ST. LOUIS, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announcement on Jan. 14 concerning Bt hybrids adds credibility to the recommendations made last April by the National Corn Growers Association and seed industry representatives.

In the spring of 1999, NCGA helped organize the Agricultural Biotechnology Stewardship Working group that included biotechnology providers. This working group provided the EPA an industry insect resistance management (IRM) plan that would manage the Bt technology to avoid possible insect resistance. Key among the points was a requirement to plant a 20% refuge of non-Bt corn in the Corn Belt and up to a 50% refuge of non-Bt corn in the Cotton Belt. The refuge ensures a population of European corn borer moths that are susceptible to Bt.

"NCGA strongly supports the planting of IRM refuges because they allow the maximum use of this pest control technology while maintaining its long-term effectiveness," said Fred Yoder, Plain City, Ohio, farmer and a member of NCGA's Corn Board. "We welcome EPA's statement because it generally follows the plan we submitted. The EPA's announcement actually validates those recommendations."

For more information about the NCGA's IRM education plan, visit the NCGA web site at www.ncga.com .

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, 24 affiliated state corn grower organizations and hundreds of thousands of growers who contribute to state checkoff programs.

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