Key among the many profitability issues facing growers at harvest this fall is uncertainty about the marketability of biotech corn. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Biotechnology Task Force is working to assist growers - already facing rock-bottom prices and extensive drought-related crop losses in many areas - by providing them with the tools to make informed decisions when they take their harvested grain to the elevators.

The task force was formed to define the program for an NCGA biotechnology roundtable held earlier this year in Kansas City. That gathering brought together all corn industry stakeholders for open dialogue on biotech issues. Since then, the group of grower leaders has focused on the dynamics of the many biotechnology issues within production agriculture, while helping growers "Know Where to Go'' with their biotech corn.

"The entire industry has been impacted by divergent issues relating to biotech corn,'' said NCGA President and Task Force Chairman Lynn Jensen of Lake Preston, S.D. "We are working to enable growers to continue to have available the technology, yet protect the growers from bearing the cost of this technology.''

Jensen cited several contributing factors to the tangled biotech web:

• Radical resistance in Europe and Asia to biotech food ingredients.
• Niche market premiums offered by grain processors for conventional "genetically enhanced free'' grain.
• Proposed or real processor contracts that place unjustified liability burdens on the growers.
• Rejection of biotech grain by certain U.S. food processors.
• Misinformation campaigns by activists who oppose technology and sound science.
• General confusion regarding the issue given these factors.

While NCGA couldn't predict these circumstances when seed purchasing decisions were made last fall or during planting season this spring, Europe's failure to approve and accept certain biotech corn hybrids prompted the association to kick off a more aggressive "Know Before You Grow'' campaign this spring.

This effort, now in its third year, urges growers to read their contracts with the technology providers and ensure that those hybrids awaiting approval are properly channeled.

As issues surrounding biotechnology emerged, NCGA also established a "Know Where to Grow'' page on its web site, www.ncga.com, providing growers with:

• Statements from major processors regarding their plans for accepting biotech corn.
• EU approval status of new hybrid seed technologies.
• A list of company corn hybrid numbers awaiting approval in the European Union (EU).
• A direct link to the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) web site listing of elevators willing to buy all biotech corn regardless of its approval status.
• Legal liability contract guidelines for producers by Dr. Neil Harl, professor of agriculture and
  economics at Iowa State University.

"The NCGA biotech task force endorses biotechnology and the farmer and consumer benefits it offers,'' said Jensen. "In response to the growing complexity of this multi-faceted issue and some export market resistance to the proven sound science, we have taken steps to help growers make important grain marketing decisions. It's key that the grower be well-informed on the issue and their marketing options. We will continue to stay abreast and communicate this issue as it evolves.''

Steps outlined by the task force include:

• Continuing direct dialogue with all facets of the industry on this issue, including the technology providers and seed companies.
• Initiating an alliance with other commodity association groups on issues of mutual concern such as feed trials, consumer acceptance, etc.
• Approving the concept of adopting "grower friendly" grain contract language as the standard for growers to negotiate corn marketing with processors, as outlined by Dr. Hal.
• Developing a communications plan that encourages growers to avoid any contractual language that places the burden of liability on the grower and to keep them advised on issue developments as they emerge.
• Becoming proactive regarding the issue of tolerance standards for identifying biotech-free grain.
• Addressing issues as they develop, working closely with and serve as a resource for state associations.
• Work with processing companies on contract and grower liability issues.
• Continuing to work closely with industry, academia and government on insect resistance management (IRM).
• Signing the "Food Chain Principles on Plant Biotechnology," a collaborative document signed by trade associations representing all sectors of the food chain stating their support for food biotechnology as a tool that can improve product quality, increase production efficiency and allow more judicious use of agricultural chemicals.

"The dust may be settling for harvest, but the confusion over biotech remains in the air,'' Jensen concluded. "Our goal is to help growers through that confusion so they can maintain the technology ad make the right marketing decisions for this year and the right buying decisions for next.''

The National Corn Growers Association mission is to create and increase opportunities for corn growers in a changing world and to enhance corn's profitability and usage. NCGA represents more than 30,000 members and hundreds of thousands of growers who contribute to state checkoff programs.

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