TULSA, OK….October 25, 1999---Corn growers must be protected in the growing controversy over genetically altered food products. Therefore, the American Corn Growers Association (ACGA) has introduced a program to allow farmers to consider alternatives to GMOs (genetically modified organisms) by making it easier for corn producers to market their GMO free crops.

The program, " Farmer Choice-Customer First," with an initial grant from the John Merck Fund, recognizes that for farmers to plant non- GMO crops, they must be assured that markets exist and that grain handlers will accept and segregate their product.

As part of the program, the ACGA surveyed over 724 grain elevators in six of the major corn producing states and listed those grain elevators on their web site. Included in the listing are any conditions the elevators have attached to the delivery of non-GMOs, such as whether the crop needs to be certified that it is GMO free, if the elevator will segregate the crop, and if farmers must schedule delivery of their non-GMOs.

The survey showed 91.4% of the elevators are not segregating GMO from non-GMO corn, only 9.7% are asking for some sort of a certificate to verify the corn as non-GMO and 9.5% are scheduling delivery.

"More and more international companies and consumers in a growing number of countries are expressing their desire to purchase U.S. corn that is not genetically altered. This is hurting American farmers while opening export markets to our competitors," said Gary Goldberg, Chief Executive Officer of the ACGA. "It is the responsibility of the U.S. corn industry to provide our overseas customers with the product they desire. Many are asking for non-GMO corn. It will be imperative for U.S. corn farmers to plant enough non-GMO corn to satisfy this demand."

The ACGA has continued to caution corn growers about the many unanswered questions surrounding the planting and harvesting of GMOs. These include the questions of crop segregation, certification, market availability, corporate concentration, cross-pollination, crop integrity, and liability. Until these questions are answered satisfactorily, farmers should consider the option of planting alternatives to GMO crops.

"Farmer Choice-Customer First" allows corn growers to know in advance that local markets exist for any non-GMO products they harvest. In addition, the ACGA is working with the grain marketing arm of the National Farmers Organization to identify and deliver non-GMOs to European and Asian customers," added Goldberg.

The ACGA is encouraging farmers to gather as much information as possible before making their planting intentions for this coming year. This way, corn growers can decide whether it is worth the risk to plant GMOs. The "Farmer Choice-Customer First" Program will provide some of that needed information.

"Corn producers must be certain that what they plant in the spring and harvest in the fall will have a readily available market. We must be assured that obstacles will not be placed in their way for delivery of their grain to a local elevator or overseas customer," concluded Goldberg.

The listing of grain elevators and results of the survey are available on the American Corn Growers Association web site at www.acga.org. Click on Elevator Survey.

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