Results from the harvest of the first GM canola trials in NSW have confirmed that major yield advantages over current non GM types cannot be expected until improved varieties are released between 2010 and 2013.

The main benefit from growing Roundup Ready (RR) canola, highlighted by a recent survey of five growers, is the successful management of herbicide resistant annual ryegrass (see story below).

However, it came as no surprise to those in the industry that yield and oil was no better than current non-GM types, since the varieties grown in 2008, to be grown again in 2009, were the best performing RR lines from 2003.

Consequently in the short term, any economic benefits need to be weighed up against the weed control system and its potential benefits in timely sowing and longer-term management of weeds (this also applies to Clearfield canola).

In NSW in 2008, RR canola was grown from Parkes in the north to Albury in the south.

Media attention heightened after the public release of 2008 independent GM trial results, following considerable debate since the approval to grow RR canola in NSW.

Two independent variety trials were sown at Wagga Wagga and Forbes.

The Forbes trial was harvested but drought ruined Wagga Wagga.

Forbes was quite variable, which meant that many varieties were not statistically better or worse than others.

The Forbes results are available on the NVT website www.nvtonline.com.au

Another independent trial was conducted at Wombat near Young by the farmer group FarmLink Research, (an organisation primarily funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation), which compared RR, triazine tolerant, Clearfield and conventional varieties, using their appropriate herbicide programs.

The results (including gross margins) can be obtained from FarmLink Research on 02 6924 4633.

GM canola fees have been changed for 2009 to make it a fairer system for all growers.

The stewardship fee has been replaced by a Technology Users Agreement (TUA) fee of three dollars per kilogram on top of the price per kilo of seed.

The grain technology fee has been increased to $12.60 per tonne, payable on grain delivery.

Receival sites for 2009 have not yet been determined.

The farmers surveyed observed that receival locations will be one factor governing the total area of RR that will be cultivated this year.

The major competitor to Australia in the international market, Canada, has been growing GM canola for more than a decade.

Approximately 87 per cent of Canada’s canola is GM, 12pc Clearfield and one per cent conventional.

After more than a decade of growing GM canola in Canada, weed resistance has not developed.

This is primarily the result of a good rotation program of crops, a good rotation of chemical groups and other methods of weed control, and a good understanding of how to protect a valuable weed management tool.

Considering other weeds issues in Australia, it is generally known that glyphosate herbicide is not strong on marshmallow and some other annual and perennial broadleaf weeds.

It is also generally known that glyphosate resistant annual ryegrass exists on some fence lines and fire breaks on some farms.

Both issues will need to be carefully monitored as RR canola becomes more popular.

Growers’ thoughts on Roundup Ready

Of five NSW commercial growers of Roundup Ready (RR) GM canola surveyed after their first harvest, two believed they were financially in front, two said they were worse off and the other thought it was break even.

The five talked about what they liked, what they did not like and their general experiences with the new technology.

Theirs represented a cross-section of central and southern NSW farming systems at Forbes, Cowra, Temora, Boorowa and Henty.

All farms were mixed farm businesses, but cropping comprises between 50 and 80 per cent of the total farm area.

Herbicide group A and group B resistant annual ryegrass was their overwhelming weed concern and they saw RR as their best option.

Other problem weeds on the farms included wild radish, capeweed, Paterson’s curse, barley grass, sow thistle (milk thistle), wireweed (hogweed), shepherd’s purse, fumitory and wild oats.

The following summarises what growers liked and did not like about the RR system:

What they liked

• RR made management simpler
• suits no-till, where the stubble makes trifluralin difficult to use and less effective
• allows more timely sowing if herbicide does not have to be applied before sowing
• not having to use atrazine; not one farmer liked using it
• easier and simpler handing of the herbicide; no need to add wetters
• it took out hard and expensive-to-control weeds
• timing of the herbicide is not as critical as it is with some other herbicides
• paddocks are clean of annual ryegrass afterwards
• no residual herbicides that could limit crop choice the following year.

What they found frustrating

• harvesting programs were compromised as the RR had to be left till last, harvester 'clean down' was also required
• windrowing costs were doubled as harvest speed was halved on one very tall hybrid grain that could not be warehoused
• distance to receival sites; freight costs were higher ($10-15 per tonne) and labour was taken away from the harvest
• general disappointment with yields and oil percentages
• timing for two RR sprays, especially for the quicker growing hybrids was a bit tight.

Additional general comments from farmers

• paddock weed burdens will not really be known until the next cropping season
• successful control of volunteers may not be known for three years
• later germinating weeds (at low levels) were present in some paddocks where there was only one RR application
• summer weeds could potentially be more of an issue by not having residual herbicides.

Contact Don McCaffery, Orange, (02) 6391 3648, don.mccaffery@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Further reading

Canola, sunflower and other oilseeds