I agree that a 20:1 ROI seems a tad optimistic. That is the number arrived at by Ag Ec prof Dr Richard Grey, U of S. It reflects increased yield, disease resistance, lower agronomic costs, greater value( protein, flour yield) to the buyer, etc.
fjlip made a very valid point that the benefit does not always come back to we farmers. I would press all commissions and depts. of ag to make sure to opt for public plant breeding. It is far better that farmers own the new varieties and control the direction of research than for corporations to do so. The federal plan seems to be to move to completely private funding and control. If that happens we will not be able to plant a registered variety that does not have a corporate patent on it or isn't linked to a patented herbicide.
fjlip made a very valid point that the benefit does not always come back to we farmers. I would press all commissions and depts. of ag to make sure to opt for public plant breeding. It is far better that farmers own the new varieties and control the direction of research than for corporations to do so. The federal plan seems to be to move to completely private funding and control. If that happens we will not be able to plant a registered variety that does not have a corporate patent on it or isn't linked to a patented herbicide.
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