ORGANIC farmers in Herefordshire are urging the Government to not give the go-ahead to GM farming.

Producers would automatically lose their organic certification if genetically modified crops were grown near their land.

A decision by the Govern-ment is expected later this year on whether commercial GM crops will be allowed to be grown in the UK.

But organic farmers in Herefordshire, which has been the setting for a series of GM crop trials, have said they want more evidence that GM crops are safe to be used in foods before backing commercial growing.

Angus Davison, director at Haygrove, near Ledbury, at which a quarter of its fruit is organic, said: "I would be quite happy for them to come in two years but they need to be tested," he said.

"My greatest concern would be politicians having their arms twisted by companies that will benefit. It's for scientists to decide thinking 50 years ahead."

A former PhD student of plant genetics, John Latham is one of around 45 members of a private organic farming group based at Canon Frome Court, near Ledbury.

"I don't think anywhere near

enough of the health implications are known yet," said Mr Latham.

"Lots of the plants came out

of the procedures looking funny and presumably that's because of the genetic change - we don't know. We have to ask: Is that all of the problems or the tip of the iceberg?"

John Davenport, of Ledbury's Flight Orchards farm, added: "It's a firm no from me at the moment but maybe if things are tested properly and for long enough, and if the technology is improved, then you never know."

Last week marked the deadline for the public to have their say.

Professor Malcolm Grant, chief of the "GM Nation?" debate which saw around 20,000 people submit their views, will issue a report to the Government of the project's findings. He said: "No specific conclusions should be drawn until then, but my general impression has been that people are cautious."