WASHINGTON, DC....December 14, 1999---In a move that could send ripples of fear through farm country, the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) is calling for legal safeguards to protect grain buyers from the crops being delivered by farmers. These safeguards could include language that would allow a grain elevator to reject purchasing any genetically modified (GMO) crops.

For many months now the American Corn Growers Association (ACGA) has encouraged farmers to seek answers to the many questions concerning the purchasing, planting and harvesting of GMO crops. One of those questions was whether a crop planted in the spring would have a readily available market in the fall because of consumer resistance. Not only does it seem likely that more foreign countries will refuse to purchase GMOs, but domestic grain buyers may refuse to buy them as well, leaving the farmer with nowhere to sell their crop.

According to David Barrett, counsel for public affairs with the NGFA, disclosure statements and warranties may be required when a farmer delivers grain to an elevator. In addition, contracts will require farmers to state what varieties of seed they used or give elevators the right to reject GMOs altogether.

"If there is the likelihood that grain elevators could reject deliveries of GMOs, it is obvious that farmers cannot afford to take the risk of planting them," said Gary Goldberg, Chief Executive Officer of the ACGA. "With prices hitting historic lows, the last thing a farmer needs to occur is that both foreign consumers and domestic grain buyers refuse to purchase certain products. In this event, farmers need to think long and hard before planting GMO seeds."

The ACGA encourages farmers to seek legal advice before signing any documents issued by the elevator. This will allow the grain producers to protect their own interests and know in advance what requirements are demanded for delivery.

"We do not fault the National Grain and Feed Association for taking action to protect their members on the issue of GMOs. After all, that is exactly what the ACGA is doing as well when we encourage Congress to enact legislation to provide liability protection for production agriculture and for farmers to examine alternatives to planting genetically modified crops," added Goldberg.

This burdensome and dangerous contract requirement placed upon agricultural producers will lead more and more farmers away from planting GMOs this coming year. Couple this demand with the questions of certification, segregation, cross-pollination, corporate concentration and crop integrity, it is likely that the forecast by the ACGA of a 20% to 25% drop in GMO planted acres for the year 2000 will increase substantially.

"It is unfortunate that corn growers have been put into the position of making themselves liable for delivering a crop they were promised was safe and marketable. Instead of having the burden fall on the producer for what they sell, the burden should fall on the seed companies where it belongs. How much more can the farmer take before they reject GMOs totally from their planting options," concluded Goldberg?

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