Evidence of meeting #26 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was gmo.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:20 p.m.
Director and Secretary Treasurer, Manitoba Forage Seed Association Inc.
No. I didn't mention that it didn't enhance yield. I said that it did not improve the net income of producers.
5:20 p.m.
Director and Secretary Treasurer, Manitoba Forage Seed Association Inc.
If you look at farm income over the last number of years, you'll see that gross receipts have gone that way, and net farm income has gone this way. It has stayed stable.
In the case of canola, years ago we had Hyola 401, which was a conventional variety. It yielded just as well as any GMO canola that I grow in my operation today.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
But we did just have a producer from Acme come here and say that he had just recently in the last couple of years experimented with GMO versus organic, and he had over double the yield on his GMO that he did on his organic. But that's not a question.
I'll pass the rest of my time over to Mr. Hoback.
5:20 p.m.
Director and Secretary Treasurer, Manitoba Forage Seed Association Inc.
Go ahead.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Well, actually I'd let you comment on it, but I'm just commenting on it, and now Mr. Hoback can take the rest of the time.
5:20 p.m.
Liberal
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
No, the only one in trouble here, Wayne, is the one who's flip-flopping on it.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
I mean, do you really believe in the science-based trade, Wayne? We have quotes up the yingyang on it.
5:20 p.m.
Director and Secretary Treasurer, Manitoba Forage Seed Association Inc.
An analogy like that--
5:20 p.m.
A voice
You haven't been in the industry for--
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
The members can use their time as they want, Mr. Einarson, and he's turned it over to Mr. Hoback.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
I apologize, guys, if I was a little short with you in the last round of questions. It's just that we only get so much time and you have to try to get so much out there. Five minutes is not enough time to do it in.
There's one question I want to ask you, though. If the LLP was at 1%, how much industry would you lose, how much market share?
5:20 p.m.
President, Imperial Seed (1979) Ltd.
The LLP at 1% has the ability to kill the market share.
5:20 p.m.
President, Imperial Seed (1979) Ltd.
If the LLP is at 1%, it does have the ability, if it's improperly managed, to kill the market—zero.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
So 1% LLP in alfalfa would kill the marketplace.
Half a per cent?
5:20 p.m.
President, Imperial Seed (1979) Ltd.
It can kill the market. It can, because as I was saying—
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
So you're saying there's no tolerance in alfalfa at all.
5:20 p.m.
President, Imperial Seed (1979) Ltd.
Europe has zero tolerance. Zero. If a seed is found, even if it's a canola seed, I lose my contract and it comes back. I'm out hundreds of thousands of dollars.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
Okay. As far as other markets go, then, you wouldn't explore other markets.
