for Monsanto.

The chemical giant is a global corporation that specializes in finding new ways for farmers to grow their crops. Monsanto officials made their case in front of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

"Are you saying that because of this we’re not worth enough in this area for you to continue research on these areas with this legislation in place?," Sen. Ronald Nichols, D-Palermo asked Doane.

The audience that was packed into the small Roosevelt Park room of the Capitol applauded after Nichols questioned Doane.

"The perception of this legislation is that, unfortunately, whether we like this or not, that North Dakota is not for biotechnology," Doane said. He added, Monsanto spends more than $1 million per day in research globally.

The main argument against growing GMO wheat in North Dakota is that eight of 11 of the state’s top buyers of wheat will not accept GMO wheat. Some legislators and farmers are concerned that even if a few fields of GMO wheat are produced, the plants will eventually cross-pollinate with non-GMO wheat and eventually ruin North Dakota’s standing in the wheat market.

Some grain buyers around the world will not accept wheat that has traces of genetically modified plant varieties.

Commissioner of Agriculture Roger Johnson, said if North Dakota allows GMO wheat to be grown, and Canada continues to ban it, then the state would be at a severe disadvantage in selling wheat to world markets.

"This bill is about what the customer wants," Johnson said. "We run a huge risk if we say yes to GMO wheat and Canada says no."

Johnson said he is not opposed to biotechnology in agriculture, but thinks the state should wait a while until more is known about GMO wheat and more countries accept it.

Opponents of the bill say that banning GMO wheat for two years will stifle technology and could eventually put North Dakota at a disadvantage.

Greg Daws, who farms near Michigan, in Nelson County, said he doesn’t like the idea of government intervention in growing small grains.

"I’m asking you to trust me as a producer that I know what my customer needs," Daws said. "I don’t need to have the government telling me that I can’t use something, and I think it’s the wrong message to the companies."

The House passed the bill last month by a vote of 68-29.

Now it is up to the Senate to decide what to do with the bill.

The Senate Agriculture Committee is not expected to make a recommendation on the bill for about a week.

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