[nerdseeksblonde]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cid_Yama', ''')Round-up ready' just means it can be planted in acreage previously cleared with Round-up. If Monsanto knew how to genetically modify wheat to resist this, they would. It WOULD be worth big money. How to do it IS the billion dollar question. Currently, all genes known to impart rust resistance don't work against this stuff.

[Cid_Yama]

Actually it was Dinopello that was bringing up Round-up. I was trying to explain it was the wheat's lack of resistance to <b>Ug99</b> that was the problem.

<i>roundup-ready means that it is able to benefit from disease protection due to Roundup.</i>

Misleading if not outright untrue. Round-up kills weeds in competition with crops and does not impart 'disease resistance'.
The fact that it might act as a fungicide as well as an herbicide does not impart disease resistance.

Currently all genes known to impart <b>Wheat Rust</b> resistance don't work against this stuff. <b>NO CONFUSION WHATSOEVER</b>

I <b>don't</b> own any related stocks

[dinopello]

Sorry if I started a confusing side bar. I don't own related stock and don't like the idea of drowning crops in fungacide, and as pointed out this may not be possible large scale anyway.

[nerdseeksblonde]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dinopello', 'S')orry if I started a confusing side bar. I don't own related stock and don't like the idea of drowning crops in fungacide, and as pointed out this may not be possible large scale anyway.

[yesplease]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cid_Yama', 'I')f Monsanto knew how to genetically modify wheat to resist this, they would. It WOULD be worth big money. How to do it IS the billion dollar question.

[steam_cannon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('yesplease', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cid_Yama', 'I')f Monsanto knew how to genetically modify wheat to resist this, they would. It WOULD be worth big money. How to do it IS the billion dollar question.

[yesplease]

But imagine the profit! And it's plausibly deniable if it's anything.
Not to say it is or isn't the case, just that if I were trying to make lotsa cash, and had the resources available to me as well as assurance it would be practically impossible, or at the very least quite hard, to catch me, I might be tempted.

[Cid_Yama]

The same would hold true if you were taking action to reduce the population of the the planet by a significant number in the near future, to prevent it's ultimate destruction. Notice Africa, India and China are most immediately threatened. Of course, a resistant strain will miraculously appear in time to save North America.

[yesplease]

I think the planet will be o.k. no matter what we do.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')e're so self-important. So self-important. Everybody's going to save something now. "Save the trees, save the bees, save the whales, save those snails." And the greatest arrogance of all: save the planet. What? Are these fucking people kidding me? Save the planet, we don't even know how to take care of ourselves yet. We haven't learned how to care for one another, we're gonna save the fucking planet?
[...]

[steam_cannon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cid_Yama', 'T')he same would hold true if you were taking action to reduce the population of the the planet by a significant number in the near future, to prevent it's ultimate destruction. Notice Africa, India and China are most immediately threatened. Of course, a resistant strain will miraculously appear in time to save North America.

[coonskincapp]

This rust is planned and designed.

[Cid_Yama]

<b>Ug99 strikes Iran, countries east on High Alert</b>

A new and virulent wheat fungus, previously found in East Africa and Yemen, has moved to major wheat growing areas in Iran, FAO reported today. The fungus is capable of wreaking havoc to wheat production by destroying entire fields.

Countries east of Iran, like Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, all major wheat producers, are most threatened by the fungus and should be on high alert, FAO said.

link

[Cid_Yama]

<b>Indian wheat producers warned about deadly fungus</b>

The United Nations has warned wheat producing countries in Asia, including India and Pakistan, against the possibility of a new dangerous fungus which has the ability of destroying entire crop fields.

Up to 80 per cent of all Asian and African varieties are susceptible to the fungus which has been detected in Iran.

"The fungus is spreading rapidly and could seriously lower wheat production in countries at direct risk," said Shivaji Pandey, Director of FAO's Plant Production and Protection Division.

link

With current global wheat shortages, additional wheat research has become an even greater priority.

National Wheat Improvement Committee members converge on Washington, D.C. next week to discuss the need for increased federal appropriations for emerging cereal diseases.

Members of the NAWG Research and Technology Committee passed the following resolutions during their meeting February 28 at the Commodity Classic in Nashville, Tenn.

"NAWG recognizes Ug99 as a major threat to national and global wheat production and strongly supports additional funding for rust research and resistant variety development."

link

[Cid_Yama]

"This disease could be devastating because right now with no resistance, it virtually, it potentially could wipe out the entire US wheat crop. It could potentially wipe out the world wheat crop, but it certainly could wipe out the US wheat crop." Wogsland says currently there are no varities of wheat that are resistant to Ug99 in the United States.

Research shows that if Ug99 and other stem rust diseases did enter the US, wheat production losses could total over 1.4 billion bushels per year.

http://www.kxmb.com/getArticle.asp?s=rs ... eId=216697

[Gandalf_the_White]

"a quart of wheat for a days wages"

Not easy to calculate but probably about $500 per bushel.

[eastbay]

This sounds very bad. Add this to the ethanol disaster and we could witness tens of millions more starving. Is it as bad as it sounds? Anyone here up on the specifics?

[Chesire]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Gandalf_the_White', '"')a quart of wheat for a days wages"

Not easy to calculate but probably about $500 per bushel.

[Cid_Yama]

<i>This sounds very bad. Add this to the ethanol disaster and we could witness tens of millions more starving. Is it as bad as it sounds? Anyone here up on the specifics?</i>

Eastbay,

Look at the links on the first post.

Also, the most important quote in the last article, which I neglected to copy:

"It is only a pant leg away, It's only a tradewind away as to whether or not it gets to the United States. It is not whether or not it does. It is when it does."

Also, your figure is low. Try <b>billions</b>.

Lose 80% of worldwide wheat production and you've got your overshoot die back. It won't happen all at once. It will progress around the globe. Although, with planes, the spores could be transported on clothing anywhere overnight.

[seahorse]

I'm still confused by some of the articles:

(1) Where is wheat rust known to be? In which countries?

(2) Is there any data on when the rust was first confirmed to be in those countries and what effect it has had on overall grain production? Basically, what percentage of wheat has been lost to the rust in what span of time?

(3) How fast is wheat rust spreading in Asia?

[eastbay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('seahorse', 'I')'m still confused by some of the articles:

(1) Where is wheat rust known to be? In which countries?

(2) Is there any data on when the rust was first confirmed to be in those countries and what effect it has had on overall grain production? Basically, what percentage of wheat has been lost to the rust in what span of time?

(3) How fast is wheat rust spreading in Asia?