Three WA farm lobby groups and a leading independent agronomist have called on new WA Agriculture Minister Terry Redman to ignore the temptation of running “unnecessary” field trials of genetically modified (GM) canola and not delay lifting WA’s moratorium on its commercial production for next season.

The united front followed a field trip to Victoria last week where the different farming groups observed flourish GM canola crops. Tour members also visited the biological sciences facility at Melbourne’s La Trobe University to observe the Victorian Government’s overwhelming support for that section of the agricultural industry.

The group comprised Producers Forum WA spokesperson John Snooke, WAFarmers grains council vice president Duncan Young, Pastoralists and Graziers Association executive committee member Gary McGill and representatives from the highly regarded scientific research provider Kalyx Agriculture.

Mr Snooke said the tour participants returned to WA united to call for the commercial release of GM canola for next season.

Mr Snooke said he was impressed by a number of features of the GM canola he saw being grown on Victorian farms. “

The power of hybrids shone through with canopy closure after the six-leaf stage,” he said.

“Residual herbicides are not needed after this point as the one or two roundup-up applications ensures the paddocks are extremely clean.

"Personally, I spent my time talking to the neighbours of the GM canola growers we visited.

"Any myths about the technology have been debunked in 2008 with the prediction of in excess of 100,000 hectares for the 2009 planting season from farmer inquiry already.”