The politics of international trade can be tricky business. Just one news headline, one bad shipment or one failed delivery can have a devastating ripple effect for domestic agriculture — particularly when dealing with some of the more demanding, and often fickle, importers of U.S. agricultural products.
With this in mind, and the fact that there are multiple corn traits in production for 2014 that are not approved in all markets around the world, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and the U.S. Grains Council are emphasizing the importance of farmers knowing what they are planting through the “Know before you grow” program.
“’Know before you grow’ is an important page on NCGA’s website. There has been a lot of discussion with the trade and current events of importers of our corn and the restrictions they are placing on our ability to have new traits. ‘Know before you grow’ is the place for NCGA members to learn what is out there that is available and any of the restrictions that go along with the new products,” said John Linder, with the Ohio Corn Marketing Program, who serves on the NCGA Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Team.
… Continue reading