Trial GM canola growers shown their obligations

Cunderdin canola farmer John Snooke says he will be among a big group of farmers who will grow GM canola.

The 15-odd farmers who grow genetically modified canola this year will only be able to deliver to one receival point which will be close to Perth.

And all of the GM grain must be sold to the Grain Pool and all, at this stage, will be exported.

GM canola trials are also earmarked for Department of Agriculture and Food's research stations near Geraldton and Esperance with other research and development sites shortlisted for around the Victoria Plains Shire.

A group of about 20 farmers, who have put their hands up to grow GM canola in WA this year, and their advisers attended Monsanto's accreditation course in Perth on Monday where they were provided with information on their obligations in growing the crop as well as information on the herbicide management plan in a bid to stave off resistance to Roundup.

The area identified as the most suitable for growing the GM canola this season covers an area from Avon out to Kellerberrin and south to west of Cranbrook and out to Borden.

Monsanto head of commercial canola Tony May said the area was selected because it was considered reliable for canola growing and its proximity to a delivery site.

Mr May said the accreditation course, essentially the same as those attended by farmers in the eastern States who were growing GM canola commercially, was about explaining the benefits of the technology and also about how to steward the technology in the most appropriate way.

The costs involved in growing GM canola include a $3/kg Technology User Agreement fee paid when seed is bought and a Grain Technology Fee of about $12.50 a tonne, payable only on grain that is delivered. This fee is not paid if the crop fails.
Mr May said it was also a requirement of the Roundup Ready system that new seed was purchased each year.

The farmers who attended the course were advised they should discuss with their neighbours if they were planting GM canola.

The crop management plan outlines a requirement for a buffer of 5m to other canola crops and 400m to seed crops.

John Snooke, of Cunderdin, said he found the accreditation course worthwhile.

He was interested in the resistance issues and believed the Roundup Ready Canola Resistance Management Plan would be a useful tool for managing herbicide resistance.

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