The author spent time with cotton growers in South Georgia and West Texas and learned that insect control is an important issue. In south Georgia, the method of control is to put out a network of boll weevil traps along with roving monitors and then when there is an outbreak, take quick action to contain the spread of insects. With farmers near Roscoe, Texas, the method of control is different. Cotton growers there spray all of the crops with insecticide, taking a blanket approach to prevention of insect damage to the crops. The Georgia method is more labor intensive.

If insect resistance to conventional insecticides develops, it could hit cotton growers financially, especially in Texas. It could also make them more reliant on using Monsanto products. The impact of Monsanto's mistake was to take a step towards dominance of the insecticide market through their genetically modified, insect resistant seeds. The EPA fine seems insignificant when compared to potential future sales of GMO cotton seed by Monsanto.

According to a Reuters story, Monsanto had taken steps to make sure their mistake would not happen again and tests indicated that there was no evidence of the development of insect resistance after the mistake.

While the EPA should be congratulated on enforcing the law, it may not be enough to prevent Monsanto's abuse of its near monopoly on patented seeds.