Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 Page 98 Page 99 Page 100 Page 101 Page 102 Page 103 Page 104 Page 105 Page 106 Page 107 Page 108 Page 109 Page 110 Page 111 Page 112 Page 113 Page 114 Page 115 Page 116 Page 117 Page 118 Page 119 Page 120 Page 121 Page 122 Page 123 Page 124 Page 125 Page 126 Page 127 Page 128 Page 129 Page 130 Page 131 Page 132 Page 133 Page 134 Page 135 Page 136 Page 137 Page 138 Page 139 Page 140 Page 141 Page 142 Page 143 Page 144 Page 145 Page 146 Page 147 Page 148132 / SEEDWORLD.COM DECEMBER 2016 Exploring ideas and views on all aspects of the seed industry. SURVEY DIALS IN ON GM CROPS Attitudes toward genetically engineered crops have softened significantly during the past two years, according to a survey conducted in the United Kingdom by Populus for Bayer. The online survey involved more than 2,000 respondents. From the survey, two-thirds of participants expressed their support for GM food as long as these products do not cause harm to public health or the environment. Furthermore, 44 percent said that they accept the crops in principle, while 10 percent believe that GM food is the only solution to feed the growing population. A small portion (27 percent) of the respondents claimed that they do not accept the methods involved in producing GM food. When asked about the importance of farmers to the economy and way of life, 95 percent of respondents said farmers are important. USDA PREDICTS RECORD CORN YIELD Corn farmers might set a new record national average yield should the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s November World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates Report be realized. With a forecast yield of 175.3 bushels per acre and forecast record production, average corn prices rose 5 cents, given raised demand forecasts. “The farm economy continues to struggle, making it imperative that we work to encourage and grow corn markets wherever possible,” says Wesley Spurlock, National Corn Growers Association president and farmer from Statford, Texas. “For much of agriculture, trade presents an important, even critical, opportunity. This is why NCGA will continue efforts to encourage our elected officials to open export markets and improve access through support of the Trans Pacific Partnership. Estimated use by the ethanol industry was raised by 25 million bushels from October, with non-ethanol food, seed and industrial use raised by an additional 60 million bushels over that period. Export use held steady at 2.225 billion bushels. If realized, this would be the first time U.S. corn exports have exceeded 2 billion bushels since the 2007/08 crop year, and it would mark the fifth-highest level of corn exports since 1980. CROP INSURANCE REMAINS NO. 1 ISSUE FOR FARMERS With the next farm bill right around the corner, Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) are touting crop insurance as an essential risk management tool. “This is the No. 1 issue that farmers talk to [Sen. Grassley] and to myself about … all throughout farm country … all of us know … we have to protect crop insurance — it’s the No. 1 tool in the risk management toolbox that farmers must have,” says Sen. Roberts. “It’s a great program and it’s terribly important.” Sen. Grassley, who has been outspoken about the importance of crop insurance to eastern Iowa in the wake of severe flooding, notes that crop insurance, which is partially funded by farmers and delivered by the private sector, works for both producers and taxpayers. “If you have a hurricane, a flood, tornadoes — all the natural disasters you can have — when the federal government comes in … it’s 100 percent paid by taxpayers. But with crop insurance, the farmers are paying into it, and you are buying ahead, and you are trying to manage your risk,” explains Sen. Grassley. “It’s such a smarter way to do it than going back to the old [ad hoc disaster] system.”