Be aware of the following announcement from BNSF Ag Products:

Shipping Products Containing Agrisure RW (MIR 604)

Effective May 1, 2007, and until further notice, BNSF will not accept for transportation any carloads of corn or corn products containing Agrisure RW (MIR 604). Any customer shipping a carload of corn or corn products containing any amount of Agrisure RW (MIR 604) shall be responsible for any damages to BNSF resulting from the shipment of the carload containing that product.

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Be aware of the following posted on the National Corn Growers site, www.ncga.com

 NCGA Reminds Growers Agrisure RW Hybrids Are Unapproved in Japan , Most Major Markets

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) reminds corn farmers that Syngenta’s Agrisure RW MIR 604 technology lacks full approvals in most major export markets, including Japan .  In March, NCGA requested that Syngenta withhold Agrisure RW hybrids from the market this planting season, citing lack of Japanese approval. It is uncertain this trait will receive Japanese approvals prior to the 2007 harvest. Agrisure RW and stacks have full approvals in the United States .

Syngenta is requiring farmers to identify the planned end use of the grain prior to receiving the seed. NCGA strongly recommends growers who intend to market this grain off-farm to contact their delivery point to ensure it will still accept this corn if Japanese approvals are not granted.  “Over the past several weeks, we have seen a number of elevators and grain companies change their acceptance policy regarding Agrisure RW hybrids and stacks containing Agrisure RW,” NGCA President Ken McCauley noted.

In addition, farmers should be cognizant of cross-pollination issues. The easiest way to minimize the risk from cross-pollination is to plant buffers around the field or harvest and market the first few rows of adjoining corn with the non-approved hybrids. Farmers should also remember to clean out planters adequately prior to planting other fields.

Agrisure RW and stacks are available through NK Brands, Garst and Golden Harvest. For more information on hybrid numbers and approval status, growers can check NCGA’s Know Before You Grow™. Information on NCGA’s biotechnology policy can also be found on the Web site.

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The Minnesota Ag Dept had stopped the sale of Agrisure RW MIR 604 and Dow AgroSciences DAS-59122-7, citing lack of regulatory permission.  Both have now been granted the commercial use exemption.  The DAS-59122-7 is a rootworm resistant trait found in some Pioneer and Mycogen brand seed.  The MN Grain & Feed Assoc says “the Dow product didn’t pose the same threat to the grain market as Agrisure, since this variety has already been approved in nearly all the major export markets ( Europe pending)”

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Managers might want to review their contracts and other documents to be sure those have the right language about what is acceptable and what is not.