01/15/09 Drought tolerant biotech corn getting closer

Farm and Ranch January 15, 2009 The National Association of Wheat Growers has been surveying producers on their positions regarding transgenic wheat. National wheat industry organizations have decided it is time to move forward on getting biotech wheat developed and commercialized and want to show the biotech industry producers are supportive. One reason to move ahead is to keep wheat from losing more acres to the production of other crops such as corn, which have transgenic traits. Now comes news from Monsanto that the world's first-ever drought tolerant corn is one step closer to grower fields. Monsanto Biotechnology Lead Steve Padgette says the product moved into the fourth and final phase in December and market launch is anticipated early in the next decade. Padgette: "This product is designed to provide farmers with yield stability during periods of scarce water supply by mitigating the effects of drought. In field trials in the western Great Plains last year drought tolerant corn met or exceeded the 6-10% target yield enhancement, and this is about 7-10 bushels an acre, over the average yield of 70 to 130 bushels an acre in these key drought prone areas of the United States." Monsanto has submitted the drought tolerant corn product to the Food and Drug Administration for regulatory clearance. USDA approval must also be given for the U.S. and then also approval from countries that import U.S. corn. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.