Growers for Wheat Biotechnology Organizes

A group of grain farmers from North Dakota, Montana, and Minnesota organized a new group earlier this year, Growers for Wheat Biotechnology Inc., to advocate the research, development and acceptance of biotechnology in wheat.

“For those of us who believe that biotechnology is a promising tool to keep our industry viable, we felt there was a need for a voice to tell the positive side of the story,” said Al Skogen, a Valley City, N.D., farmer and chairman of the group. “We felt it was no longer acceptable to stand by and allow others to influence producer and public opinion without a reasonable discussion about the sound science, and tangible economic and environmental benefits that could be gained with biotechnology in wheat.”

The group issues news releases and editorials to counter misinformation by anti-biotech activists, and speaks to groups, organizations, and meetings to give a producer perspective on how biotechnology can benefit the wheat industry.

Skogen points out that if wheat growers don’t support the development of biotechnology, further R&D in wheat technology could vanish, as evidenced by Monsanto’s decision to shelve Round-Up Ready wheat. He contends that if research on wheat continues to fall behind the leading biotech crops now being grown, the technology gap will do nothing to encourage wheat acres and better market opportunities or efficiencies over the long run.

Producers involved with the effort are Skogen, Kim Murray, Froid, Mont.; Mike Waters, Froid, Mont.; Bruce Freitag, Scranton, N.D.; Doyle Lentz, Rolla, N.D.; Terry Wanzek, Jamestown, N.D.; Jeff Topp, Grace City, N.D.; Tom Anderson, Barnesville, Minn.; and Paul Aasness, Fergus Falls, Minn. The group’s web site: www.growersforwheatbiotechnology.org.

USGC Launches Online Biotechnology Resource Center

The U.S. Grains Council recently launched a new online Biotechnology Resource Center, an information hub providing science-based information about biotechnology for decision-makers, consumers and journalists worldwide. It can be accessed at www.grains.org/brc or by clicking on an icon found on the Council’s web site homepage at www.grains.org.

Two new USGC publications are located at the site – “Agricultural Biotechnology: 25 Frequently Asked Questions (That Are Not Frequently Answered)” and “U.S. Farmer Perspectives on Biotechnology,” produced in cooperation with the National Corn Growers Association.

The U.S. Grains Council works to build and expand international markets for U.S. barley, corn, grain sorghum and their products around the world.