Soybean patent to expire this year Thursday, January 6, 2011 by BETTER FARMING STAFFWhen Monsanto’s 20-year patent on Roundup Ready soybeans comes to an end this August, it will be a world first for a widespread plant biotechnology trait to go off patent, so the company is doing its best to explain the rules of this particular endgame to farmers. The first lesson is that this year’s crop will be subject to patent rules. Erin Romeo, intellectual property protection manager for Monsanto Canada, says that even though the patent expires in August 2011, farmers using the technology in 2011 will be doing so during the life of the patent. That means they can’t save seed. They can buy Roundup Ready soybeans in 2012, when it is off patent, and save seed from that crop to plant in 2013. “Focus on the date spring of 2013,” Romeo said. “The patent comes off in August 2011 but that is just the start of things. The important date for farmers and when they get to make choices is really spring 2013.”Of course, if they are planting Monsanto’s newer version, Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans, they are covered by a different patent that is still in force and Monsanto will continue to do field tests to make sure everyone plays by the rules.Monsanto announced today that it has launched a website to explain the protocols and timeline around the patent expiry. More than 60 per cent of Canada’s soybean acreage uses the Roundup Ready technology, the company’s news release states. BF Ethnic diversity a 'game changer' for Ontario growers Honeyed deals
$18.4M Boost for Canadian Cereal Grain Innovation Thursday, September 19, 2024 Gate Project Receives Major Funding for Research Canada's position as a pioneer in cereal grain research is set to strengthen with the Gate Capital Campaign raising $18.4 million. This funding will support the Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (Gate) initiative, a project... Read this article online
BASF introduces Surtain herbicide for field corn growers Tuesday, September 17, 2024 Field corn growers in eastern Canada have a new crop protection product available to them. After about 10 years of research and trials, BASF has introduced Surtain, a residual herbicide for corn that combines PPO inhibitor saflufenacil (Group 14) and pyroxasulfone (Group 15) in a premix... Read this article online
We Didn’t Start the Fire! Impacts of Wildfire Smoke on Corn Monday, September 16, 2024 Assistant Professor of Corn Production at Purdue University’s College of Agriculture, Daniel Quinn, PhD. recently provided fascinating insights into the impacts of fire on major corn producing areas, many of which have been impacted by smoke from wildfires. Quinn was the keynote... Read this article online
New home for the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario Saturday, September 14, 2024 The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) has announced it has moved into its new office building in Ingersoll. Located at 274620 27th Line in Ingersoll, the new office will serve as the hub for CFFO’s ongoing efforts to advocate for and support Ontario’s Christian farmers.... Read this article online
Canadian Ag Youth Council Welcomes new Members Saturday, September 14, 2024 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has announced the latest members to join the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council (CAYC). This update introduces nine fresh members alongside thirteen returning youths, marking a significant step towards involving young voices in agricultural... Read this article online