St. Louis, Missouri, USA
January 4, 2010
The U.S. National Corn Growers Association’s Biotechnology Working Group directs research efforts, promotes biotech acceptance and conducts informational campaigns on the benefits of biotechnology in agriculture. In 2010, the team, under the leadership of chairman Rob Korff, moves forward with efforts to promote the benefits of biotechnology while increasing farmer awareness of stewardship issues including the importance of proper refuge compliance.
The Biotechnology Working Group discussed priorities for 2010 during the December 2009 Action Team meetings held in St. Louis. The group hopes to spread the message that biotechnology provides consumers with a plentiful, consistent crop grown with methods that minimize the use of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and irrigation.
“In the past few years, technology to protect a plant’s ability to reach its full potential in adverse conditions has led to increased yield stability,” said Korff. “With these advances comes the responsibility to educate growers on the importance of technology and of what the long term viability of these products means to our industry.”
To protect the viability of these products, Korff’s team will make a priority of stressing the importance of such important practices as refuge compliance.
“In past years, grower education on refuse compliance was our No. 1 priority,” said Korff “This coming spring, refuge guidelines will change for a few products. We want to ensure that growers follow the stewardship guidelines in place to maintain today’s technology until tomorrow’s can take its place.”
Additionally, Korff stressed that, while each team specializes in a specific area to ensure in depth knowledge and analysis of important issues, teamwork as an entire organization is imperative to successfully serving corn growers nationwide.
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