Among other things, that agreement restricts farmers from saving part of their crop and using it as seed in a subsequent year. Instead, farmers have to purchase new seed directly from the company if they wish to once again plant a GMO crop variety. This has caused many opposed to biotechnology to cry foul. read more
It's not because anyone forces them to. It makes next year much easier! read more
Certified seed is a pure variety and has to be free of certain weed seeds, other crop seeds, and seed borne diseases. I just bought a different variety of winter wheat. It was certified seed. read more
However, if the farmer harvested the corn and tried to use those kernels as seeds in the next season, not all of the corn will demonstrate the same genetic traits. That means a certain percentage of the crop will not be as drought-resistant as the first year, and may not survive or produce as well in the sandy soil. read more
The main reason farmers don’t save hybrid seeds to plant next year is that the seeds won’t “breed true.” Hybrids are made by crossing two highly inbred parent plants (more details coming soon). Every seed (or corn kernel) that is planted has the exact same genetics. read more