[RWG] 2,4-d resistant corn

[Gena Fleming]

Dear Holly, Alison, RWG:

Thank you for bringing up this topic.  The environmental impacts of GM
crops is huge.  . As you have noted, the decrease in "weeds" can interrupt
habitats and ecosystems.   Of course, herbicide resistant crops also mean
more herbicides present on our food

In addition, forest trees are being genetically engineered for cultivation
in monocultures.  Here, engineering for natural pest resistance means the
internal toxins can also destroy microorganisms responsible for soil
fertility.  An infamous example of this is the result of Bt cotton in
India, where fields lost fertility and could not support subsequent crops.
O.k., now imagine this happening to a forest when trees are engineered to
be "pest resistant".     Engineering forest trees for decreased lignin (to
make it easier to process paper) results in weakened trees.  And
these genetically engineered forest trees can hybridize with other forest
trees to pass on the genetic weaknesses.

Introducing these traits through horizontal gene transfer, mixing genetic
material not only from other species, but other genera and even other
kingdoms, disrupts the natural ancestral heritage of these plants,
corrupting their evolutionary history responsible for their resilience
and successful integration with the ecosystem.

It's the end of phylogeny.

There are crops being bred to produce pharmaceutical drugs and human
hormones.   How are these going to affect insects that feed on or pollinate
these plants?

And then there are the "CBI" crops.  CBI = confidential business
information.

There are many more genetically engineered crops than most people imagine.
I will follow this email with a new subject line, showing how to query
which crops are out there.

Thanks for caring about this topic.

best regards,

Gena Fleming

On 31 January 2012 10:18, Holly Sletteland <hslettel at calpoly.edu> wrote:

>  I for one don’t think you are overreacting and do think this is a
> subject that is appropriate for the restoration community to address.  The
> development of herbicide resistant crops has NOT led to a decrease in the
> application of these chemicals as the herbicide companies promised, but
> rather a substantial increase.  This is resulting in more herbicide
> resistant weeds (let alone other issues such as ground water pollution)
> reducing the effectiveness of a tool in our toolbox. It’s also leading to
> agricultural fields that are too clean.  The dramatic drop in monarch
> populations is increasingly believed to be stemming from the loss of
> milkweed.  Part of it is development to be sure, but a large part of it is
> the loss of milkweed in agricultural fields where it used to be relatively
> common.   What other native “weeds” are we losing that are critical to the
> food chain?  And of course, drift is always an issue with large-scale
> herbicide applications. It’s not supposed to happen, but we all know that
> it does periodically  with irresponsible applicators.  If you provide
> contact info, I’ll be happy to send an email.****
>
> ** **
>
> _______________________________________________****
>
> ** **
>
> Holly Sletteland****
>
> Preserve Manager****
>
> Morro Coast Audubon Society****
>
> PO Box 1507****
>
> Morro Bay, CA 93443****
>
> 805.772.1991 / 805.239.3928****
>
> _______________________________________________****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* rwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org [mailto:
> rwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org] *On Behalf Of *Krohn, Alison
> *Sent:* Tuesday, January 31, 2012 6:37 AM
> *To:* rwg at lists.plantconservation.org
> *Subject:* [RWG] 2,4-d resistant corn****
>
> ** **
>
> Has anyone on the list kept up with or followed the expansion of herbicide
> resistant crops?  Monsanto is petitioning USDA to approve 2,4-D resistant
> corn (isn’t corn already resistant?).  I’m very concerned about the
> widespread reintroduction of 2,4-d in response to Roundup resistant
> “superweeds” and to kill alfalfa (especially roundup ready alfalfa) for
> rotation into another crop.  I know the organic farming community has been
> fighting this but what about restoration folks?****
>
> ** **
>
> We grow native forbs and grasses in Nebraska for seed and experienced
> 2,4-d drift last spring when an adjacent alfalfa field was sprayed with
> 2,4-d and glyphosate to rotate into corn.  I can’t isolate the herbicide
> damage from the August dry weather but we did experience a 70% decline in
> perennial sunflower seed production.  We filed a complaint with our state
> regulators and after finding the “lost” report they warned the operator not
> to do it again.  The tissue samples showed evidence of both herbicides on
> our field.  ****
>
> ** **
>
> We use herbicides to manage some troublesome species but we spot spray.
> It seems to me the potential impact on roadside refuges of native plant
> communities may be severe if herbicides like 2,4-d and dicamba are used
> more frequently.  Have any other agencies or advocates weighed in on the
> proliferation of herbicide resistant crops and the potential impacts on
> adjacent native plant communities?  Am I overreacting?****
>
> ** **
>
> Thanks for your time****
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> PCA's Restoration Working Group mailing list
> RWG at lists.plantconservation.org
>
> http://lists.plantconservation.org/mailman/listinfo/rwg_lists.plantconservation.org
>
>
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