Print This PageGM canola first planting in WA a success
GM canola growers Shauna, Todd and Kent Stone with a bag of
Pacific Seeds hybrid Hyola 502 Roundup ready variety.
(Quairading, Western Australia, Saturday 02 May 2009) GM canola growers Shauna and Noel Stone planted their 50 hectares of Roundup Ready® canola today in dry and sunny conditions.
Shauna said, “We are pleased to have the opportunity to trial Roundup Ready canola as it will have a fit in certain parts of our cropping program and will provide us with another weed control option. We also anticipate yields above our standard Triazine Tolerant varieties”.
“We are hopeful that GM technology will be available in the future as this will encourage plant breeders to focus on genetically modifying crops for frost, drought and salinity tolerance,” she said.
Professor Stephen Powles is share farming the site with the Stones and said it was the possibility of increased yields that encouraged him to trial the technology. “I believe Roundup Ready canola will out yield Triazine Tolerant canola by 20 percent,” he said.
Selecting the Pacific Seeds variety Hyola 502 was the right choice for Shauna and Noel in the Quairading district according to Nick Joyce, Pacific Seeds WA Territory Manager.
“Today’s planting of our Roundup Ready hybrid Hyola 502 RR, gives growers in the Corrigin/Quairading area the opportunity to evaluate how Pacific Seeds hybrid Roundup Ready canola fits into their cropping system.
Growers, will be able to observe the growth and performance of this hybrid canola variety as well as the weed control benefits that the Roundup Ready system provides throughout this season,” he said.
“Today’s planting of our Roundup Ready hybrid Hyola 502 RR, gives growers in the Corrigin/Quairading area the opportunity to evaluate how Pacific Seeds hybrid Roundup Ready canola fits into their cropping system. Growers will be able to observe the growth and performance of this hybrid canola variety as well as the weed control benefits that the Roundup Ready system provides throughout this season,” he said.
“This planting of Hyola 502 RR hybrid canola into dry soil conditions is an example of one of the key agronomic benefits that this technology provides in the farming system. By sowing dry, farmers are able to start their cropping program earlier, with the knowledge that after the first rainfall event they come back and spray out germinating weeds,” he said.
Tony May, Monsanto Canola Business Lead was encouraged to see WA growers finally sowing.
“This limited release has given WA growers the opportunity to experience the technology first hand. Victorian and New South Wales growers are planting for the second year and were very happy with the results from last season. 100% of last years Roundup Ready canola growers said they would plant again,” he said.
The media were treated to an onsite display of dry sowing and toured the farm site talking extensively to the growers.
Media inquiries should be directed to:
Monsanto Australia Ltd
Honi McNaughton
Public Affairs Manager
(03) 9522 7105 / 0418 324 894
