Monsanto and American seed dealers are taking precautions to ensure Roundup Ready alfalfa doesn’t wind up on fields north of the border, says a seed supplier from Montana.
Dale Strouf, operations manager at Heartland Seed in Moccasin, Mont., said the industry has developed plans to monitor farmers who buy the genetically modified forage seed.
“Once a producer has purchased a seed and planted it, we will be staying in touch with that producer. We will be taking GPS co-ordinates of the fields he planted. This will help account for how many pounds of seed did he buy and how many acres were planted,” Strouf said.
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“Say somebody bought a 1,000 lb. of seed but only put it on five acres. That’s a big red flag.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture deregulated GM alfalfa Jan. 27, which means American farmers can buy Roundup Ready alfalfa and plant it this year.
Canadian forage seed producers worry that Canadian exports would be jeopardized if the technology seeped across the border.
American farmers who buy GM alfalfa must sign a Monsanto technology stewardship agreement, which states the seed is restricted to use in the United States and is only for producing hay.
They must also supply their seed dealer with GPS co-ordinates from one point in fields that they seed with Roundup Ready alfalfa.
Trish Jordan of Monsanto Canada said the GPS requirements weren’t designed to keep GM alfalfa seed out of Canada.
“(The co-ordinates) can help us if we get challenges from organic farmers, or we get calls from organic farmers, or if we get sued,” she said.
American producers must also harvest their GM alfalfa crop before 10 percent flower bloom to minimize pollen flow.
As well, they must provide their seed dealer with a valid Monsanto technology stewardship agreement, which makes it difficult for a Canadian farmer to buy GM alfalfa seed from an American dealer.
