Corn Crop Integrity Protected by USDA, Says NCGA

March 12, 2001

National Corn Growers Association official Fred Yoder says USDA's announcement that the department will buy seed corn containing the Cry9C or StarLink protein "is another important step in a coordinated effort between industry and government to remove Cry9C and to assure the integrity of the 2001 corn crop."

Yoder, a farmer from Plain City, OH, and chairman of the NCGA Biotechnology Working Group, also cautioned growers that they "still have two responsibilities for 2001. We still need to ask for verification that the seed we buy for planting this year has been tested for Cry9C and we must control volunteer StarLink corn in 2001."

USDA announced recommended testing procedures for Cry9C in late December. Starting in January, the NCGA has stressed seed testing through its "Verify Before You Buy" program. "Asking seed companies for this verification holds them accountable and shows that farmers are fulfilling our obligations to manage StarLink, too," he said.

The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) has estimated that less than 1% of seed corn for 2001 may contain Cry9C protein. USDA is buying the seed under its authority to reduce costs associated with the potential forfeiture of loan-eligible crops. The program will benefit the smaller seed companies.

Major seed companies have indicated they will not ask for government payment but will continue to test their seed and to remove any seed lots that test positive for Cry9C. The USDA program will spend between $15 million to $20 million to ensure that companies not affiliated with Aventis, or licensed to sell StarLink seed but whose seed inadvertently contained the Cry9C protein, are not adversely affected.