GMO Wheat

[oneoff]

If the RR gene isn't in Canada now; then its a matter of time until it will be. Then you will say that it is safe and there should be no concern.

All it takes for that to happen is one seed (or maybe some pollen grains). It may indeed be some misguided person, or carelessness, or recklessness or maybe a SW wind. As the event expands, eradication is all but impossible. It becomes a matter of living with trace amounts.

If the claim is that Monsanto only tested and worked on spring wheat and its now in winter wheat; then that should indicate this isn't going to be isoated to some chem fallow field. Someone who has access to some rogue plants growing in Oregon; or from screenings of any previous year back to the days of field tests in the early 2000's has all the ingredients necessary. Nobody will probably ever know.

As for dwelling on the negative....if positive propaganda can't stand the light of the flip side; then too bad. The cost to benefit ratio had better be much greater than unity or there has indeed beteen a gross error allowing the development and testing of spring wheat in Oregon and elsewhere.

And that responsibility rests with those who have supported and facilitated these projects in the past and present. The least we should demand is appropriate attention to the potential seriousness of remote chances of some outcomes. When in doubt..."maybe don't do it" is the safest rule...until there much greater certainty.

And others say "Whatever" to your opinions which admittedly don't contain all the facts; or an analysis of any of the opposing views put out for critical assessment.

[charliep]

So you indicate there is no evidence that there is any
presence of the glyphosate resistant gene in western
Canadian wheat?

[wmoebis]

The diff. is producers take all
liability for the gov't and Monsanto
before they can deliver (get their pay
check).

If those declarations released us from
this responsibility instead of down
loading it onto each and everyone of us
it would be diff.

All I say is the Gov't and Monsanto
should accept and be financially
responsible IF the RR gene should ever
show up in Canada.

If you are confident that RR gene is
not in Canada you sign all producers
declarations in respect to the RR gene
but I know I am not (that) confidant.

[charliep]

Is the RR gene a specific clause in your varietal declaration. My assumption is that you are simply identifying the variety you are delivering. Discovery of the genetic material would have market access and price implications but that has not happened in Canada over and above your declaration.

As a seller of product, are you encouraging all your buyers to request full testing and verification of all Canadian wheat for the RR gene? It is not that difficult a test and I am surprised it hasn't been done to date either by customers or exporters. This happens to confirm varietal purity, quality attributes, chemical residue, molds, diseases, weed seeds, etc, etc.

[charliep]

A question in general. Is anyone finding plants (wheat or otherwise) other RR canola that are surviving application of glyphosate? Is the issue inclusion of the tolerance gene or over use of these products/plants that are developing ability to tolerate?

[oneoff]

Yeah we all take close notice of every weed out of place and the exact chemical composition of each and every kernel and plant on our farms.

AS IF TAT IS ANYWHERE POSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE ON EVEN ONE SQUARE FOOT.

Even the most experenced elevator agent couldn't tell you what one of the registered varieties; your load of barley was predomominantly grown from.

And as far as simple tests; the Monsanto site admits that they don't have a "test kit" for the GMO wheat currently in the news. But they are hard at work getting it ready.

And guess what; another revenue stream for Monsanto;

And another couple hundred bucks for each test one very five thousand bushels. Thats the experience flax growers have had for the last number of years.

As I said before; this particular mess belongs 100% to Monsanto. They own it; they claim no one but them had access to any of their seeds and it was never registered anywhere in the world.

What part of accountability and responsibility don't the owners, enablers, apologists and supporters understand? Its almost as though those promoters are in self-denial. If what has apparently happened was deemed impossible; then what else still awaits being revealed?

The foxes are in charge of the chicken coop?????

[charliep]

You responded to this question for Triffid. Will see if you are consistent. Is this issue a human health issue or a market access one?

[ado089]

There are dozens of plants that range from mildly tolerant to completely resistant to glyphosate. The mechanisms of tolerance range from metabolically to physiological. RR crops winter annuals and perennials depending on the season will tolerate glyphosate on a metabolic level. Where as weeds like lambs quarters have a waxy layer on the top of the leaf and kockia has fine hairs that prevent the product from entering the stomata. Young grasses/cereals have thin, erect leaves that make them a difficult target for a droplet of spray solution to hit. Add low spray volume and typical spring winds and I would suggest that a typical spring burnoff is at best 75% effective on average. So simply seeing some green after an application of roundup is not a fair assessment of genetic contamination.

That being said if the likes of Monsanto want to benefit from intellectual property laws they should be liable for intentional or preventable escapes. Live by the sword die by the sword.

[wmoebis]

RR is a non registered variety and all
non registered varieties are included in
declaration so YES it is included.

I can visually assess my grain for KVD
for classes and possibly for variety,
that is the reasoning behind KDV,
however I don't know if RR gene variety
is distinguishable or not.

My point is that the declaration we
sign should be releasing us from that
responsibility not forcing us to assume
it on behalf of the gov't and Monsanto.
If I have mixed classes I will declare
it but if I end up with something that
is not suppose to be there or I am
unaware of, Not a Chance should we as
producers be liable.

The diff is gov't and Monsanto or
anyone, can say it is not here but we as
producers have to guarantee it and
accept financial responsibility if it
happens to show up. Just like Triffid
flax.

So my question is do we just sit and
wait and see if it does or doesn't show
up or will the gov't do the right thing
and release producers in case it does?

[charliep]

So we live in a world where only big/well funded companies like Monsanto can take on the risk of bringing new technologies forward?

A good consequence of this event may be more discussion around liability but also world agreement on how new breeding technnologies can be brought forward and recieve general international approval for distribution even at low level presence. If you companies to invest in your industry, then it is imperative they have clear rules so they can assess risk and make good business decisions.