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Properly handling grain at harvest

As harvest moves into full swing, farmers are reminded to handle certain biotech corn traits properly.

Rosiland Leeck, director of grain marketing for Indiana Corn Marketing Council says there are some traits that are approved for cultivation and commercialization – but aren’t yet approved for the world-wide market.

For example, if corn containing the Agrisure Duracade trait were to inadvertently leak into export channels, it could put US grain shipments at risk.  “When there is no tolerance – zero – that’s a very small number,” Leeck says.  “Any trace amount of that would result in a rejection of that shipment.  Ultimately the worst case scenario would be the closing of that market to all US exports (or imports – however you want to look at it).”

Leeck tells Brownfield the goal isn’t to stifle innovation.  “We want to make sure that farmers have the tools they need to remain viable long into the future,” she says.  “As we move forward in that process we’re going to continually be challenged, dealing with stewarded products.  The more we learn about it, the more we understand it, and the more active we are participating in managing those traits, the better off we will all be resulting in fewer disruptions around the world.”

Syngenta has partnered with Gavilon to make sure farmers growing Duracade are aware of how to strictly adhere to the stewardship program.

Gavilon also guarantees its ability to pick up and purchase any Duracade corn for which an appropriate buyer cannot be found.

Growers with questions about the appropriate marketing of the trait are encouraged to contact their local seed provider or call Gavilon’s Duracade Desk.

 

 

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