Here's the whole article.
The other was a possible fabrication.
Farmers ask why GM crops perform worse in drought

Farmers ask why GM crops perform worse in drought



The Network of Concerned Farmers, an alliance of farmers with concerns
regarding genetically modified crops, are calling for research to determine
why GM crops perform worse during droughts.



"There is more than enough evidence to reveal that GM crops perform worse
than non-GM crops during drought conditions but this vital information is
being ignored," said Julie Newman, National Spokesperson for the Network of
Concerned Farmers.



"Farmers worldwide have complained that GM crops perform worse than non-GM
crops during drought including GM cotton in India and Indonesia, GM soy in
the United States and Brazil and GM canola in Canada. Australian farmers
have even stated that they use an additional irrigation for GM cotton so it
appears there is evidence that GM crops need more water," she said.



"Our Federal Minister for Agriculture is making outrageous statements
wanting states to ignore economic risk and claiming we need GM crops to
counter drought when reality shows GM crops perform worse in drought.
Australia is known for adverse conditions and may be totally unsuitable for
GM crops but nobody seems to care about this vital detail."



There has recently been a significant drop in soybean production due to the
drought in Brazil. The president of the Rio Grande do Sul seed association
sites 25% higher crop losses in GE soy crops as compared with conventional
ones. Brazil's agricultural department estimates that yields are down 72%
in Rio Grande do Sul which is the biggest adopter of Monsanto's Roundup
Ready GM technology.



"Many Brazilian farmers who use Round-Up Ready soy will be thinking twice
about it next year,"

said Etienne Vernet, South American Research Director of the Polaris
Institute. Governor of Mato Grosso (25% of national soy production) has
publicly stated that he will not plant genetically modified soy next year.



Monsanto and Bayer Cropscience withdrew from the proposed independent trials
in NSW in 2004 with Bayer Cropscience stating a concern for dry conditions
as a reason. Requests for further independent testing has been denied but
Bayer Cropscience has been growing canola under irrigation for export to
Canada under special state exemption orders.

"Farmers need trials to compare GM performance during adverse conditions and
scientists need to investigate this further. Farmers have had enough of the
bulldust, we need facts."




Non-GM drought tolerant varieties of wheat are being grown in Australia.
Mrs Newman claims there are far better alternatives in non-GM biotechnology
but some scientists are more interested in attracting corporate investment
so are misleading farmers to believe all biotechnology is GM.





Contact: Julie Newman 08 98711562 or 08 98711644 or 0427 711644



At least thirty companies developing GM crops have observed DNA instability
with up to 5% disruption of overall gene expression which increased or
decreased the protein producing outputs of other genes. Does recombinant DNA
techniques destabilise the metabolism of the plant resulting in the need for
more nutrients? Does the inserted gene and perhaps other insertion-caused
“hotspots” remain hyperactive and deplete the nutrients of the plant?