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
Ontario Agri-Food Discovery Centre designs revealed Thursday, April 9, 2026 Attendees of the Ontario Agri-Food Discovery Centre’s (OAFDC) AGM last month received a first look at building design concepts. The planned 34,000-square-foot science centre in Listowel, Ont., designed by Moriyama Teshima Architects, the same firm responsible for the looks of buildings... Read this article online
Proposed USDA budget cuts could shift the North American ag landscape Thursday, April 9, 2026 Image by Konyvesotto from Pixabay The US administration’s latest budget proposal includes a significant reduction to the US Department of Agriculture’s discretionary spending, a move that could have ripple effects across North American agriculture. According to Farms.com reporting... Read this article online
Corn and Soy Products Cleared for Global Market Access Thursday, April 9, 2026 The Market Access Committee for corn and soybeans has completed its 2026 review of new crop protection products, confirming no export concerns for four corn products and six soybean products. Approved corn products includeCovintroCorn,TelaroneDC,ZiduaSC Herbicide, and Storen Herbicide.... Read this article online
What Distributed Energy Resources Mean for Canadian Producers Tuesday, April 7, 2026 As energy costs rise, many Canadian farms are looking for ways to take greater control of their electricity use. One term that farmers are hearing more often is distributed energy resources, often shortened to DERs. While the phrase may sound technical, the concept is highly practical, and... Read this article online
Agricultural Educator and Industry Leader Dr Tom Funk Remembered for Lasting Influence Tuesday, April 7, 2026 The agricultural education community is mourning the passing of Dr Tom Funk, a highly respected Professor Emeritus at the University of Guelph whose influence spanned more than three decades of teaching, leadership, and mentorship. Dr Funk dedicated over 35 years to teaching... Read this article online