29.11.98
GM crops use wider range of chemicals
Below is a report of contact herbicide released by Zeneca in
Canada earlier
this year. It is particularly interesting to see Zeneca marketing
this
product as an effective way of controlling GM crop volunteers
which have
been genetically modified to be resistant to Roundup and are
therefore no
longer controllable using glyphospate.
It is significant that this represents a formal acknowledgement
by a
biotechnology company that GM herbicide resistance has now become
a serious
agronomic problem for farmers. It is also a defacto admission
that the
introduction of GM herbicide resistant crops will necessitate the
use of a
wider range of chemical types in agriculture.
The need to use additional chemical types in order to control
volunteers
from harvested crops of its own glufosinate-ammonium tolerant
"Liberty Link"
varieties has also previously been acknowledged by Pierre-Louis
Dupont,
AgrEvo's European head of marketing -: "However, in the case
of Liberty
Link products, farmers will be using a chemical which is not
currently used
for volunteer control."(Farmers Weekly 13th March 1998).
The issue of the sustainable use of chemicals in agriculture is
not simply
one of quantities used, but also one of the range utilised. The
wider the
range used, the wider the range of species potentially adversely
affected.
From this perspective.
it is difficult to see how biotechnology companies can justify
their claim
that the use of herbicide resistant GM crops provides a useful
contribution
towards sustainability.
(Natural Law Party Wessex)
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New Non-selective Herbicide Receives Registration
CANADA NEWSWIRE
Thu, Mar 05 1998
CALGARY, March 5 /CNW/ - Over the past decade, many growers have
adopted direct seeding systems in their farming operations. This
advancement has required significant changes in weed management,
particularly in the area of controlling early emerging spring
annual weeds.
Zeneca Agro is proud to bring another non-selective herbicide to
its
product portfolio for Western Canadian growers. Gramoxone(R)
PDQ(TM) non-selective herbicide is a new product that offers
growers
fast and complete control of virtually all annual weeds, and
top-growth of
perennials, prior to crop emergence.
>>
"This is a new product, with unique
features that provides farmers with an alternative to glyphosate
products."
says Murray De Pape, Zeneca Market Lead. "There are
agronomic
benefits that are not available with glyphosate products",
continued De
Pape. "Gramoxone PDQ is a non-selective, contact herbicide
that
provides the fastest burndown of all non-selective products and
is
rainfast in just 15 minutes - even in cool spring weather!"
In addition,
Gramoxone PDQ is rapidly absorbed by the plant and because it is
biologically
deactivated on contact with soil, there is no residual activity.
Time is a precious commodity at
seeding time. The biggest advantage of Gramoxone PDQ over
glyphosate, is the
speed with which it works. In fact, growers can spray with
Gramoxone PDQ and plant the same day. Gramoxone PDQ can also be
applied
post-seeding, but prior to crop emergence. "This product is
also
effective on volunteer Roundup Ready (TM) canola, unlike
glyphosate
products." said De Pape.
Gramoxone PDQ is registered in Canada
for use as a pre-seed burndown in barley, canary seed, canola
(including all transgenic varieties), dry common beans, field
peas, flax,
lentils, mustard, oats, rye, solin, soybeans, sunflowers,
triticale, wheat and a
variety of horticultural crops. Gramoxone is also currently sold
in
more than 100 countries worldwide, and is the second largest
selling
herbicide in the world. "We are very excited about the
possibilities for
it and growers will be pleased with its speed and efficacy."
Visual symptoms of weed burndown may
appear as soon as 30 minutes following application, and most
weeds
are completely controlled in 24-48 hours. Gramoxone PDQ is
applied with
a ground sprayer at a minimum of 10 gallons of water per acre.
Clean
water, free of dirt, should always be used. Clear liquid nitrogen
or
completely clear liquid fertilizers may also be used as a carrier
for Gramoxone
PDQ. Suspension-type fertilizers will deactivate the product,
however.
Said De Pape, "Zeneca is pleased to
be able to offer this product to growers in Western Canada.
Gramoxone
PDQ is one of the tools in the Zeneca non-selective herbicide
portfolio, which includes Touchdown(R) and Reglone(R), to help
farmers with
their weed management."
Zeneca is a $3.3 billion bioscience
business with approximately 7,500 employees in Canada and the
United
States. Zeneca Corp. (in Canada) and Zeneca Inc. (in the US) are
both
wholly owned subsidiaries of UK-based Zeneca Group PLC
(NYSE:ZEN),
a major $9 billion international bioscience business,
engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing
of ethical
(prescription) pharmaceuticals, agricultural and specialty
chemical
products and the supply of healthcare services.
Gramoxone, PDQ, Touchdown and Reglone are trademarks of a Zeneca
Group Company.
Roundup Ready is a trademark of Monsanto Canada Inc.
(Copyright Canada News-Wire)
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