Print This PageGM Canola growers get the results
(Friday January 23, 2009) Harvest results for the first GM canola season in Victoria and NSW since the moratoria was lifted, are positive despite a difficult season.
Growers and agronomists were pleased with the initial performance of the Roundup Ready® canola production system in its first commercial season.
Independent Farm Consultant, Tim Condon from Delta Ag, said “Growers were relatively happy with the overall agronomic and economic outcomes of the system. Most growers will use the system again this year.” He said growers were using the system to manage problem weeds such as ryegrass and wild radish, “It was such a flexible and simple system to use when you are producing the crop. Working through the process of growing Roundup Ready canola focused grower’s attention on glyphosate resistance management on the whole farm. All weed control was very good,” he said. St Arnaud grower Reuben Cheeseman grew 56 hectares of a Pioneer Roundup Ready hybrid which yielded 1.0 tonne to the hectare. The conventional Pioneer variety 46Y78 yielded .7 tonnes to the hectare. But it was the cost saving benefits of the Roundup Ready that impressed Mr Cheeseman. “This was a lot cheaper to grow. I only sprayed Roundup once. It saves me money, whereas the conventional costs $30 more per hectare. Roundup is safe and easy and leaves no residuals. It’s not rocket science!” he said.
Willaura grower Stephen Heard said he was pleased with the results despite the frost. He grew 70 hectares of Pioneer Roundup Ready 46Y20 and delivered 121 tonnes resulting in 1.73 tonnes to the hectare. His oil content was 41.5%. “I will grow it again. It was the best yielding crop despite its position and the frost. Anyone who has looked at the crop was impressed. My three neighbours have all ordered seed.”
Penshurst grower, Jason Ritchie also grew Pioneer Roundup Ready 46Y20 and was impressed with the results obtained from a virgin paddock. “Clearfield was sown in fields that we’ve been using for five years, whereas the Roundup Ready canola was sown in a virgin paddock without any pre-application of fertilisers and it still yielded an average of 2.3 tonnes to the hectare. Dry sowing was also a major benefit of the variety as the lack of rainfall had an effect on everyone in the area,” he said. The oil content was 45% and he delivered 716 tonnes, even though he sowed 150 hectares late in the season, this was a great result. “Hybrids are definitely better yielding than the TT varieties. Input costs are less using Roundup. It’s a safe product to use. I will certainly grow it again,” Mr Ritchie said.
James Holden, the National Marketing Communications Manager from Pioneer Seed Company said, “One year's trial results from one or two locations should be treated with caution. Much more information is needed over a number of locations and seasons before growers make decisions about canola variety and system performance. Pioneer's trials over a number of years and farmer experience in 2008 have largely demonstrated that our current commercial canola hybrid with the Roundup Ready gene (46Y20) has performed as well as our commercial Clearfield hybrids. This is particularly pleasing given that 46Y20 was developed in preparation for release in 2003 but was delayed due to the state-based moratoria.”
Media inquiries should be directed to:
Monsanto Australia Ltd
Honi McNaughton
Public Affairs Manager
(03) 9522 7105 / 0418 324 894
