Givan said:
No claims are being made that bees are 'staying away' from
GM.  As I recall Allen Dick used to make part of his income
from pollination services for GM canola seed production -
are you out there Allen?!

Answer: 

In Alberta, beekeepers move annually over 50,000 bee colonies for 
pollination of GM hybrid canola. We have not experienced any suggested 
problems that mentioned in this report. In fact, farmers grow GM hybrid 
canola for seed production in rows that are male rows alternated with 
female rows. This system is designed to collect all intended genes in one 
hybrid cultivar for use by farmers. To produce seeds, this system requires 
honey bees for pollination. Therefore, hybrid canola growers use honey 
bees for pollination. GM Hybrid seeds produced from these specific farms 
are used by farmers for commercial production of canola seed for crushing 
to extract oil.

I may also add that a good percentage of canola grown in Alberta is hybrid 
canola. Honey bees make good honey crop (80-140lb/hive) from canola 
fields. Would this be an evidence to show bees forage on hybrid canola?

Medhat
 
Medhat Nasr, Ph. D.
Provincial Apiculturist
Crop Diversification Centre North

17507 Fort Road
Edmonton, AB, Canada T5Y 6H3
Tel: (780) 415-2314    Fax: (780) 422-6096
Mailto:[log in to unmask]

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