Source: ABC Online via Agnet June 3/04

There will be no trials of genetically modified canola in New South Wales, Australia, this year with Bayer Crop Science announcing it is withdrawing from planned trials.

State Minister for Agriculture Ian Macdonald was cited as saying that Bayer has cited poor seasonal conditions as the reason.

He says it is disappointing and has blamed a continuous stream of misinformation from those ideologically opposed to GM technology.

Graham Strong from the network of concerned farmers, was cited as welcoming the decision, stating, "I am pleased they're not going ahead, but on the other hand it just seems a bit contradictory... if you're going to pick and choose the years you choose to put a trial in then your agronomic data is going to be skewed."