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NeCGA President, farmer says Mexico’s biotech corn ban is unreliable, inefficient

A Nebraska farmer says Mexico’s ban on genetically modified corn is an unrealistic goal that would hurt corn farmers.

Andy Jobman tells Brownfield grows yellow and white corn and soybeans near Gothenburg. “To go backwards is what this would all entail in terms of technology and efficiency.  This is really unappealing to me and to a lot of growers.”

The Nebraska Corn Growers Association President says there isn’t enough organic seed to supply Mexico and many farmers won’t change varieties. “Non-traited seed ends up going into organic channels.  There’s very, very small green channels for non-GMO right now and there’s not a lot of it out there.  Quite frankly as a producer I don’t want to grow non-GMO.”

And, Jobman says, the decree includes white corn. “There are not a lot of blocks of non-GMO traded corn on many of the farms like it used to be.  That’s great because it simplifies management.  You don’t have to always be scouting the non-GMO corn for pests, weeds, insects and what not.” 

Jobman says he would like to see the U.S. Trade Representative file a trade dispute with Mexico under the Untied States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.