June 2005 -- USDA deregulates Roundup Ready alfalfa, making it available for farmers to plant commercially for the first time. In the next two years, about 200,000 acres are planted in 48 states. Still, the biotech crop represents only about 1 percent of the total 21 million acres of alfalfa grown nationwide.

March 2006 -- The Center for Food Safety files a lawsuit on behalf of a group of organic and conventional alfalfa growers challenging USDA's decision to deregulate the crop.

February-May 2007 -- In Northern California, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer rules that USDA violated the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to prepare an environmental impact statement prior to deregulating the crop. He orders the agency to prepare an EIS and bans further planting until the document is completed. Roundup Ready alfalfa already planted is allowed to be harvested and sold under certain conditions.

September 2008 -- The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco upholds the lower court's ruling.

December 2009 -- USDA releases a draft EIS with a recommendation that Roundup Ready alfalfa again be deregulated.

January 2010 -- The U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear the case on appeal by Monsanto. Justice Stephen Breyer did not participate, because he is the brother of U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer.

March 3, 2010 -- The deadline to submit public comments on the draft EIS.