Kobus Steenekamp, Marketing Manager Chem and Biotech Monsanto

Maize producers to prepare themselves for farm inspections

01 October 2008 - Crop biotechnology brought a new dimension into grain production. Gene characteristics such as herbicide resistance or Roundup Ready^® crops, stalk borer protection or YieldGard^®-crops, have been available over the past couple of years in South Africa in crops such as cotton, soya beans and maize. This technology does not only increase yields, but also gives the producer added benefits with regard to management and environmental practices.

Since the release of genetically modified (GM) cultivars in South Africa in 1998, there has been a steady increase in the number of hectares of these cultivars planted, giving the South African farmer first-hand experience of the excellent insect- and weed-control provided by this technology. Some 57% of the 2007/08 season’s maize hectares contained gene-characteristics vs. the 47% in 2006/07.  According to estimates, this number can even increase to more than 63% in the coming planting season (2008/2009).  It  will also be the second season that the stack gene varieties will be available.  The stack gene contains both the YieldGard en Roundup Ready technologies – both advantages in one product.  These products are available in the AFGRI SAAD, DEKALB, LINK SAAD, PANNAR en PIONEER brands.

As part of Monsanto’s product-stewardship policy, the company and other companies that have access to Monsanto’s technology will continue to work closely together to ensure that all the requirements – as stipulated in the technology agreement – are strictly met. The planting of refuge areas by farmers using GM cultivars is of the utmost importance in protecting this technology.

Thus, to continuously take advantage of the available technologies, the sector has to address two issues viz. to work against the building up of weed and/or insect resistance and specifically stalk borer resistance against the technology.  By following the accepted requirements set out in the labels and technology agreemens, grani producers can ensure the continuous use of the products.   This includes the use of alternative herbicides such as asetanilides in the Roundup Ready –systems as well as the planting of refuge areas where YieldGard-products have been planted.  Refuge areas are required by law.

Requirements for correctly planted refuge areas

1. The refuge area is a piece of land planted to conventional maize which does not contain the YieldGard-gene technology.
2. Two options can be followed:
   • 80% YieldGard-maize with a 20% refuge area where chemical stalk borer control may be implemented within the refuge area with products that are not related to Bt
   • 95% YieldGard-maize with a 5% refuge area where no chemical stalk borer control is implemented.
3. The refuge area is planted with seed not containing YieldGard gene technology (i.e. conventional seed).
4. No YieldGard maize plants should be planted further than 400m from the refuge area.
5. The refuge area and the area nearby planted to YieldGard maize may not be planted more than 7 days apart.
6. Hybrids with the same growth length period (maturity) as the YieldGard maize should be used for the refuge.
7. YieldGard maize seed and the refuge area seed should not be mixed in the seed bins.
8. Each farm should have its own refuge areas. A neighbour’s maize fields does not qualify as a refuge.
9. The same agronomic conditions should apply for both the YieldGard and refuge areas, eg. if YieldGard miaze is irrigated, the refuge area should also be irrigated. The same pest control practices should be followed as well.
10. The refuge area should be a minimum of 6 rows and may be planted on the side of the field or as strips throughout the field depending on the width of the field.
11. The refuge area should be clearly marked.
12. When referring to YieldGard technology, remember that the stack hybrids are also included and where reference is made to refuge areas, Roundup Ready® hybrids may be used. Conventional maize hybrids are recommended as refuge for the single gene YieldGard-hybrids (B-suffix) and Roundup Ready hybrids (R-suffix) for stack maize hybrids (BR-suffix).

After-plant inspections of refuge areas

Inspections on farm level are envisaged for the first time this year to ensure that farmers are complying to the refuge requirements.  The inspections will be over more than one season and can be summarised as follows:

2008/2009 maize production season:

1. A certain number of clients, for example 200, is selected and an impartial inspector will obtain selling records from the seed companies.
2. The impartial inspector will make appointments with the selected growers and visit them from January to March 2009.
3. The inspector will select one or more fields from a maize farmer to visit to see if the farmer is complying to all the set out requirements.
4. Seed companies will contact the client if he did not comply.

Steps 1 to 4 will be repeated annualy.

2009/2010 maize production season:

1. Cliënt A whom did not comply to the set out requirements in the 2008/09 planting season, will be included outomatically in the evaluation process and group for the 2009/2010 season.
2. Kliënt A will now have to submit a comprehensive planning document before the planting season in conjunction with the seed companies to ensure that the refuge areas are planted.
3. Farm inspections will be carried out on one or more fields during January 2010 - March 2010.

Steps 1 – 3 is for clients that did not comply.

2010/2011 maize production season:

A client that did not plant the refuge area in the 2008/2009 planting season and furhtermore did not hand in his planning document for the next planting season,  2009/2010 , can be prohibited from obtaining the technology for the next season ( 2010/2011).

This means that that no Monsanto gene technologies on any of the crops such as maize, cotton or soya beans may be purchased, before the person has undergone a training or rehabilitasion prgoramme. It is important for all clients to have access to new technologies such as drought tolerance and advanced nitrogen utilisation, but that they should be responsible in the use of these advantageous technologies.

Respect the refuge and protect the technology for tomorrow!

AFGRI SAAD, DEKALB, LINK SAAD, PANNAR and PIONEER also support this initiative.

For further enquiries contact your seed supplier of Monsanto at 011-790 8200.