The advantages of GM crops

[dieseltaylor]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57459357/gm-grass-linked-to-texas-cattle-deaths/

The grass is a genetically-modified form of Bermuda known as Tifton 85 which has been growing here for 15 years, feeding Abel's 18 head of Corriente cattle. Corriente are used for team roping because of their small size and horns.

"When we opened that gate to that fresh grass, they were all very anxious to get to that," said Abel.

Three weeks ago, the cattle had just been turned out to enjoy the fresh grass, when something went terribly wrong.

"When our trainer first heard the bellowing, he thought our pregnant heifer may be having a calf or something," said Abel. "But when he got down here, virtually all of the steers and heifers were on the ground. Some were already dead, and the others were already in convulsions."

Within hours, 15 of the 18 cattle were dead.

"That was very traumatic to see, because there was nothing you could do, obviously, they were dying," said Abel.

Preliminary tests revealed the Tifton 85 grass, which has been here for years, had suddenly started producing cyanide gas, poisoning the cattle.

"Coming off the drought that we had the last two years ... we're concerned it was a combination of events that led us to this," Dr. Gary Warner, an Elgin veterinarian and cattle specialist who conducted the 15 necropsies, told Kelly.

What is more worrisome: Other farmers have tested their Tifton 85 grass, and several in Bastrop County have found their fields are also toxic with cyanide. However, no other cattle have died.

Makes you wonder about how long GM crops are tested and perhaps the law of unintended consequences still holds good. As it happens this is actually a hybrid crop which means it was not genetically modified but was encouraged to become a cross. Similar effect though in providing a new strain.

According to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension service, Tifton 85 is a hybrid between an African Bermuda grass and Tifton 68, a different hybrid produced in Tifton, Texas.

[Michael Emrys]

Wow, that's weird. Wouldn't want that growing in your lawn, not that bermuda makes a very nice lawn anyway.

Michael

[gunnergoz]

Brings new meaning to the phrase, "Your ass is grass."

This GM stuff scares me - not because GM is inherently dangerous, but because I think corporations will rush to get product out with profit in mind first and safety a distant second (or more likely, last.)

[Michael Emrys]

This GM stuff scares me - not because GM is inherently dangerous, but because I think corporations will rush to get product out with profit in mind first and safety a distant second (or more likely, last.)

Exactly. You also get civil debacles like the ones involving Roundup resistant GM crops. Farmers were getting sued by Monsanto when it was found that their crops exhibited those traits without having bought seed from the company. As it turned out, their crops were being pollenated by pollen being blown over from neighboring fields, a circumstance over which they had no control. And so it goes.

Michael

[__Yossarian0815[jby]]

Tifton 85 is not a GM crop.

http://www.tifton.uga.edu/fat/tifton85.htm

[Michael Emrys]

;1373127']Tifton 85 is not a GM crop.

http://www.tifton.uga.edu/fat/tifton85.htm

Right. The link DT provided explicitly states that it is a hybrid of naturally grown strains.

Michael