But on the east coast the GeneEthics Network is warning that contract harvesters and apiarists are among the many rural businesses which will be affected by Monsanto's commercial GM canola grown at sites in NSW and Victoria this winter.

In WA PGA Western Graingrowers chairman, Leon Bradley, has disputed State Government claims that there is no demand for food from GM crops, arguing that the State's GM moratorium was costing farmers.

"Premier Alan Carpenter and Agriculture Minister Kim Chance claim that there is no demand for food produced from GM crops, that there are no advantages from producing GM canola, and that indeed WA gain certain premiums from producing non-GM canola," Mr Bradley said.

"If this were true, you would expect that Canadian canola production would be in decline, and Canadian farmers going out backwards due to falling sales and declining prices.

"Figures released by Stats Canada indicate that Canadian farmers have just planted a record canola crop of almost 16 million acres, exceeding last year's record of 14.7 million acres.

"Indeed this year's crop represents 2.7 million acres above the average Canadian crop, and is more than enough to displace the entire canola production of Australia on the international market.

"Fortunately for Australia, the State Governments of NSW and Victoria have recognised reality and allowed GM canola to be grown commercially.

"By deliberately blocking the process of technological advance in agriculture, the Carpenter Government has claimed a unique place in WA history."

But the GeneEthics Network says GM contamination could wreck numerous rural businesses.

"The Victorian and NSW governments that permit GM canola to be grown must set up a public register of all GM sites so we can do our best to avoid GM contamination," said beekeeper Graham Connell of Macedon, Victoria.

"At the Victorian Apiarists meeting on Friday, I will call for strong laws to protect the beekeeping industry like motions recently passed by NSW Apiarists."

The NSW Apiarists Conference called for GM crop sites to be published and for government to be put on notice that beekeepers will seek compensation if honey sales, markets and product confidence suffer from GM canola.

"Grain harvesters also want GM canola registered as a 'notifiable crop' so that we are officially told where all GM canola is grown," says Rod Gribble of the Australian Grain Harvesters Association NSW.

"AGHA members are advised to gain declarations as to the status of all canola crops & to also gain liability exemption from any action that may result in the spread of GM crop material into any other supply chain or property, before they start harvesting.

"Contract harvesters will not accept any liability or responsibility for any spread or cross contamination of GM crop material that may result in the event of harvesting any crops."