 |
| NCGA Chairman
Fred Yoder, left, meets with Rep. Frank D. Lucas (R-Okla.),
chairman of the Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Rural
Development and Research after Yoder’s testimony before
the subcommittee on Wednesday. |
NCGA’s
Yoder Testifies for Aggressive Agriculture Biotechnology Program
(6-24-04)
Testifying
before the House Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Rural
Development and Research Wednesday, National Corn Growers
Association Chair Fred Yoder noted wide grower acceptance
of agriculture biotechnology and the need to maintain an aggressive
national program.
“NCGA strongly believes biotechnology offers corn growers
improved efficiencies and potential profits when managed wisely
and with regulatory oversight based on sound science,” said
Yoder. “Introduction of biotechnology and of new hybrids
of corn and their proliferation across the Corn Belt is redefining
current systems of price discovery, consumer information, health
regulation and trade management.”
Noting corn is the largest
crop in the United States, with more than 79 million acres planted
in 2003 producing 10 billion bushels
of grain, Yoder said corn acreage is likely to increase this year
with nearly half devoted to hybrids derived from biotechnology. “Corn
producers across the country are already learning about benefits
of biotechnology and we expect acceptance rates to continue to
climb.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates 46 percent of the
corn crop will be planted with biotech varieties this year. That
is up from 40 percent in 2003.
Citing acceptance rates
for agriculture biotech in corn and other crops, Yoder noted
acceptance rests primarily on the economic and
environmental benefits associated with biotechnology. “Innovations
in the first wave of agriculture biotech relied on single agronomic
traits focused on crop production and pest management,” He
added the future of agriculture biotech is “exciting and
rich with promise” and that the second wave of innovations
will focus on output traits and products designed to benefit consumers
directly.
Yoder concluded corn
growers have a unique opportunity to take part in one of the
most important changes in agriculture in history,
adding the development of agriculture biotech offers a “fantastic
opportunity” for increasing the value of the corn crop, as
well as significantly benefiting consumers
“Together, we can ensure U.S. agriculture remains a leader
in technological innovation and production of corn,” Yoder
said. “To be sure, the future of agriculture biotechnology
is filled with uncertainty, but we stand ready to confront the
challenges that await us. We have so much to lose if we do not
move ahead.”
To read Yoder’s
testimony in its entirety, click here.