Oilseed rape, millet, pulses and sugar cane are among the crops to be investigated.

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Farmers would be banned from using them with sunflowers, oilseed rape, cotton and maize.

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This happened to America in the early 1970s, when President Nixon banned oilseed exports to keep down domestic prices.

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His losses from the oilseed rape alone account for thousands of pounds and he said others in the area were in a similar position.

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And he said oilseed rape was suffering from an unusual side-effect.

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"In mid July what we found was the bees had been visiting primarily rose, blackberry and sweet pea, with a bit of oilseed rape, " said Professor Newbury.

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Cargill, which is privately owned, has been doing business since 1986 in Venezuela, where its operations include oilseed processing, grain and oilseeds trading, animal feed, salt, and financial and risk management.

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But in its recent economic review, Britain's Cabinet Office noted that the financial benefits that might accrue to British farmers from planting, say, herbicide-resistant oilseed rape are unlikely to compensate for the lack of a market should their main customers shun the stuff.

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"Given that global and U.S. grain inventories remain very tight, grain prices will continue to reflect growing conditions and yield potential for both U.S. and global crop production, " Agrium said, citing a June report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which anticipates global grain and oilseed stockpiles to scrape 35-year lows through 2009.

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