Western Australia
July 31, 2009
The Western Australia
Department of Agriculture and Food and
Nufarm have discontinued
small plot research and development canola trials on a farmer’s
property at Wongan Hills due to inadequate early season
rainfall.
The abandoned trials include a GM Roundup Ready® research trial
looking at weed management, and trials of Clearfield and
Triazine Tolerant canola.
Nufarm researcher Mike Jackson said the trials were sown dry in
mid-May and unfortunately received insufficient rain in late May
and early June for the crops and weeds to germinate evenly.
“It is too late in the season to re-sow the trials. Nufarm has
made the decision that uniform plant stands were not going to
eventuate and the trials would not produce adequate results and
should be terminated,” he said.
“The farmer will spray the site, which will kill all plants that
have managed to germinate.”
Department Agricultural Systems Research manager David Bowran
said rainfall in the northern and central agriculture regions
had been patchy and below average in some areas during May and
June.
“Patchy canola germination was very common for many dry sown
canola crops in the region,” Dr Bowran said.
“In terms of the GM canola trial, the two hectare trial site was
always going to be sprayed out prior to harvest as it was only
looking at weed management, not at grain segregation,” he said.
“As per the monitoring and auditing protocols in place, a
department authorised officer will visit the site regularly to
ensure no emergence of canola plants and advise the farmer if
further control work is required.
“The termination of the trial will not affect the overall
assessment on whether GM canola can be grown, transported,
handled and exported as a separate grain.”
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