More cattle grazing GM corn

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Published: April 4, 2002

Farmers are expected to double the number of acres seeded this spring

to Roundup Ready corn for fall grazing, said a Monsanto spokesperson.

“The amount of acres is up significantly across the West,” said Trish

Jordan of Winnipeg.

In most areas, farmers plan to double the amount of Roundup Ready corn

planted over last year. But in parts of central Alberta bookings are up

seven fold.

Jordan said the numbers are relative. There was little Roundup Ready

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corn seed available for planting last year and few acres were seeded

last year.

Farmers across the Prairies are taking a closer look at seeding corn to

extend their fall grazing season.

In the fall, corn is left standing and cattle eat the stalks. Allowing

the cattle to graze the corn in the field reduces the expense of

cutting and hauling feed to the cattle.

Roundup Ready corn varieties allow farmers to manage weeds by spraying

the crop with Roundup and not harming the corn.

“It’s intriguing to farmers as a new way to graze,” said Jordan.

This will be the third year Ryley, Alta., farmer Gordon Pope has seeded

corn for his cattle to graze, but the first year he plans to seed a

Roundup Ready variety. In the past two years he has sown conventional

corn but had difficulty with weeds.

“It’s hard to control weeds. The corn is spaced out and there’s lots of

room for weeds,” said Pope, who plans to seed 10 to 12 acres of Roundup

Ready corn this spring.

“If it works I’ll probably seed more.”

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