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"Monsanto's not been very popular in the farming community," said Curt Hoobler, a Kansas farmer.
Farmers like the high tech seeds Monsanto provides, but not all the rules that come with them. One farmer from Indiana is taking his case against those rules to the U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday. He says he should be able to save seeds from one crop to plant a new one.
Curt Hoobler has farmed in Kansas for more than 35 years. He was one of the first to order seeds that a company had genetically changed for toughness.
"It was a really good deal when it first came out," said Hoobler. "It was an added cost, but yet it was well worth the money."
These days, Hoobler says, the price of seed is almost more than the harvest is worth. Which is why he isn't surprised some farmers are saving some seeds at harvest to plant the next crop.
"When you figure that up on even just a few acres, it amounts to a lot of money," he said about the cost of genetically altered seed. And, you know, we've been in drought situations and people are short on money right now."
Saving seeds when harvesting plants like soybeans are at the heart of the lawsuit is a centuries old practice. But with modern biotechnology, seed companies like Monsanto say its time is over.
Monsanto argues the company spent a lot of money developing the seeds and has a right to earn that money back through its sales. That's why the company is suing farmers it catches saving its seeds.
When we contacted Monsanto a company spokesperson referred us to the company website. It states, "If companies and universities can't count on their inventions being protected, few will continue to invest the amounts needed to create a new seed..."
One farmer from Indiana, Vernon Bowman, has appealed Monsanto's lawsuit all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. He says the company's patent ended when farmers sold their crop to a local grain elevator. That's where he bought the seed which he planted, harvested, and replanted several times.
It will be up to the high court to decide which side is right.
"I can understand both sides," said Hoobler. "When you're paying it out it seems like a lot of money. But, you know, on their end, when they're hiring people, I'm sure it seems like a lot of money to them, too."
That doesn't mean Hoobler is happy with Monsanto, which he says isn't willing to work with struggling farmers.
"Some people, the way I understand it, have contacted Monsanto and wanted to grow their own soybeans and just pay the technology fee," said Hoobler. "But, they (Monsanto) told them no, they can't do it."
The U.S. government, other biotechnology companies and several trade organizations have filed briefs in support of Monsanto with the Supreme Court. The Solicitor General will even make oral arguments supporting Monsanto during Tuesday's hearing.
No farmer has ever won in court against Monsanto on the seed saving issue.