GM triffid Flax and Pedigreed Seed

[Choice2U]

After reading this and much more, I just don't get how buying certified seed that is tested and qualifies as "non-triffid" is any better than using bin run seed that is tested and qualifies as "non-triffid". So why are we going the certified seed route??????? I am guessing that "the industry" is selling this misleading new protocol to the Europeans in hopes that the suckers believe it is better. What happens when Triffid still shows up like before because this protocol does not change anything?

[VK58]

IMHO the solution is simple, make it a requirement,as suggested tested seed and tested harvested product to be able to market the flaxseed. However the certified seed price should be fixed because no matter how you rationalize the results, the CSGA,seed growers, seed companies all have to some degree a level of fault in this fiasco.
For them to benefit financially from this is assinine.
Everyone needs to take their lumps and move forward.
ps. Had a chem rep around the farm about a month ago, they had surveyed 170 farms only 2 had indicated any intention to grow flax. In our part of the world there is too many options to put up with this BS,you have to be of the contrarian point of view to grow flax.

[bucket]

So maybe a forced 1:1 seed exchange would work.

You need 400 bushels of certified seed for 2010. You sell 400 bushels of flax in the growers name and bring him the cheque when you pick up that "industry cleansing certified flax seed".

I just wish the seed growers would put their money where their mouth is and take some responsibility for this. It would go a long way to supporting them in the future.

[oneoff]

Lets have some real names and organizations asociated with who is making theses decisions. This type of thing just evolves to the point of the press reporting an action plan as being a mandatory obligation of a whole farming sector that has had its suggestions ignored. Maybe that's because the regulators are culpable and the seed developers; farm supply wings and seed growers associations are going to be huge winners.
Damn them all.

[TOM4CWB]

Folks,

Have you forgotten that EU countries require pedigreed planting seed?

When the stewardship program was put together; the implementation of pedigreed seed was part of the negotiation to allow flax below .01% into the EU.

I truly think you folks are missing the issues we face.

WE can clean this GM event... out of western Canada... if that is what we want to do. LLRice and Starlink corn are examples of cleanups.

In 2001 we had a canola GM event that had the wrong RR gene event... the acres and seed were all destroyed.

It is gone.

We too can fix this... if we are disciplined and decide to do so.

No one said it would be 'easy' but then what worthwhile in life... is easy?

We farmers are 'can' people... nothing is impossible!

[parsley]

<a href="http://parsleysnotebook.blogspot.com/2010/02/editorial-marketing-certified-flax-seed.html"> Is tom4cwb now the spokesman for the 'learn from this and move on' crowd? </a>

[wmoebis]

Maybe I have missed something, but will flax growers be required to seed cert seed every year or can they use bin run next year?

[parsley]

And after you've clicked on the last post, maybe you could tell us if the flax seedgrowers are already stocking up on wheat seed for the next go around, only next time tom4cwb will be issuing a joint statment with the Wheat Board....

"C'mon guys, the Wheat Board will only market wheat from pedigreed seed so let's clean er up. Don't blame us.It's your fault. BUT.. Buy pedigreed seed."

Click on the link above, twice, tom. Maybe three times. Pars

[parsley]

You're headed for obeying legislation for forced use of certified seed.

Purebred cattle breeders did it years ago and laughed themselves all the way to the bank.

[parsley]

China recently bought farmland land near the Melville area. It sold for around $60T a quarter. It was purchased by a Calgary corporation buying land for the Chinese.

China is a communist country. Even Google walked out of China last week.

Take a good look at your neighbor that you've lived beside for a hundred years, and decide if you kinda like working beside him and his kids.

Decide if money for faceless shareholders, for a quickie moment, is your be all end all, because the decisions you make in ag these days, may come back to bite you in the ass.

And of course, it's your choice. But it's an important choice. Pars

[TOM4CWB]

parsley,

ANYONE can be a seed grower... if they have an ounce of common sense.

Tracking and IP are commonsense business... that every other provider of things we use and eat must provide.

EVEN organic growers do it.

Balance in everything... hope you are being entertained! We must be getting towards the end of winter...

[rbrunel]

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA INVESTS IN FLAX INDUSTRY INNOVATION

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan February 12, 2010 – The Government of Canada is investing in innovation to help Canadian flax farmers deliver high quality products to consumers here and around the world. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced today that the Flax Council of Canada will receive up to $5.9 million to help create new flax varieties and develop an improved method for flax seed testing.

“New and improved flax varieties will give Canadian farmers increased flax yield and more opportunities to succeed in international markets,” said Minister Ritz. “The Government of Canada knows that agriculture is a cornerstone of our economy and that’s why we are helping keep farmers on the cutting edge with investments in research and innovation.”

This investment will go towards two initiatives:
$4.0 million from the Developing Innovative Agri-Products program (DIAP) will help the Flax Council of Canada produce new herbicide tolerant Canadian flax to improve the performance of flax. Increased genetic diversity of flax will give growers across Canada another sustainable oilseed crop option, in turn increasing crop yield for export to world markets. Fortifying flax varieties to improve crop yield is extremely important in enhancing the Canadian flax industry’s long-term ability to supply world demand.

Up to $1.9 million from the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP) will be used by the Flax Council of Canada to develop sampling and testing methods to identify the presence of genetically modified (GM) flaxseed in Canadian flax exports. Results will be used to assure global flax markets that Canada knows its crop and is in control of the quality of the flax delivered. In turn, this will serve to increase competitiveness in the flax seed industry.

“This is a very welcomed development for the flax industry. The support to develop an herbicide tolerant flax that will be accepted in all markets will be a major accomplishment,” said Flax Council President and CEO Barry Hall. “As well, the support to the industry through CAAP funding will assist in the industry in responding to the challenges it is experiencing in the EU market place.”

Canada is the largest supplier of flax in the world, producing almost 50 per cent of the world supply and 80 per cent of world exports, with a farm gate value of $346 million in 2008.

In addition to the Developing Innovative Agri-Products initiative and the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program, Canada’s Economic Action Plan supports agriculture as a core economic driver in this country. The Government of Canada is focused on strengthening the economy, while preparing to pay down the deficit and to create and protect the jobs of the future. Investments in viable market opportunities will help build an even stronger flax industry and Canadian

[parsley]

You're headed for obeying legislation for forced use of certified seed.

....Biotech companies will get every available fund from checkoffs/grants to develop varieties to insert a gene to service the chemicals they produce.

.....A few Selected Seed growers will act as "the farming face" to justify huge transfers of grants. Otherwise taxpayers get itchy. Universities that "close their eyes" will contimue to toe funded.

Those select symbiotic seedgrowers will supply donkeyfarmers with their patented seed at their price. As registered growers, they get to designate the seed to be used.

.....grain handlers like Viterra will only buy grain from donkeyfarmers that produce and deliver "their" variety or that they can service with chemicals.

Varieties that make money for donkey farmers will not be developed. Seed saving will be cut off with legislation. (Like tom says, "the gm event did not make anyone money... and only really benefited commercial growers")

The real money to be had will be in selling you the chemicals, until the patented varieties start kicking out royalties.

.....Seed growers will buy a few of the patents and supply you that patented seed at their price and recieve royalties. The smart ones will set up an "EVENT testing company" and send you the bill for every test.

After awhile, even they won't have an opportunity to buy patents as they will get outbid.

.....Corporations will get so they only buy their patented seed variety crop, but they will make deals with each other. Reciprocal agreements. They will also own patents together.

canadians will pay for a lot of the development of the technology. Why not? We're so nice? But it will not be owned by us.And farmers will get to pay environmental damages and health effects litiagation.

The bioctech companies are out of their league when it comes to countries wiht no rule of law, ie Russia, and no honoring patents, ie China.

The biotech companies will indeed sell.

When China is ready, they will buy the biotech companies, after all money is the only factor, raise the price of seed and donkey farmers will not be a ble to afford to sow a crop.

You will not have any other seed. If it crosses, you will get sued, as did Percy.

You will sell your farms at reduced rates, and China will buy them

It's called long term strategy.

Just a little mind candy today, as a gift from me to you. pars


ps wiband the r, er, wolf, I left a note for you.

[parsley]

And just so you know, I have done a lot of translating on websites.

China wants a lot of flax.

[parsley]

And China wants flax for specific purposes.

They won't want to pay for development though. But they are planning to significantly expand their own flax production. (Some of our committments are in French on webpages.)

And they certainly have keen Canadian keen funders. Like taking candy from a baby.