A purple/blue rose is responsible for causing a rift in Nambucca Shire Council ranks and sparking Nambucca Valley Conservation Association (NVCA) concern over council’s ability to keep up with the times. [...] A recommendation for council to simply note the application from Florigene was criticised by Cr Paula Flack. She told council it should follow the ”precautionary principle” and object to the proposal because ”we don’t know what effect it will have on our local industry”.

A WEST Wimmera farmer has been so pleased with the results of Roundup Ready canola, he’s going to increase his planted area this year. The uptake of genetically modified (GM) canola has been furiously debated, with proponents claiming farmers will enjoy the benefits of being able to tidy up paddocks with glyphosate, and opponents saying that the increased costs and regulation will outweigh the benefit of the technology.

CO-OPERATIVE Bulk Handling has announced two sites likely to receive Genetically Modified canola being planted at 20 sites throughout the State. CBH Albany zone manager Richard Simonaitis said while the company was still working with Monsanto to finalise details of sampling and testing GM and non-GM grain, the CBH Group had nominated two receival sites likely to receive deliveries of GM canola. ”At this stage, those sites are Mt Kokeby and the Metro Grain Centre in Forrestfield,” he said.

GM campaigners continue to noisily protest against GrainCorp’s decision to mix genetically modified (GM) canola with conventional canola at some sites, in spite of GrainCorp’s assurance that GM-free segregations will still be offered. Gene Ethics director Bob Phelps said there was no longer any pretence GM and non-GM segregations would be maintained. ”GM companies have lied for 20 years, that GM and non-GM canola could and would be kept separate so farmers, processors and shoppers had GM-free choice,” Mr Phelps said.

GENETICALLY modified canola will be binned with non-GM varieties in Victoria and NSW next harvest, in a move that has outraged an anti-GM group. Bulk handler GrainCorp has changed its canola segregations in a bid to handle an estimated 100,000 tonnes of GM canola next harvest. The changes mean Round-Up Ready GM canola will be binned with conventional, Triazine Tolerant and Clearfield canola varieties. A separate bin, called CSO1A, excluding GM canola, will also be offered.

THE WESTERN Australian government’s plans to conduct trials on genetically modified canola have hit a speed hump, with an upper house motion tabled to design to stall the trials. Late last week, a disallowance motion was put to the WA upper house in a bid to halt the trials, as we head deeper into April and the traditional canola sowing window for much of the state. It was moved by Greens member Paul Llewellyn and was passed with the assistance of independent Anthony Fels.

A Grains Research and Development Corporation funded research project, ’Gene flow in transgenic Roundup Ready (RR) Canola’, will be one of the 20 genetically modified GM canola trials covering 854 hectares in WA this season. Internationally recognised expert on herbicide resistance in crops and weeds, Professor Stephen Powles, Director of the WA Herbicide Resistance Initiative (WAHRI) at The University of Western Australia (UWA) and WAHRI researcher, Dr Roberto Busi, will drive the WA component of the five-year national project.

Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman today announced the locations of the 20 genetically modified canola trials in Western Australia. The locations comprise 17 farmer trials and three research trials, covering 854 hectares across the State. Mr Redman said the trials would see three farmer sites at Cunderdin, two at Woogenellup and York, and single sites at Aldersyde, Beverley, Bulyee, Dudinin, Frankland River, Kendenup, Many Peaks, Mobrup, Quairading, South Stirling. The sites vary in size from 30 to 70 hectares.

NANNUP could be the next in a long list of shires to declare itself GM free in the wake of the proposed lifting of the moratorium on GM crops in WA. Currently 14 shires have declared themselves GM-free zones, including the Shire of Boyup Brook, which made its declaration on March 16, 2000. [...] ”Although the declaration has no legal status, it is a reflection of the strong concerns the community has on the long term safety aspects of GMOs,” Mr Ginnane said at the time.

The Network of Concerned Farmers revealed on Wednesday it is preparing to send letters to GM-trial farmers outlining their legal liabilities if non GM crops are contamination during the trial, due to start next month. The WA Farmers Federation and Pastoralists and Graziers’ Association have labelled the threat a ”scare tactic” which would not intimidate farmers. WAFF chief executive Andy McMillan said farmers selected for the trial had been subjected to stringent tests, including those to prevent contamination.