In the news
NEWS BITES THAT MATTER
WINTER CEREAL PERFORMANCE TRIALS AVAILABLE ON LINE
The Winter Cereal performance trials are now complete and available online at www.gocereals.ca. A hard copy of the trials will be distributed with the October issue of the Ontario Grain Farmer magazine, look for it in your mailbox at the beginning of October. The distribution of this printed report is sponsored by Bayer CropScience. Both Grain Farmers of Ontario and Bayer CropScience recognize that this October distribution date is not ideal timing, this is the earliest possibility to accommodate data preparation, printing and delivery timelines. Please keep and utilize this printed copy as a reference report for your farm. In the meantime, visit the Ontario Cereal Crop Committee’s trials online at www.gocereals.ca. The website features all of the tables available within the printed report along with a handy head-to-head comparison tool that allows you to evaluate only the varieties you are interested in for your farm. •
REMINDER ABOUT ROUNDUP READY
With talk of RoundUp Ready going off patent, there is a lot of misleading and incorrect information swirling around. As a farmer, it’s important to know your rights and responsibilities in this transitional time.
The patent on the first generation of RoundUp Ready soybeans will expire on August 28, 2011. However, because of the nature of the soybean growing season and patent law, this date is not the only one farmers need to remember.
Seed planted or grown before August 28, 2011 cannot be saved without breaching the Technology Use Agreement and patent law. A patent gives the owner exclusive right to manufacture, use or sell a particular invention. Stockpiling is not allowed under the law. Therefore, any seed bought prior to the patent expiry is still protected by the law regardless of when it is planted or harvested.
RoundUp Ready soybean seed bought after the August 28, 2011 date can be saved and replanted. Therefore, the earliest a farmer could replant RoundUp Ready soybean seed from the bin would be 2013 from seed saved in 2012. •
TRACTOR PARADE BREAKS RECORD
The small town of Dresden, Ontario recently broke the world record for the largest parade of tractors. The event saw 1,231 tractors drive a three kilometre run to the Dresden Fairgrounds from a wheat field near town.
The parade was an idea thought up by Ken Richards of Dresden as a way to fundraise money for the Canadian Cancer Society. In addition to breaking a Guiness World Record, farmers from all over Southwestern Ontario helped raise $102,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society.
The previous world record holding parade only involved 601 tractors. •
