Smart Canola

[winston]

What is happening with the Smart canola that did not tolerate the herbicides it was supposed to? Proven has not said too much but I hear that some crops are very poor as a result.

[mummaof3]

There is a big problem and we have it on our farm. Proven is not coming forward at all. In a conversation with another farmer their rep told them they were waiting till the end of August to make a decision. Our rep at first said it was weather conditions, then it was dampening off, now it is our airseeder, they are making excuses left and right.

[winston]

I have a feeling they will try to blame it on the farmer or the weather but in our field we happened to sow two varities and there is a huge diff between them. Blame that on the weather! I cant believe Proven would handle this problem so poorly.

[winston]

In addition we have four other fields of canola (non smart) that have been exposed to the same weather and should yield 35 bushels/acre

[mummaof3]

We have side by side trials that are showing the same thing, we are not taking this lightly, we have video taped and taken still pictures of the fields because once harvest is over, the proof is gone. We have also been told to have as many ag reps, crop insurance reps, agrologists through your fields as possible. Document everything. This is not something we are responsible for. But its big, and are they going to take responsibility for it? We have heard that there was a letter prior to spring that was sent to the Dealers handling 45A77 advising them of a problem with the gene in the seed. So where's the letter? Why were the producers not notified? Was it to late? Would the loss have been to great if they were to have pulled the seed? So just let the farmers deal with the loss? No Way!! They will take responsibility for this! We had an certified agrologist out and he has confirmed that there is a problem.

[mummaof3]

August 8th Western Producer, page 4. Proven has taken responsibility for the 45A77 variety and they are trying to figure out how to compensate 500,000 acres of damaged crop. It will be interesting!

[winston]

I haven't got my WP yet. Im glad to hear that they are doing the right thing (if indeed they are).