Kudos to Monsanto

[Graingrower]

Recieved this email this morning:

$2 million to help severely flood affected Australian cotton farmers after unprecedented flooding of January 2011

As you may be aware, the Monsanto senior staff toured key cotton growing regions last week. This really was an important tour to liaise with growers, inspect the crops and better understand what customers want, assess our product fit and explore ways we can continue to improve our operations.

Peter O'Keeffe, ANZ Country Lead, said "it was great that these growers took the time to discuss their businesses with us because ultimately their comments will feed into our future business planning."

The tour included some flood affected farms where the group took the opportunity to discuss the severity of the damage and the varying ways farmers have been impacted by the disaster.

The recent flooding events have caused extensive losses and damage around the cotton growing areas of central and SE QLD and northern border districts of NSW on an unprecedented scale. Our people on the ground have been in the areas reviewing the full extent of the damage.

"The full magnitude of the floods is devastating. Some growers are facing the very real possibility they may go out of business and in many cases the full extent of the damage remains unknown" O'Keeffe said, "much cotton has survived the inundation but there appears to be insufficient season left to produce meaningful yields."

Monsanto staff have assessed various options over the past six weeks to identify the best, most effective and efficient means of providing support and assistance to growers..

"We know there are time-pressures, however, the priority has been on making the right decision rather than a rushed decision," said O'Keeffe.

After a lengthy review of the Cotton Choices program and the suggested option of making mid-stream adjustments to provide some relief, it became clear this was not a viable or appropriate way to support all affected farmers. This assessment showed that allowing adjustments would only assist a portion of the impacted growers and in all likelihood there are going to be just as many farmers who chose the EPR option that are also in need of assistance.

Instead, Monsanto has decided to pledge two million dollars ($A2m) to provide financial assistance to cotton farmers who have been impacted by these floods. This is irrespective of which option cotton farmers took under the Cotton Choices program, or whether they are growing Monsanto products this year or not.

While we have not yet determined the details of how we will manage the dispersal of these funds, it is our intent to work in cooperation with industry to ensure the funds reach those cotton farmers most in need.

It's important to highlight that we are also looking at enhancing our marketing program for next season to help cotton growers get through another cropping cycle.

Time is of the essence and we will endeavor to finalise the method for allocating these funds and will communicate this to growers in due course.


By Keryn Mclean
Corporate Affairs Lead

 

[topcropper]

Kudos to Monsanto?

Not likely from me. Monsanto invented roundup, the second last and probably the biggest boost to global crop yields. Then GM foods, the last leg up. Monsanto is probably responsible for 100's of millions of tonnes of extra grain production per year. More like half a billion per year.

If it wasn't for monsanto, the worlds farmers would already be on easy street, but instead I have to wait a bit longer yet.

Monsanto can go and get stuffed I say.


See ya's.

 

[Aaron Sice]

that's great.

i suppose if Philip Morris built a school in Bali for the orphan kids that would be great as well - considering their product kills their parents.

 

[Mr. Fabulous]

You can't be serious.

 

[paulzorro]

no good just PR

 

[Aaron Sice]

no good just PR

good PR /= kudos.