Rothamsted Research has submitted an application to DEFRA to plant autumn-sown wheat as part of its GM wheat trial. The application requests permission to conduct the winter sowing of Cadenza wheat, which involves exactly the same GM lines and experimental design as the current spring-sown experiment.
Scientists believe the extension of the trial would allow them to study the effects of autumn aphid infestations on their experimental aphid-repelling wheat. They say autumn-sown Cadenza wheat engineered to repel aphids - a major crop pest - would allow them to gain further data for the experiment.
"With the trial up and running, it seems sensible to make this small adjustment," said John Pickett, head of chemical ecology at Rothamsted Research.
He added, "This additional data will add a great deal of value to the overall investigation by testing our wheat plant under a more varied range of environmental conditions throughout the year and in accordance with the different times of the year farmers plant their wheat."
The request to DEFRA will be assessed by the independent Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) and by members of the public during a 60-day consultation period.
Duaringa police are investigating an incident of dangerously high levels of a chemical gas found at Graincorp's Dingo depot this month.
Sergeant Paul James said police and an expert Graincorp clean-up crew were called to the depot after two drivers tried to unload grain with Phosphine gas readings of 57 parts per million and higher.
Phosphine levels over 50 ppm are considered to be immediately dangerous to life and health of farm workers, drivers and the public.
"It would appear the truckies have transported the grain to Dingo, maybe the night before, and placed their Phosphine (tablets) in cut-down 1.25l coke bottles, put water in there and put it with the grain, pulled over the tarp and gone to bed," Sgt James said.
"In the morning the containers were almost depleted and they have thrown them into the Dingo roadhouse bin and gone to Graincorp where the grain has been tested and… Graincorp staff have said no we're not taking it because it is way beyond what is safe and legal."
He added that police recovered the evidence from the roadhouse bin and disposed of it safely. The grain's property of origin is unknown.
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