October 17, 2001 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the planting of Bt corn for an additional seven years after a comprehensive scientific review. While the decision was hailed as a
victory by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), the rival American Corn Growers Association (ACGA) continues to urge growers to seek markets for corn that has not been genetically
modified.

Currently registered varieties pose no significant threat to human health nor to monarch butterflies or other species of wildlife, the EPA has determined.

"Bt corn has been evaluated thoroughly by EPA, and we are confident that it does not pose risks to human health or to the environment. Consumers should be
assured that these corn varieties show no signs of any adverse effects to human health," says Stephen L. Johnson, assistant administrator of EPA's Office of
Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances. "The safeguards incorporated into these registrations will ensure that farmers can continue to use an effective,
low-risk pest control alternative, which helps to protect the environment by reducing the amount of conventional pesticides used."

Bt crops contain a gene from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a common soil microbe that produces a toxin which affects only insects in the Lepidoptera family, such as European corn
borer. The effects of the Bt toxin are further limited to insects which actually feed on the plants.

The renewed registrations of five Bt corn products continue to include specific requirements for companies to routinely monitor and collect data to ensure that
the products' continued use does not lead to insect resistance or unexpected human health or environmental effects. In order to ensure that Bt corn continues to be
a safe and effective tool for farmers, EPA has also mandated several provisions to strengthen insect resistance management, to increase research data on potential
environmental effects, and to improve grower education and stewardship.

The EPA decision is a dual win for corn growers, says Leon Corzine, an Assumption, IL, farmer and member of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Biotech Working Group.

"First, it's a win for the science-based regulatory system that NCGA has supported that provides U.S. growers with access to this technology," Corzine says. "Second, the EPA's Insect Resistance
Management (IRM) requirements are based on the initial guidelines NCGA helped EPA develop more than two years
ago and the recommendations NCGA made during the recent EPA comment period.

According to the EPA, the scientific evidence demonstrates that Bt corn does not impact monarch butterfly populations. EPA has also determined that there will be no effects to endangered species
from the use of the currently registered Bt corn products.

In extending the use of Bt corn, EPA has increased environmental and compliance monitoring requirements. Specifically, EPA is requesting additional data on
the persistence of the active protein in soil, field studies on nontarget insects, studies examining long-term effects on monarch butterfly population, an additional
feeding study for bird species, and monitoring of the behavior of particular pest populations and their north-south movement through the country.

Companies marketing Bt corn seed will be required to monitor for the development of insect resistance, provide annual reports on the efficacy of resistance
management plans, and implement remedial action plans in the event that resistance is detected among pest populations. The companies must also educate growers
about the best methods of planting Bt corn to minimize any potential development of insect resistance. To enhance grower stewardship and compliance with the
insect resistance management provisions, all growers must sign contractual grower agreements. These agreements, coupled with the grower guides, set forth the
terms and conditions for use. Companies are now required to implement a system to secure grower agreements prior to receipt of any seed, and to
make the grower agreements available to EPA. To monitor the enhanced requirements, an independent, third-party compliance survey of licenced growers will be
conducted annually for the duration of the registrations.

The companies holding registrations for Bt corn are Monsanto, Syngenta, Pioneer/DuPont and Mycogen/Dow.

"Renewing this registration is great news for the more than 150 seed companies and tens of thousands of U.S. farmers who plant biotech-enhanced
corn hybrids," said Steve Rosenbloom, marketing director for Monsanto's corn genetics. "This technology is reducing farmers' input costs, improving their returns and allowing them to reduce the
amount of insecticide they use while controlling a damaging insect pest."

However, Dan McGuire, director of the ACGTA Farmer Choice-Customer First program, pointed out that Canadian inspectors will begin checking
U.S. corn at the border this week for traces of StarLink seed, the European Union (EU) will implement a traceability program for genetically modified
crops and products, and processors and exporters have announced premiums for unmodified corn.

According to ACGA, the EU continues to import about 2.5 million
metric tons of corn annually, but not from the United States. The EU has steadily decreased its purchases of U.S. corn from
about 2.8 million metric tons in 1995/1996 to the equivalent of only one hold of one ship (6,300
metric tons) in the 2000/2001 marketing year.