Seed Today - Q1 2008 - (Page 52)

USDA Prepares New EIS for RR Alfalfa During most of January and into February, The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) received public comments to shape the scope of a new environmental impact statement (EIS) to assist in the determination of the regulatory status of Roundup Ready (RR) alfalfa. Due to a May 7, 2007 order by Colorado alfalfa the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, APHIS must prepare a new EIS to evaluate potential environmental effects of deregulating the RR alfalfa. APHIS has identified 18 issues that will be studied in the EIS, which include impacts on food and feed, U.S. trade and threatened and endangered species. The court did not overturn federal conclusions regarding the safety of the crop for food and feed purposes, but rather concluded that APHIS had not adequately documented potential, or lack of potential environmental impacts. A future decision regarding the deregulation of RR alfalfa will be issued only after the completion of the appropriately documented EIS. sugar on January 1. Mexican farmers have complained they won’t be able to compete with U.S. farmers who can sell cheaper products because they receive government subsidies. Front pages of Mexican newspapers, meanwhile, were filled with predictions that the trade opening would hurt Mexico’s national food production and cause ongoing conflict. NAFTA also opened U.S. markets to high-value Mexican crops like winter vegetables and avocados. honeybees, according to a study published by the online journal PlosOne. The researchers conducted a metaanalysis of 25 studies that independently assessed potential effects of Bt Cry proteins on honey bee mortality. Results show that Bt Cry proteins used in genetically modified crops commercialized for control of lepidopteran and coleopteran pests do not negatively affect the survival of either honey bee larvae or adults in laboratory settings. Although the additional stresses that honey bees face in the field could, in principle, modify their susceptibility to Cry proteins or lead to indirect effects, the findings support safety assessments that have not detected any direct negative effects of Bt crops for this vital insect pollinator. World Record Soybean Yield A Purdy, MO soybean producer outdid himself by growing an astounding 154.7 bushels of soybeans per acre in 2007, beating his own 2006 world record of 139.39 bpa. The recordbreaking production was raised on an irrigated and conventionallytilled field near Stark City, MO. The grower attributes his success to selecting Soybean pods the right seed, using Optimize® growth promoter and keeping plants healthy with Headline® fungicide. Seed was planted with a tworow Monosem precision planter. The harvest was verified by Missouri Soybean Association officials. Make Mine Bt, Please When the owner of a California roadside produce market gave his customers the choice of purchasing conventional or Bt sweet corn, they chose Bt corn by a two-to-one margin. Customers say they prefer the modified type because it is not shucked and looks fresher. Traditional corn has to be partially or completely shucked to eliminate ears that are infested with worms. Although initially concerned Sweet corn about customer reaction, the owner says he believes the environmental benefits of GE crops outweigh the drawbacks. United States-Mexico Trade Barriers Lifted Under NAFTA Under the terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Mexico abolished its last protective tariffs on basic crops like corn, beans and Bt Is Safe for Honeybees Genetically modified Bt crops have no negative effect on the survival of 00 First Quarter 2000

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Seed Today - Q1 2008

Seed Today - Q1 2008 Contents Editor’s Notes Cover Feature: Agrecol® Corporation Reed Barker, Ph.D. Cal/West Seeds Inc. Annual GM Use Report Bt Resistance Reported Camelina Tony Harper Gayle Jacklin According to ASTA Krauter Structures AOSCA AOSA/SCST GM and Greenhouse Gas Seed Associations Ad Index

Seed Today - Q1 2008

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