Biotech Wheat Restrictions Dropped

The ownership of the Minneapolis Grain Exchange has approved eliminating a rule prohibiting the delivery of genetically modified wheat.

The change will be effective for the March 2012 contract month and covers the exchange’s flagship hard red spring wheat contract. The rule, which had been in effect since the July 2004 contract month, required a delivery warehouse to deliver upon request wheat that isn’t genetically modified.

The exchange’s contracts committee and board of directors unanimously recommended the change be made, though they said the vote does not endorse or oppose the use of transgenic wheat varieties.

Soybean Aphid System Shows Yield Increases

Results of multiyear trials from Syngenta show its Aphid Management System (AMS) increased yields up to 6.7 bushels per acre in sites with moderate-to-severe aphid infestations.

The system reduced aphids up to 86% versus 50% with the aphid-resistant trait only and 40% with seed treatment only. It controlled aphids 3 weeks after untreated, susceptible varieties reached economic threshold levels of 250 aphids per plant.

Syngenta says AMS is the industry’s first and only fully integrated option to protect soybeans from soybean aphids. The company has two AMS varieties in introductory quantities this year.

Company Announces New Rhizobia Standards

Becker Underwood has announced new standards of performance for rhizobia survivability and other components on soybean seed treated with its Vault HP multicomponent growth-enhancing system.

“In most cases, this new system allows for an on-seed survival rating of 60 days or more for the rhizobia in…