Monsanto has released their Crop Management Plans and as feared

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Monsan.to Crop Management & Resistance Management Plans

Monsanto has released their Crop Management Plans and as feared, there is no

protection for the growers not wishing to grow GM and our markets.

 

Crop Management Plan (here)

 

Of particular interest is the quotes: " Where an alternative standard (ie. lower

threshold for non-GM canola) is required in response to market requirements and

product specifications, or there is a plan to grow a specialty canola crop that

requires specifice management to maintain product integrity (eg. high oleic,

high urecic, gm-free or organic canola), appropriate management strategies

applicable to the growing and processing of the crop should be incorporated as

deemed and communicated by the supply chain for the specified product. " A

Network of Concerned Farmers translation is simply " Although markets are

demanding no contamination, to market without contamination is impossible and it

will be the growers trying to claim they have no contamination that will have to

work out how they and their supply chain will address this problem. The fact

that it will not be possible to sign the required guarantees and supply chain

indemnities is not addressed. "

http://www.non-gm-farmers.com/news_details.asp?ID=1033

 

It appears that non-GM growers may be required to have a 5 metre buffer zone as

well as GM growers being required to have the standard firebreak distance. " The

area immediately adjacent (at least 5m) to the Genetically Modified crop should

be treated as per the GM paddock for subsequent volunteer control. " This appears

to indicate that the non-GM grower will have to treat 5 metres of their paddock

as " GM " when it is in a " non-GM " paddock. This will be impossible not only for

cropping but when a non-GM grower will not be allowed to graze their sheep on 5

metres of the paddock without penning them for up to 10 days. The area may need

to be fenced off. We are seeking clarity for this statement. Any buffer zone

requirement on the non-GM grower that will be imposed in order to claim a non-GM

statement will be considered GM and will cause major problems in cropping

rotations and stock management. It is very unlikely that those preparing

management plans for non-GM will be satisfied with a 5 metre buffer zone as it

will not control contamination.

 

Also " Farmers should not save seed from one season to the next unless it is

produced under conditions of certified seed. This is important for both

conventional seed and Roundup Ready canola seed. " Surely Monsanto is not

claiming all farmers lose our right to save our own seed for all grains? Is this

in place to prevent legal action in the future as Monsanto will be able to claim

they advised all growers not to replant our own seed? The Seed Industry

Association has an allowable limit of 0.5% contamination in certified non-GM

seed as they have realised it will be impossible to produce less. Farmers will

not be able to produce uncontaminated produce when planting seed that is

contaminated.

 

Resistance Management Plan (here)

 

Of particular interest is " It is recommended that farmers seek to voluntarily

leave Roundup (or Glyphosate) out of their herbicide program for at least one

year in the next three years following Roundup Ready canola. "

 

Monsanto Reference (here)

 

Bayer Cropscience has not yet revealed their crop management plans and indicate

they will only be available to growers of GM Invigor canola. (reference here)

 

" InVigor hybrid canola will be serviced through accredited personnel and InVigor

Specialists. It will be supplied through accredited resellers. Growers will be

trained on all aspects of managing InVigor hybrid canola to ensure they follow

the Crop Management Plan (CMP), and will be required to sign a grower

agreement. "

 

" The CMP ensures awareness of the industry principles for coexistence of GM and

other canola, and explains the requirements for buffer zones, neighbour

notification, control of volunteers and general conditions for managing GM

canola seed and grain. The CMP will be available with the training package for

growers of InVigor hybrid canola. "

 

Earlier quotes from the Bayer Invigor Canola Crop Management Plans made it very

evident that the non-GM grower was expected to keep GM out rather than the GM

grower expected to guarantee containment. (here)

 

Julie Newman

 

Network of Concerned Farmers