"This is a special case exception for the 2011 crop year and is directed at allowing those farmers to harvest a volunteer canola crop if they are otherwise unable to get into the field to plant a new crop and/or spray out their volunteers," she said.
Farmers that want to grow volunteer Roundup Ready canola crops must first contact their local Monsanto representative or call Monsanto's CustomCare line (1-800-667-4944) and request a Volunteer Technology Use Agreement (TUA) for the number of acres they intend to harvest. The cost is $16.34 a acre, which is based on the 2011 technology fee of $7.20 per kg at an average seeding rate of five pounds an acre. Monsanto will bill the farmer directly.
Growers must register before July 15 for a voluntary TUA. All forms must be returned to Monsanto no later than August 6.
"Harvesting a volunteer canola crop without a volunteer Technology Use Agreement is a violation of the Technology Stewardship Agreement between the farmer and Monsanto and could result in Monsanto terminating the agreement," Jordan said. "Without a TSA, a farmer would be unable to purchase Genuity Roundup Ready canola technology in the future."
Monsanto had a similar policy last year following an abnormally wet spring in many parts of Manitoba and large areas of Saskatchewan.
Although Monsanto is making an exception to its policy on "saving seed," it doesn't endorse growing voluntary crops. In an earlier interview Jordan said it's a bad idea.
Other agronomic experts agree. Typically a volunteer canola crop will yield just 25 per cent of a seeded crop. Since the seed is untreated seedlings are vulnerable to insects and diseases.
Some parts of the field will have too many plants per square metre while others will have too few. The crop will be in various stages of maturity making harvest difficult.
Leaving a volunteer crop this year means the same field is unsuited for canola next year.
The second generation of hybrid crop will not be as homogeneous as the first. Some of new plants will not be herbicide tolerant and some will be sterile.
Under Bayer CropScience's Liberty and Trait contract it's illegal to save seed from an InVigor crop for any purpose, including as a volunteer crop.
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