Seed warning
The Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative is reminding growers that while it is possible to remove weed seed contamination from farmer-retained seed it requires a high level of care and planning. Many farmer-cleaned samples still had a high level of contamination. A WA survey by AHRI found the gravity table method of seed cleaning consistently produced the cleanest seed sample. The AHRI survey found that unclean seed samples can contain more than 1500 weed seeds per 10 kilograms planting seed, which would add extraordinary pressure on the next crop. Sieves can drop the number to about 150 weed seeds/10kg. A gravity table reduces contamination to about 25 weed seeds/10kg.
Crop growth
Monsanto is confident of further growth of genetically modified canola seed in 2015. Commercial row crop lead Keryn McLean said she hoped GM canola plantings would increase up to 20 per cent of the total Australian canola planting in 2015. "Our figures suggest about 15pc of this year's crop was GM, and we're hoping for an increase of a bit over 3pc, taking that figure to between 18-20pc," she said. Ms McLean acknowledged it was early to make predictions about next year's planting, with most east coast producers yet to sit down and complete 2015 plans, but said Monsanto had been speaking closely with seed companies and agriculture retailers before making its estimation. "Obviously on the east coast we're going more on indication than hard data, but in WA they start planning a bit earlier and it seems there will be higher plantings there again," she said. WA has emerged as the largest adapter of GM technology in Australia's canola industry, with more than 20pc of its plantings GM, according to Monsanto.
Updates set The GRDC has announced dates and locations for its 2015 grains research updates in SA. An important source of agronomic and industry information and resources for growers and advisers, the updates will be held at Adelaide on February 10-11; Murray Bridge on February 12; Kadina on August 13; Cleve on August 20; and Naracoorte on August 26. GRDC Southern Regional Panel chairman Keith Pengilley said the program for each update will be developed in consultation with local farming systems groups.
GM rejection A proposal from the Department of Agriculture and Food WA to the body overseeing organic certification standards for a tolerance to genetically modified material in organic produce has been rejected. The DAFWA submission called for a 0.9 per cent tolerance level to GM material in organic produce, but has been turned down by the Organic Industry Standards and Certification Council.
