Kansas corn producers should follow a pre-planting checklist to protect themselves and their markets from problems with biotech corn hybrids.

First, growers should follow the advice we’ve been giving for the past four years.
Know Before You Grow when you’re planting corn hybrids that are enhanced with biotechnology. Growers should talk to their seed dealer to find out if the biotech hybrid they are planting is approved for export. If it is not approved for export, that corn needs to stay in domestic feed channels.

Some new Know Before You Grow advice is also offered to producers. Ask your certified seed company to verify that the hybrids being sold have been tested for the presence of Cry9C, the StarLink Bt. StarLink hybrids are no longer on the market, and  seed companies must be able to certify that the StarLink protein is not present in any of their hybrids.

Bt corn growers also must follow EPA’s required Insect Resistance Management plan. Farmers in the Corn Belt who plant Bt corn are required to plant refuges of at least 20 percent of their acreage with conventional corn. Information on the IRM Plan can be can be found on the NCGA web site at www.ncga.com, or by calling KCC at 800-489-2676.

• Talk to your seed dealer to find out if the biotech hybrid you are buying is approved for export.

• Read and understand any grower agreements that accompany your seed.

• Insist upon seed that has been certified free of the Cry9C gene.

• Know where you are going to market your corn in the fall. Talk to your buyers. Make sure any corn not approved for export is sold for livestock feed.

• Make sure you use the Insect Resistance Management Plan required by EPA for Bt corn. Information on the IRM plan can be can be found at www.ncga.com or by calling KCGA.

• Stay informed through grower publications and through KCGA. For more information, call KCGA at 800-489-2676.