The four said they represented no one group, but were veterans of grassroots opposition to genetically engineered crops in England. Monsanto representatives declined the group's invitation to participate in a press conference. Several of the group claimed to have the ear of American farmers, who, they said, were being forced to use genetically engineered seed and were prevented by large grain elevators from segregating traditional crops from those produced with bio-engineered seed. No U.S. farmers, nor any commodities trade organizations, were invited to the press conference, although both the National Corn Growers Association and the American Soybean Association are based in St. Louis. Jim Hershey, divisional director for overseas operations of the Soybean Association, contradicted the visitors.
Farmers are free to make a choice of what they want to plant.