AgWeb.com Editors

Given the strong increase in U.S. corn planting intentions signaled in USDA's Prospective Plantings Report issued March 30, Syngenta has announced it plans to make its Agrisure™ RW corn available to farmers this year for planting to keep up with strong demand and maintain "a healthy balance in grain supply for all markets."

Agrisure™ RW is a new technology that offers built-in control of corn rootworms while maintaining yield potential, the firm notes, adding that it has full approval for planting in the United States.

The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) and North American Export Grain Association (NAEGA) called on Syngenta to hold off allowing farmers to plant the corn this season until Japan and other foreign markets for U.S. corn given their regulatory okay. Here's a link to that story.

Syngenta counters they are seeking full regulatory approval in Japan as well as other major export markets for U.S. corn and corn products. Pending Agrisure RW approval in Japan, Syngenta has implemented a comprehensive grower communication/commitment program.

Consistent with what the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has advised growers, this program is designed to inform all Agrisure RW growers that until Japan approval is granted, grain produced from Agrisure RW hybrids must be directed to domestic uses and away from export channels.

However, NCGA officials advise the following: "This release in violation of NCGA policy and we do not condone it at all. We have advised Syngenta that this is against NCGA policy and they do understand that."

Specifically, Syngenta notes the following actions apply to the Agrisure RW hybrid:

• Garst, Golden Harvest and NK Brand dealers will not deliver seed to any Agrisure RW customer who does not sign a Grain Use/Marketing Commitment agreement stating they commit to deliver Agrisure RW grain only to non-export locations and provide the name and address of the end-use location.
  
• Growers will also be required to sign a stewardship agreement confirming they understand their obligations to market the grain appropriately.
  
• Agrisure RW seed will carry a bag tag that states the product does not have Japanese approval and must be directed to domestic uses.
  
• During the season, additional communication will be sent to these growers reminding them of their obligations to only market Agrisure RW grain to domestic end-uses.
  
• Syngenta will use a third party resource to identify end-use locations that do not export corn (approximately 1,600 sites have previously been identified for growers) and will work with growers to provide additional grain placement assistance to any grower unable to deliver to an approved end-use location.