FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 23, 2007

CONTACT: Becky Grisham, Missouri Corn Growers Association, (573) 893-4181 or (800) 827-4181

CORN GROWERS URGE CAREFUL MARKETING OF NEW BIOTECHNOLOGY TRAIT

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.)--The Missouri Corn Growers Association (MCGA) mailed letters to its membership today encouraging proper stewardship of new biotechnology as it enters the marketplace. In the correspondence, MCGA President Mike Geske advises growers planting Syngenta’s Agrisure RW MIR 604 technology to develop alternative marketing plans for this grain as it has not yet received full regulatory approval in any export market.

"Missouri Corn wants you to be informed of the necessary precautions and options available in order to protect corn markets this fall," said Geske. "At this time, corn produced from the newly-introduced hybrid is only approved for use in local markets. In order to ensure that this corn doesn’t end up in unapproved markets, the recommended plan of action would be for growers to feed it to their livestock or sell it to a feed mill that services domestic markets."

Syngenta seed companies releasing hybrids with the Agrisure RW technology for planting this spring in the U.S. are NK Brands, Golden Harvest and Garst. Agrisure RW MIR 604 received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on March 16, 2007.

In his letter to growers, Geske stresses that Agrisure RW MIR 604 is not yet approved in any other country. He also cautions farmers to be aware of corn products that could be channeled into export markets.

"A good example would be marketing your corn to an ethanol plant," wrote Geske. "Distillers grains from these plants often go into export markets such as rail to Mexico or river to export ports going to Japan or Taiwan. Communicating with your grain buyer prior to planting and especially before delivery is important to ensure that no corn containing the unapproved trait ends up in another country."

Several grain elevators are issuing letters stating their intent not to accept Agrisure RW MIR 604 corn. Geske urged growers to talk frequently with their elevator, feed mill or ethanol plant prior to delivery. Producers who have questions or need to confirm a delivery point can call Syngenta toll free at 1-866-Syngent or 1-866-796-4368.