A Roundup Ready hot potato

If you have any thoughts on the pros and cons of Roundup Ready alfalfa the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association is looking for input. The actual deadline for submitting comments for an upcoming report has just passed, but I bet if you sent your thoughts in over the next day or two they would be considered.

I haven’t heard a lot about Roundup Ready alfalfa lately, although my general impression in listening to producers over the years is they consider it the devil’s handiwork and should never be allowed in Canada. Although a few have voiced support.

The newly formed Canadian Forage and Grassland Association is having a look at the issue. Working with the Saskatchewan Forage Council they hired a long-time animal health/animal nutrition consultant, Doug Yungblut to study the subject. The CFGA says they are looking for an unbiased, fact-based assessment on the potential impact of Roundup Ready alfalfa on Canada’s forage industry.

Yungblut is studying the literature and collecting input from the forage industry. As I mentioned, the deadline for input is here now, but even if it misses the report it doesn’t hurt to fire off your views to the study leader at: doug.yungblut@sympatico.ca or 416 659-7765 or SFC at  office@saskforage.ca or 306-867-8126.

The final report for this project will be available on the CFGA, SFC and other provincial forage council websites in April, 2012.

Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP). In Saskatchewan this program is delivered by the Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan.

Lee Hart is editor of Cattleman’s Corner based in Calgary. Contact him at 403-592-1964 or by email at lee@fbcpublishing.com