Corn growers should properly channel Market Choices-labeled grain

ST. LOUIS – The National Corn Growers Association is reminding growers of the importance of developing marketing plans for grain with the Market Choices logo, which helps growers and grain handlers identify non-European Union approved corn hybrids.
Logo. Traits with the Market Choices logo are fully approved for food and feed use in the U.S., but may not be in some countries. As a result, these hybrids may require separation when delivered to a local elevator and prohibited from entering exported grain.
“It is important that growers who planted these hybrids develop a marketing plan for the grain,” said Martin Barbre, chairman of the NCGA Biotechnology Working Group.
“Growers who still need help finding an approved market for any hybrids bearing the Market Choices logo should contact their seed dealer, the American Seed Trade Association or the Know Where To Go site at www.ncga.com.”
Types. Some examples of a hybrid bearing the Market Choices logo are Herculex Rootworm, YieldGard Plus or AgriSure GT/CB.
These technologies all have full regulatory approvals in the U.S., Japan and several other major markets, but it still lack approvals for import into European Union. The European Union is a leading market for corn gluten feed, and a growing market for distillers dried grains.
To protect the European Union feed market, many wet mills will not accept grain produced from Market Choices hybrids.
Likewise, ethanol dry mills that may export distillers dried grains to the European Unions may also refuse to accept this grain.
Ideally, the best way to use Market Choices-labeled grain is to feed it on farm or contract directly to a livestock feeder, Barbre said.