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GM canola: 100% grower satisfaction in 2008

Monsanto Australia Ltd has released preliminary results from the first 2008 Roundup Ready® canola season in Australia

Early results gathered from approximately half of the Victorian and NSW growers who were involved in the first year of Roundup Ready canola indicate a highly successful result from the season, despite adverse climatic conditions. Growers were surveyed and asked to compare Roundup Ready canola to Clearfield and Triazine tolerant varieties planted on their own farms.

Tony May, Canola Business Lead, Monsanto Australia said, “Preliminary results from growers are overwhelmingly positive. One hundred per cent of the growers surveyed said they would grow Roundup Ready canola again. Growers acknowledged the agronomic and economic benefits of the Roundup Ready canola system as offering better weed control, flexible sowing time, no residuals in soil post crop leading to a more sustainable weed control system. Roundup Ready really does offer a more simple, reliable and flexible system for growers.”

Excellent Weed control

Roundup Ready canola has proven its flexibility for Australian cropping systems offering farmers another choice in weed control systems. Ninety six per cent of growers surveyed rated the weed control using Roundup Ready as “Excellent”, rating much higher than Triazine tolerant and Clearfield systems.
 

Higher Yields

Growers reported higher yields in their Roundup Ready canola. Comparisons were made from 34 properties growing both Roundup Ready and Triazine tolerant canola. Roundup Ready canola out yielded Triazine tolerant canola by 22%. Oil content was also higher in the Roundup Ready variety by around 2%.
 

Comparisons were also made between Roundup Ready canola and Clearfield tolerant canola on 18 properties. Yields were similar with Roundup Ready yielding 1.41 t/ha and Clearfield yielding 1.38 t/ha, however Roundup Ready had higher oil content by 1.8%.
 

Conclusion

Tony May said, “Although these are preliminary results, early indications illustrate that growers are highly satisfied with the Roundup Ready system and look forward to benefiting from achieving excellent weed control, higher yields and a more economic and sustainable cropping system. Hundreds of growers and agronomists have expressed an interest in the Roundup Ready system so far in 2009 and we anticipate a much greater uptake of the technology as growers now have the choice and flexibility that the Roundup Ready cropping system provides.”

Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world’s natural resources such as water and energy.

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