BEAN DAY - Northarvest Bean Growers Association

StarLink lessons for Minnesota agriculture
By Gene Hugoson
Minnesota Commissioner
of Agriculture
The fall of 2000 has brought major headaches for
America’s corn growers and the grain handling system.
The recent StarLink corn fiasco sent tremors throughout
our food handling system and with Minnesota corn
growers planting nearly 35,000 acres of StarLink corn
this past year, our state is feeling the aftershocks.
There is already a lot of skepticism around the world
about genetically modified crops. This StarLink episode
could increase that skepticism and hurt our ability to
market our crops internationally. We export about a hird
of our corn crop each year, so anything that makes it
more difficult to attract foreign buyers is very bad news
for Minnesota farmers.
At the end of October, I called upon Aventis to take
all measures necessary to compensate losses farmers
might suffer from the corn. Aventis has agreed ot
pay 25 cents per bushel to farmers who grew StarLink,
but it’s unclear whether those who have comingled
other corn with StarLink or who grew corn pollinated
by StarLink will be eligible for payment.
Aventis claims that most of the StarLink corn has
been tracked down and recovered, but I fear the pub-
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Page 30 NORTHARVEST BEAN GROWER January-February 2001
lic’s confidence in our food regulatory system is deeply
bruised. Aventis has also asked the EPA to approve
the corn for human consumption. While that may solve
some of the immediate problems for Aventis and our
grain dealers, I doubt it will do much to help farmers
who’ve already lost money. It certainly will not alleviate
the public’s concern.
This story is still unfolding, and it’s anyone’s guess
how things will shake out. What can Minnesota farmers
do in the meantine to help themselves? The shortterm
answer is that we need to produce what our
customers want. For years I have argued that it is a
mistake to think those of us who farm are in the business
of growing commodities. Rather, we are in the
business of supply agricultural products to end users.
We need to consider customers preferences when we
make decisions about what crops to plant. If you are
going to deliver grain to an elevator, this means planting
corn Europe and Japan will accept.
With that in mind, I have encouraged Minnesota
corn growers to plant only export-approved seed varieties
for the 2001 growing season unless they plan to
use their grain to feed livestock. We need to reassure
our buyers -- especially our foreign buyers -- that the
products they receive from Minnesota meet their
requirements. This would be to our advantage because
Quality ND Seed
Certified or Registered
Maverick, Frontier, Mayflower, Norstar, Arthur,
T-39 and Black Night
Thanks For Your Business
We also do custom clean, size, treat and bag beans.
Richard H. Fugleberg
RR1 Box 49
Portland, ND 58274
Phone: 701-786-4129
10 miles West on Hwy 200