DB-LancMter Farming, Saturday, July 11, 1992
GOLDENVALLEY, Minn.
Reports of major developments in
molecular biology have led many
people to believe that the genetic
alteration of plants is relatively
recent.
In fact, today’s plant biotech
nology is an extension and refine
ment of age-old classical plant
breeding. It’s the result of a great
expansion in scientific know
ledge, which blossomed with
heightened understanding of
enzyme chemistry and molecular
genetics during the past three
decades.
Molecular plant biologists now
use recombinant DNA (rDNA) to
develop new combinations of
genes by splicing together pieces
of DNA from various species and
organizms.
Plant biotechnology offers
advantages that are not available
from traditional plant breeding.
These benefits can be broadly
characterized as economic, envir
onmental, and technical.
• Economic Benefits* Plant
biotechnology can favorably
influence the economics of agri
culture for farmers by reducing
front-end production costs. It can
also improve the quality and quan
tity of crop yield by providing
plants with in-bred resistance to
various diseases and insects.
• Environmental Benefits* The
selective alteration of plants could
reduce or eliminate the use of cer
tain chemical treatments that are
slow to break down in soil and
groundwater. Newer chemicals
could be paired with transformed
plants to limit overall environ
mental impact.
• Technical Benefits • Plant
biotechnology offers increased
precision over traditional plant
breeding methods because it
enables scitentists to identify and
alter specific genes. Zeroing in on
specific genes may also allow sci
entist to produce new plant variet
ies more rapidly. Most promising
is plant biotechnology’s capacity
for broadening the accessible gene
GRAIN STORAGE
\ FEED & lfjS
floors (GSr) C GERS
K , l AS^
k 1 GRAIN DRYERS
aFs
Vf
608 Evergreen Rd.
Lebanon, PA 17042
(717) 274-5333
“We not only give you what we
have; hut alto what you want.”
SEE US AT THE PENN STATE
ANIMAL HOUSING EXPO
JULY 14-15, LEBANON FAIRGROUNDS
For
Years, Biologists Have Been Altering Plants
pool. With rDNA, scientists can
introduce new and useful traits
into plants from sources that are
unavailable through traditional
breeding.
The genetic transformation of
plants involves extensive research
by scientist in the laboratory and
under actual field conditions.
Although faster and more precise
than traditional plant breeding, the
technology is complex, dependent
on plant, insect, biology, and
genetics experts to determine
which genetic transfers are both
feasible and beneficial.
Once the research leaves the lab
and enters the field, it is subject to
approvals from various federal
automatic
farm
systems
and state regulatory bodies. Field
trails are subject to federal review;
most must be approved by the
United States Department of
Agriculture-Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service
(USDA-APHIS).
If approved, die USDA issues a
permit establishing conditions for
the field trial. The USDA also
conducts on-site inspections dur
ing the course of in-field research
and requires reports of research
findings. Individual states have
varying regulatory requirements
for in-field testing as well.
Northup King invests approxi
mately 10 percent of sales revenue
in this research each year. The
The Big Jim® system is
a proven alternative to
bottom unloading. Big Jim
offers high-capacity, reli-
ability, long life, low main
tenance and good-quality
See These Dealers For Details Now...
PENNSYLVANIA „
Cochranvllle, PA 19335
ERB 5c HENRY 215-593-6731
EQUIPMENT INC.
New Berllnville, PA 19S4S
215-367-2169
LAPP’S EARN EQUIPMENT
SALES A SERVICE
Gap, PA 17527
717-442-8134
SOLLENBERGBR SOMERSET BARN
SILOS CORP. EQUIPMENT
Chamberaburg, PA 17201 Somerset, PA 15501
717-264-8588 814-445-5555
\faeFor
Kg Jim !
Unloaders for steel silos.
STAR SILOS ROVENDALE AG
Myarstown, PA 17087 ft BARN EQUIPMENT
717.866-5708 Wataontown, PA 17777
717-538-9564
OR 717-742-4226
JAMBS L. HOSTETTER
McVeytown, PA 17051
717-899-6386
company directs 26 research sta
tions in the United States, Canada,
Europe, Mexico, and South
America.
In 1989, Northup King con
ducted its first field trial at
research facilities in Stanton,
Minn. In the trial, genetically
altered alfalfa was successfully
paired with a new and highly
biodegradable herbicide.
In 1992, Northup King received
haylage. New suspension
system eliminates need
for tripod and external
support cables.
Sm your iamosway Big
Jim® Doalorsoon.
PRINGLES FEED
STORE. INC.
Greenville, PA 16125
412-588-7950
GNEGT SURGE SERVICE
Weehlngton, PA 15301
412-222-0444
HOOVER EQUIPMENT
Tyrone, PA 16686
814-684-1777
approval to conduct additional
trails involving its key product,
com. Two separate trials, con
ducted at Stanton, Minn., and St
Joseph, 111., will field-test com
genetically-engineerd to resist
European com borer and maize
dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV). The
European com borer and MDMV
are responsible for hundreds of
millions of dollars in lost crops
annually.
MARYLAND
gladhux tractor mart
Frederick, MD 21701
301-663-6060
MD&VA MILK
PRODUCERS ASSOC.
Frederick, MD 21701
301-663-6552
GEORGE COLEMAN
Elmer, NJ 08318
609-358-8528