Fields of genetically modified gold have farmers smiling | Checkbiotech

Home | Contact Us | Partnership | Site Map

left shadow

Checkbiotech - for emerging fields of science

NEWSLETTERS SUBMIT CONTENT

Checkbiotech Home

Sign In | Register

bottom shadow


	View Edit Domain: GreenBio Title: * Body: The sea of yellow flowers sways lightly in the gentle breeze.<p>The bright yellow swathe across the paddock is a sharp contrast to the flat green landscape that surrounds it, stretching out to the distant Grampians.</p><p>These millions of yellow flowers in a Wimmera paddock seem tranquil and innocent.</p><p>In fact, they are one of the most controversial crops in Australian agriculture - genetically modified canola. </p><p>It is a crop that is quickly coming to life.</p><p>This year, for the first time, farmers in Victoria and NSW have been allowed to grow GM canola on a commercial scale.</p><p>More than 100 have sown GM canola on a total of about 10,000 hectares.</p><p>Andrew Weidemann is one of those embracing GM canola.</p><p>He is growing 10 different canola varieties on his farm at Rupanyup - five each of GM and non-GM.</p><p>So far the GM crop has exceeded his expectations.</p><p>Much of his 92 hectares of GM canola is now in flower and is on track for harvest in about 11 weeks.</p><p>Mr Weidemann has noticed distinct advantages to GM canola.</p><p>It germinates earlier, grows with more vigour than does the non-GM canola and, with its large, robust leaves, it out-competes weeds.</p><p>It requires one spraying of herbicide, compared with three for non-GM canola.</p><p>The herbicide it requires is claimed not to linger in the paddock or affect what is planted in the paddock next season, a problem that is sometimes associated with traditional non-GM varieties.</p><p>Mr Weidemann now hopes a third advantage, which he says has been noted in trials, comes to the fore. </p><p>GM canola has been found to produce a yield 20pc greater than that of non-GM canola.</p><p>"It`s performed admirably. </p><p>"It`s certainly showing what we`d known before, that it`s got very good weed-control capabilities," he said.</p><p>"Given the amount of rainfall that we`ve had, it`s really excelled to this point. </p><p>"And we hope that if we get good finishing rains, that we`ll grow a fairly handy sort of a crop."</p><p>Mr Weidemann hopes that his GM crop will produce about 2.5 tonnes of seed per hectare.</p><p>That would be 20pc more productive than are the non-GM varieties.</p><p>To allow a detailed comparison of the 10 canola varieties on his farm, all were planted in the same paddock on the same day in early May, in distinct plots.</p><p>Yesterday about 20 farmers from South Australia visited Mr Weidemann`s farm to inspect the GM canola. </p><p>South Australian law prohibits commercial production of GM canola.</p><p>Mr Weidemann said the GM canola puts Victoria on a competitive footing with other nations that have similar technology.</p><p>"It also means that we`re able to reduce the impact of the amount of herbicide that we`re using in our farming operation," he said. <br /></p><br /><p><a href="http://sj.farmonline.com.au/copyright.aspx">Copyright © 2008. Fairfax Media.</a></p><p><br /></p> Captcha: Please Enter Code : * Time Zone: * Select the time zone Vocabularies Newsletter: Domain: Show summary in full view Input format Filtered HTML Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. Full HTML Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. news_filter Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. More information about formatting options			Related Articles Disgruntled GMO firms start pulling out of EU market Agriculture biotech increases at RTP Increased crop yield through better insight in molecular net... Dow AgroSciences, BioDuro to Collaborate on Crop Protection ... Improving Crops from the Roots Up New study reignites debate over GMO safety UK’s Two Main Political Parties Back GMOs And The US Agend... Bt corn farms expanding Mycogen Seeds offers six new sunflower hybrids for 2010 Mexican Progress on Biotech Crops Top GreenBio Articles

Home | Partnership | Contact Us | Site Map | News Site Map
© 2000-2012 Checkbiotech.org | Disclaimer