Monsanto looses court case in France!

[furrowtickler]

Ian think about what you said, "in the U.S." They use r/r soyabeans and r/r corn back to back to back. Most growers in Canada are using r/r canola much more effectivly and in three to four year chem rotaions or spaced out with Liberty and clearfeild. We are not even on the same planet when it comes to chem rotation as the U.S., canadians are in general much more diverse with crops and chem.

[ianben]

It was hopper who says pre harvest and clean-up pre sowing that is pretty much what is happening here now. Thats two glophspate spray per year without any rr crops.

I worry we already have too much reliance on this wonderful tool for farmers with perhaps no direct replacement.
I hope we are not abuseing this fantasicly valuable asset to farmers and the world.

In canola treflan is already banned found in water supplies at the equivalent of one wheat grain in 3000 tonnes. No evidence of any harm needed if it can be detected it is not acceptable. Not sure what the other chemicals mentioned are, but most canola and a lot of cereal chems are already banned or at risk.

As the more used chemicals get banned from detection in water we switch to less popular ones and guess what they find them too.

Not good for future investment and research if as soon a chemical becomes popular it gets banned for no good reason.

[ianben]

One point I forgot these are EU bans not just UK ones.
Any chemical bannned in any EU country for any reason has to have an EU ban again not for risk but EU trading law.

They will soon be hungry I think.

[Hopperbin]

Ian I believe everything is this link to be true. Possibly return per acre should be higher. Increased net return per acre seems low to me.

http://www.canolacouncil.org/facts_gmo.aspx

First of all farmers who grow RR crops also have the option of using Liberty ristant crops or conventional. To control resistant weeds and rr volunteers one may have to use an additional registered chemicals to the Round up in the spring. I have no resistance on my farm but adding another chemical in the spring helps the glyphosate work much better on certain weeds and helps the crop off to a better start in the goal of increasing yield and keeping weed resistance in check. If chemicals fail to provide a return then tillage will always be the answer.

Ian you likely hear a lot of about this. And thousands of other similar propaganda.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/122702_monsanto.cfm

I am not sure why these environmentalists have not engaged directly with us farmers on this site yet. They seem to have all the answers in their minds when talking to consumers who don't have a clue.

[parsley]

I clicked on the fact sheet you referred to, just in case it had been updated lately, but it remains "November 1, 2005". Nothing changed since then?

We sprayed crops for 22 years, hopper, and then went organic. So, I'm not an appropriate voice for the straight and narrow environmentalists. LOL Pars

[ianben]

I dont see it quite as black and white as you hopper.

I have seen most chemicals we use become less effective with time and use.
Why will glphos be different given its enormous worldwide useage?

As a farmer I can see the agromonic and ecconomic advantage of GM but also the possible future problems.

I am not sure I will ever get the choice here as consumers still see no reason for me to have an easier richer life while, as they see it, they take part in a massive Monsanto experiment.

[charliep]

Off topic but you are posting here ianben so I hope you don't mind is I ask another question.

Canada is hearing about syngenta and some new hybrid winter barley varieties. Are you seeing these varieties in your area? If you are, any comments/experiences?

Canada is watching the hybrid barley varieties with interest although is easier with winter varieties (don't know why) and less applicable spring seeded types.