CORN GROWERS TELL FARMERS NOT TO WAIT ON WTO MEETING  IN  SEATTLE
TO DETERMINE THEIR PLANTING INTENTIONS FOR 2000 

Farmers Should Not Expect Any Decision Concerning GMO foods 

TULSA,   OK….November   19,   1999---The   American  Corn  Growers
Association (ACGA)  is  telling  farmers  that  the  World  Trade
Organization  (WTO)  meeting  in  Seattle is no reason to wait to
purchase their seed for next planting season.  Some farmers  have
been thinking that the WTO meeting, November 30-December 3, would
rectify  the  controversy  over  genetically  modified  organisms
(GMOs).  

“By all indications, consumer resistance to GMOs continues to grow
in Europe, Asia, Australia,  New Zealand and Mexico.  Even Canada
has  begun  expressing  apprehension  over  the  planting of GMO,
calling for the labeling of genetically modified foods,” said Gary
Goldberg,  Chief Executive Officer of the ACGA.  “It is clear that
four  days  in  Seattle will not bring an end to this contentious
debate.” 

The United States government is pushing some sort of  a  solution
to  the  issue  of GMOs at the WTO meeting,  claiming there is no
scientific justification for European or  Asian  restrictions  on
GMO foods.  However,  this message is falling on deaf ears,  with
many countries stating that this upcoming trade  meeting  is  not
the time nor the place to address this issue.  

The American farmer has been placed in the middle of this dispute
between  seed  dealers,   chemical  companies,  grain  exporters,
foreign consumers and the U.S.  government.   In  addition,  they
have  seen  the  uncertainty over export markets lower the prices
they receive for their  grain,  opening  those  markets  for  our
trading competitors.  

John  Richardson,  deputy  head  of  the  European  delegation in
Washington,  DC recently stated that,  “I suspect it may take some
time,  perhaps  it  may  even take a generation for biotech to be
really accepted in Europe.” 

Some  American  University   experts   are   substantiating   the
predictions  made  by  the  ACGA  that farmers will make dramatic
cutbacks in their planting of GMOs for next season.  According to
Steve Sonka of the University of Illinois College of Agriculture,
“we should expect a drop off in both Bt  corn  and  Roundup  Ready
soybeans plantings next year.” 

David Bullock,  Associate Professor, food and agricultural policy
at the University of Illinois pointed out that “This is not  about
European  producers  trying to compete or practice protectionism.
It’s important for U.S.  farm groups to understand  that  this  is
consumer-driven.” 

“It  is  clear  that  if  farmers  have  any  uncertainly over the
availability of a market for GMO crops  next  year  or  questions
over certification,  segregation, cross-pollination or liability,
they should consider planting alternatives.  With  the  consumers
in many countries expressing reservations over the importation of
genetically  modified foods,  U.S.  farmers cannot count on these
export markets for our grain sales.  Nor can they  count  on  the
WTO to alleviate any of this uncertainty,” added Goldberg.  

“The  problem  of  GMOs  will be with us for a long time.  Farmers
need to plant accordingly.  If that means finding alternatives to
GMOs,  those seeds need to be purchased  immediately  while  they
remain available,” concluded Goldberg.