Troubleshooting Traits

By Pam Smith
DTN Progressive Farmer Crops Technology Editor

DECATUR, Ill. (DTN) -- The information war on corn traits continues. Reports this week that China rejected additional shipments of corn containing the genetically-engineered insect trait from Syngenta called Viptera serves as another wakeup call. While trade and international politics complicate the trait acceptance issue, the main message for farmers this spring is clear: Know what traits are in the seed you plant because it could influence how you market grain this fall.

There has been no shortage of news coverage of GE trait acceptance -- or lack of it -- by China and other importers. Despite that information, reader mail into DTN/The Progressive Farmer offices and conversations with growers show there is still confusion over what it means to farmers who plant traits that aren't approved globally.

So here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

-- What corn traits are involved?

Syngenta Viptera (MIR 162), an aboveground insect trait, does not have approval in China.

Syngenta Duracade (Event 5307), a new rootworm insect trait, does not have approval in China or the European Union (EU).

Two other traits are also on the watchlist, but are of slightly less concern because they do not have EU clearances: Monsanto Genuity DroughtGard (MON 87460), drought trait from Monsanto, does not have approval for import into the EU; Syngenta Enogen (Event 3272), a trait specific to ethanol production, does not have approval in the EU, but most of that corn is being grown under contract and goes directly to ethanol plants.

A good place to monitor corn trait acceptance is the National Corn Growers Association Know Before You Grow Website: http://www.ncga.com/….

-- How do I tell if seed contains these traits?

The technology should be indicated on the tag attached to the bag and in the technology agreements you sign.

Keep in mind that some traits may be licensed to other seed companies. Viptera, for example, was first approved for sale in 2010 and has been widely licensed for sale in the U.S., Canada and South America. "There are 100 licensees of Viptera in this country [U.S.]," said David Morgan, president of Syngenta Seeds, in an interview with DTN.

Duracade is a new trait for 2014 that will be sold in a limited geography mostly in Golden Harvest and NK Brand seed. However, Syngenta has also licensed the Duracade trait to some other seed companies. You can find details about that here: http://tinyurl.com/…

-- What's the chance these traits could be approved by harvest?

Paul Minehart, Syngenta head of corporate communications for North America, told DTN in an email this week that the Chinese biosafety committee meets several items a year to review dossiers. "They are scheduled to meet in April, and we hope that Agrisure Viptera will be on the agenda, as we provided responses to their questions from their November 2013 meeting," said Minehart.

"We submitted the Agrisure Duracade dossier in March 2013 for Chinese review. Their normal process is about two years (although we have been waiting for Viptera for more than four years now). So, we don't expect a decision on Agrisure Duracade until 2015 at the earliest."

What are grain companies saying about buying these traits? Most major grain companies have issued statements about what they will and won't take this fall. Those policies could change if further regulatory hurdles are cleared before harvest.

Syngenta has made special arrangements with Gavilon Grain Company to accept grain produced from Duracade hybrids. See DTN's story here: http://tinyurl.com/…

Jackie Anderson, Archer Daniels Midland spokesperson, told DTN by email: "Because of the importance of exports to American agriculture, ADM will not accept, against any export or domestic processing contract, any commodity that contains the Duracade trait, unless it is approved in all of our major export markets. For now, we reserve the right to test deliveries and decline those that contain Duracade. As for Viptera, if producers or suppliers intend to deliver to our interior elevators any product containing that trait, we ask that they notify us ahead of time."

Mark Klein, Cargill spokesperson, told DTN: "At our grain elevators, we will continue to ask farmer customers to give us advance notice if they will deliver Viptera. This coming crop year, we are asking the same for Duracade. We will then try to find a market for the corn.

"For export contracts, we will not accept delivery of any commodity containing the Duracade trait. Cargill reserves the right to reject and/or require testing of deliveries and any acceptance, rejection, or testing for the presence of Duracade will be determined by Cargill in its sole discretion at the time of delivery."

Hybrids containing traits that are approved in China, but not in the EU, don't elicit quite the same concern. "In terms of bulk corn shipments, since the '80s corn imports by EU countries have declined steadily as the Common Agricultural Policy limited grain imports and EU membership expanded," Klein said. "On the other hand, Asian markets and some Latin American countries now make up the top 10 destinations. EU approval still has relevance, notably for ingredients derived from corn. I believe corn wet-milling plants have a long-standing policy of having an EU requirement.

"I think what's important to farmer customers who deliver to elevators (vs. processing plants or exports) is that they should give us the notice. For export contracts, as we said, we reserve the right to test, etc."

-- What are seed companies telling growers about these traits?

DuPont Pioneer, for example, has planned a limited introduction of Optimum Leptra corn products in the Southern United States for 2014. These products contain Agrisure Viptera. Ryan French, DuPont Pioneer senior marketing manager - technology launch, said the Optimum Leptra hybrids are being introduced in areas where the agronomic conditions demand new insect solutions.

"We are communicating with growers that Optimum Leptra products may not be approved for export to all markets at the time of planting, and that they need to work with their grain buyer to understand options for harvest," French said. He indicated the company has a robust product stewardship process when launching new technologies. The following is what Pioneer is communicating to their growers on this product.

For crops or other material containing Optimum Leptra products, growers must only sell such crops or material to grain handlers that confirm their acceptance or are using crops in such a way that they do not enter the grain channel. There are several ways that growers can meet this stewardship requirement:

Grain may be used on farm for feed.

Grain may be delivered locally for feed, as long as grain will be delivered directly to the feeding location and will not be exported for any reason.

Grain may be delivered to an elevator or ethanol plant that does not allow grain or by-products to enter the export chain.

-- Doesn't pollen drift?

Yes. There are all kinds of procedures that need to be considered if you intend to plant these traits and keep them segregated from the export grain stream -- planter clean up, proper harvest of border rows, even knowing what your neighbor is planting all have to be considered if you don't want to risk running into problems come grain sales time.

For good detail on keeping genetic purity in the field see: https://www.pioneer.com/…

-- Can I swap my seed out if I'm concerned?

Talk to your seed company because policies may differ. Scott Beck, vice president of Beck's Hybrids, told DTN that his company will continue to offer Agrisure Viptera products this year since they are approved in the U.S. "When farmers place their seed order with Beck's, all products, including hybrids containing the Agrisure Viptera trait, are clearly labeled," he said. "At Beck's, customers can make adjustments to their seed order at any time."

Beck noted the company will not be selling Duracade products in 2014. Instead, they will be conduct product testing on that trait and hope to offer it in 2015.

Pamela Smith can be reached at pamela.smith@dtn.com

(GH/AG/CZ)

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