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* American Corn Growers Association *

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For Immediate Release

ACGA.org Newsletter

GROWER SURVEY SHOWS FARMERS REPORT PLANTING

SIX PERCENT FEWER ACRES TO GMO CORN VARIETIES

IN 2001 COMPARED TO 2000

77% Believe U.S. Consumer and Foreign Customer

Concerns Are Important

WASHINGTON July 16, 2001---Completing their third Annual Farmer Survey on

the issue of genetically modified (GMO) crops, the American Corn Growers

Association (ACGA) found that producers reported planting 6 percent fewer

acres to GMO corn

varieties in 2001 than in 2000. The survey, conducted by Robinson and

Muenster Associates,Inc. of Sioux Falls, S.D., polled 509 farmers in

fourteen states from June 14 to June 23. The farmers surveyed reported

planting 526,118 total acres to corn in 2001. The random, scientific survey

has a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percent. Using the June USDA-NASS planted

corn acreage reported for the fourteen states, the survey estimates that

farmers in those major corn growing states, which represent 88 percent of

total U.S. corn acreage, planted 21 percent of their total corn acreage to

GMO corn varieties in 2001.

"Of the growers surveyed, 77 percent feel that consumer and foreign market

concerns about GMOs are very or somewhat important and 78 percent said they

are willing to plant traditional, non-GMO corn varieties instead of biotech

GMO varieties in order to keep world markets open to U.S. corn," said Larry

Mitchell, CEO of the ACGA. "Farmers believe 'the customer is always right',

a pretty basic marketing premise for being successful in business and keep

customers for the future."

"Our analysis revealed that 73.7 percent of the farmers in the survey

believe customer rejection of GMOs contributes to the ongoing low commodity

prices received by corn growers and 56 percent believe Congress should

require the labeling of foods and export cargoes to show GMO levels," said

Dan McGuire, ACGA Policy Committee Chairman. "It appears that farmers are

responding to

concerns about the impact that GMO varieties are having on export markets

like Japan, South Korea and Europe."

"Corn producers have seen recent news reports that the Korean Corn

Processing Association (KOCOPIA) is requesting international trading houses

to replace U.S. corn with non-U.S. sources of corn and will indefinitely

exclude the U.S. as an optional origin at future tender purchases," added

McGuire. This survey reaffirms the fact that the American farmer understands

the importance of providing customers the products they demand. Of the

farmers surveyed, 56 percent are tuned in to the reality that our export

competitors are using non-GMO marketing initiatives."

Survey Results:

Question

On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the most important and 5 being the lest

important, how important is it for you, as a farmer, to take the concerns of

U.S. customers and foreign markets into consideration, when you decide to

plant GMOs?

50.5% - Very Important

26.9% - Somewhat Important

13.2% - Neither Important Nor Not Important At All

4.5% - Somewhat Not Important At All

4.9% - Not Important At All

Question

Did you know that U.S. corn export competitors were taking non-GMO marketing

initiatives?

56.4% - Yes

42.8% - No

0.8% - Don't Know or Refused To Answer

Question

Is the rejection of U.S. GMO corn and soybeans by our largest export

customers contributing to continued low commodity prices?

73.7% - Yes

20.0% - No

6.3% - Don't Know or Refused To Answer

Question

If keeping your customers satisfied and keeping world markets open to U.S.

corn means not planting GMO corn varieties, are you willing to do that?

77.8% - Yes

15.9% - No

6.3% - Don't Know or Refused To Answer

Question

Should the U.S. Congress require labeling as a marketing strategy and sales

tool to instill consumer confidence and promote global markets for U.S.

corn?

55.6% - Yes

30.6% - No

13.8% - Don't Know or Refused To Answer



To View the 2001 Corn Producers Survery:

http://www.acga.org/2001CPS/



Questions or Comments Please Contact:

Dan McGuire

402-770-5273

mailto:acga@acga.org

http://www.acga.org

Larry Mitchell

202-835-0330

mailto:acga@acga.org

http://www.acga.org



Mark Ritchie, President

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

2105 First Ave. South

612-870-3400 office 612-870-4846 fax

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404 U.S.A.

mritchie@iatp.org www.iatp.org

www.wtowatch.org, www.farmbillwatch.org

www.gefoodalert.org, www.sustain.org/biotech