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Transgenic Crops in Indiana: Short-term issues for farmers Agronomy Dept., Purdue Univ. West Lafayette IN 47907-1150 What's in a Name? The phrase "genetically modified organism" and its acronym "GMO", as they are being used in debates throughout the world, refer primarily to those crop varieties that contain genes physically transferred from another species. Such crop varieties are more accurately described as being "transgenic" and will be referred to as such in this short article. Transgenics as Agronomic Inputs for Indiana Farmers. First of all, let's recognize that insect-resistant or herbicide tolerant varieties are NOT CRITICAL for the successful production of corn and soybean in Indiana! In other words, growing non transgenics will not result in economic ruin for most Indiana farmers! Secondly, you do NOT need a contract to grow non-transgenic crops if you are simply growing for the marketplace. In other words, growing non-transgenics will not automatically require efforts to segregate and certify non-transgenic status. However, if you want to aim for a non-transgenic market premium, you should arrange for a contract or agreement with the grain buyer to guarantee that your non-transgenic grain has a home this fall. Also, recognize that fulfilling such contracts may require you to certify that the grain you harvest and deliver is non transgenic. The ramification of this is that producing certified non-transgenic crops is not cost-free! The Indiana Crop Improvement Association (ICIA, http://www.indianacrop.org/) will be offering a certification service for non-transgenic corn hybrids in 2000. The ICIA certification guidelines for 2000 corn production include > - Records and/or confirmation of the non-transgenic status of the seed source. - Land requirements or restrictions on previous crop. - Some minimum isolation distance from the nearest transgenic corn field. - Field inspections by ICIA staff during the growing season. - Field grain sample inspections by ICIA staff. For more information on ICIA's certification service, contact them by phone at (765) 523-2535 or by email at icia@indianacrop.org . Should You Grow Transgenics or Not? Indiana growers must determine the balance between the agronomic costs, agronomic benefits and market uncertainties of producing transgenic crop varieties in 2000. Two general examples of this balancing act are: 1. High cost + little benefit + uncertain cash grain market = substantial economic risk 2. High cost + some benefit + feed own livestock = little economic risk The cost of the technology is simple to figure, it is simply the "technology fee" added to the seed cost by the seed company. Determining the agronomic benefit of the technology is more difficult to ascertain. Commonly available sources of information about these benefits include magazine or TV marketing pieces, sales pitches by company sales representatives, and testimonials by folks who have used the technology in the past. All of these sources should be taken with the proverbial "grain of salt". What farmers should strive to obtain are actual performance data comparing the transgenic varieties of interest with alternative non-transgenic varieties. Ideally, these data should be summarized from trials conducted over many locations and/or years. In my opinion, the best way to use such data sets is to compare the top-yielding transgenic varieties in a trial with the top yielding non-transgenic varieties in the same trial. Comparisons to "normal" counterparts or to "top-selling" competitors are not necessarily "fair" comparisons because these varieties are not always the "latest and greatest" varieties. This fact is important because you need to determine whether the transgenic variety in question yields as good or better than the best available variety in today's marketplace. Example of Bt Corn These hybrids are resistant to European corn borer (ECB), and southwestern corn borer found in the extreme southern counties of Indiana, by virtue of the transfer of a gene from a soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis, that codes for the production of a protein that is toxic to such insects. The Bt trait, by itself, does not increase yield of corn. Rather, it is an "insurance" trait that confers protection from the pest when it is present in the field. In years when the pest is present in subeconomic numbers, the trait offers little payback to the grower. Based on the low historical frequencies and severities of ECB outbreaks in Indiana over the past 20 years, it is difficult to conclude that Bt corn is economical for the average Indiana corn field considering the higher cost of the seed relative to non-Bt hybrids. For details supporting this statement, see Purdue Extension publication ID-219, The Economics of Bt Corn: Adoption Implications. (http://www.agcom.purdue.edu/AgCom/Pubs/ID/ID-219.pdf). If you follow my advice and compare the best yielding Bt hybrids with the best yielding non-Bt hybrids grown in the same trials, you will often discover little difference in yields when ECB pressure is minor. Figure 1 below (check SOURCE web page) illustrates the average yields of the top five yielding Bt and top five yielding non-Bt hybrids summarized from each testing region of the 1999 Purdue Corn Performance Trials (http:/www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/variety.htm). In this "best versus the best" comparison, one is hard-pressed to conclude that the Bt trait offered any yield enhancement in a year with subeconomic ECB pressure. Similar comparisons of the "best versus the best" from university trials in - Ohio (http://ohioline.ag.ohio-state.edu/~perf/index.html), - Illinois (http://www.cropsci.uiuc.edu/vt/) and - Missouri (http://agebb.missouri.edu/cropperf/index.htm) in 1999 result in the same conclusion that the Bt trait, in and of itself, does not result in increased yield. These comparisons should not be construed to mean that the Bt trait has no value for Indiana corn growers. Indeed, such an "insurance" trait can be positioned within your planting date schedule to maximize its opportunity to defend against ECB outbreaks. Primarily, this means considering the use of Bt hybrids for those "out of whack" planting dates, because such plantings will likely suffer more ECB damage. Extremely early corn plantings are often more "desirable" to first generation ECB moths, while extremely late plantings or late maturing hybrids are often more "desirable" to second generation or later ECB moths. Example of Roundup-Ready Soybean. These soybean varieties are tolerant to the broad spectrum herbicide glyphosate (aka Roundup®). The tolerance results from the transfer of a gene from a soil bacterium (Agrobacterium sp.) that codes for an enzyme, usually inhibited by glyphosate, that is critical for the production of three aromatic amino acids without which plant death occurs. A number of advantages can be listed for the Roundup-Ready (aka RR) soybean technology, including: - Good weed control - Potentially lower herbicide cost - More flexibility in the timing of herbicide applications - Less opportunity for herbicidal crop injury - Less management effort on the part of the grower However, some agronomic challenges to the economic adoption of the technology also exist, including: Proper timing of herbicide application to best balance the opportunity for maximum season-long weed control against the necessity to control weeds before they have the opportunity to suppress crop yield. Purdue weed scientists recommend applying the herbicide no later than four weeks after the crop emergence to best minimize the potential for yield suppression by the weeds before they are killed. Evidence exists that the Roundup-Ready soybean technology is often associated with lower yield potentials. Indeed, data from university variety trials in 1998 (Figure 2, check SOURCE web page) indicated that the best yielding RR soy varieties yielded about four bushels less per acre than the best yielding non-RR varieties in the same trials. The yield difference was less in 1999 university trials (Figure 3, check SOURCE web page), but still averaged 2 bushels less per acre. Bottom Line: 1.The "GMO" debate will likely continue into the near future (12 to 18 months) and will consequently fuel the uncertainty in the grain markets for the acceptance of such products. 2.The currently available transgenic hybrids and varieties are not critical for the agronomic success of most Indiana corn/soy operations. 3.Consequently, a farmer's choice on whether to grow transgenic hybrids or varieties depends primarily on his/her perception of the market uncertainties for the coming crop year and the availability of good-yielding non-transgenic hybrids or varieties. For other information about corn, take a look at the Corn Growers Guidebook on the World Wide Web at http://www.kingcorn.org It is the policy of the Purdue Agronomy Department that all persons shall have equal opportunity and access to its programs and facilities without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, or disability. Purdue University is an Affirmative Action employer. This material may be available in alternative formats. [Source: Contact: R.L. (Bob) Nielsen Agronomy Dept., Purdue Univ. West Lafayette IN 47907-1150 Email address: rnielsen@purdue.edu URL: http://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/corn/rln-bio.htm ] ** This material is distributed for research and educational purposes only. ** Feedback to: <welcome@ecoglobe.org.nz>

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19 February ecoglobe news 2000

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