NCGA Asks Seed Companies to Promote WRM, IRM and Know Before You Grow (11-30-05)

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is enlisting the help of seed companies to promote the Weed Resistance Management (WRM) and Insect Resistance Management (IRM) learning centers, which are tools that educate corn growers and allow farmers to receive Continuing Education Units, and the Know Before You Grow database.

Paul Bertels, NCGA director of biotechnology and economic analysis, sent a letter to more than 300 seed companies asking for them to encourage their sales representatives and customers to visit NCGA’s Web site, www.ncga.com, and use the interactive learning tools. Bertels also pointed out the significance of NCGA’s Know Before You Grow database, which cross references biotech events and approval status in the U.S., Europe and Japan.

Bertels thanked the seed companies for “helping NCGA provide growers with the tools they need, protecting the environment and providing our global customers with the best corn supply in the world.”

NCGA, in conjunction with biotechnology companies, created IRM in 2004 and WRM in 2005. The modules are step-by-step tutorials that educate growers on how to reduce insect and weed resistance to pesticides and herbicides, respectively. The Know Before You Grow database was created in 2001.

“NCGA feels IRM and WRM are the best way to get resistance information to our growers, and the Know Before You Grow database allows growers to check the status of hybrids before planting,” said Martin Barbre, chair of the Biotechnology Working Group. “We need the seed companies to communicate these programs with their customers. Our goal is to ensure that every corn grower knows about insect and weed resistance management and hybrid status, and one way to do that is to enlist the help of the seed companies.”