MINNETONKA, Minn. – August 22, 2011 – Syngenta in North America today filed a complaint in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa against Bunge North America (“Bunge”) for having violated a number of Federal and State laws.  Syngenta alleges Bunge is attempting to block the legal merchandising of the Agrisure Viptera™ trait which was launched in compliance with all U.S. regulatory requirements as well as industry guidelines for commercialization.

“We are taking this action to remove the illegal impediment Bunge imposed on growers when they announced mid-season that they would not accept grain enhanced by the Agrisure Viptera™ trait,” said David Morgan, President, Syngenta Seeds, Inc. “When a product has been legally approved, growers should be able to use that technology without subsequently being subjected to arbitrary actions.”

“Our first priority is growers,” said Morgan.  “Growers inherently face a myriad of risks and Bunge’s decision to change grain specifications when farmers had already planted their corn is unacceptable.   We are working with farmers who are impacted by this decision to help them find alternatives for delivering their grain.”

Syngenta received deregulation from the USDA for the Agrisure Viptera™ trait in April 2010. Since then, the technology has been approved for cultivation in Canada, Argentina and Brazil, and for import in the key markets of Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, Korea and Taiwan.  Approval of the trait is pending in China and is expected early 2012.

The Agrisure Viptera™ trait provides unsurpassed control of 14 yield- and quality-robbing insects including corn borer, corn rootworm and the multi-pest complex, a collection of insects that cost American corn growers more than $1.1 billion annually in lost yield and grain quality¹.  The trait became commercially available to U.S. corn growers for 2011 planting.

Growers, seed dealers and seed retailers with questions about this matter can send inquiries to Export.Info@syngenta.com or call 800-319-1360 between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday.  Additional information for growers can be found at AgrisureViptera.com/exportinfo.  

People who illegally cross into the United States from Mexico have found success in crossing the border where the land is either privately owned or consists of national forests, national monuments, wilderness areas, reservations and wildlife refuges. Many of those areas are protected by laws that make it more difficult for border patrol agents to secure the border – in some cases – preventing them from using motorized vehicles. On Friday – the House Committee on Natural Resources held a hearing on H.R. 1505 – the National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act. In his testimony – Dr. Gary Thrasher – a rancher and veterinarian from southern Arizona – called the bill an important piece of legislation needed to protect the sovereignty and security of the border region, its federal lands and refuges, as well as the nation’s security.

Thrasher said the situation is growing more serious. He added that those like him – who live and work in remote smuggling corridors – are left the most vulnerable. He says they are confronted with threats; damage and destruction of property; theft; break-ins; and serious disruption of necessary ranch work almost daily. Thrasher said there has also been severe environmental degradation on these lands.

The legislation would allow U.S. Border Patrol immediate access to federal lands and the ability to construct and maintain roads and place surveillance equipment in strategic areas to assist in detecting and apprehending criminals.

Missouri Representative Sam Graves says USDA’s proposed GIPSA rule could significantly alter livestock marketing practices and further inject government into the marketing and business decisions of small businesses. Graves says many of the proposed provisions will severely undermine the ability of small businesses to differentiate their products from those of their larger competitors – and it will mean less competition for livestock producers, packers and consumers. Graves adds the proposed rule may also force changes to a company’s asset structure and lead to more vertical integration.

The rule was prompted by the 2008 Farm Bill – but according to Graves – what was proposed by USDA went far beyond the intent of Congress. If implemented – he says the rule would hurt the beef, pork and poultry industries – and further damage our already unstable economy. Independent studies have shown the rule will reduce the gross domestic product by over 1.5-billion dollars and cost the U.S. economy nearly 23-thousand jobs.

Graves – who is Chairman of the House Small Business Committee – has joined Agriculture, Energy and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Scott Tipton of Colorado in sending a letter to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack calling on the agency to fully comply with the Regulatory Flexibility Act and ensure that USDA understands the private sector costs of the regulations it is imposing on all sectors within the livestock industry. The letter also requests that USDA publish their analysis for comment to ensure small firms can inform the agency about its effect on their businesses.

The U.S. Grains Council and the United Sorghum Checkoff Program have succeeded in a year-long effort to resolve trade issues that have made it difficult to sell U.S. sorghum to Europe. The problem was the EU levy system – which was becoming increasingly archaic when it came to establishing a reference price for sorghum. Because of the system – the levy on U.S. sorghum inched up – pushing sorghum prices in Europe higher than the price of corn on occasion.

According to Cary Sifferath – USGC Regional Director for the Mediterranean and Africa – the problem was the EU needed a different reference. After issuing a white paper that showed how sorghum correlated better with #2 corn than with barley – the Council petitioned the EU for a rule change. That new rule is now in place and the Chicago Board of Trade price of corn will now be the reference point for determining the sorghum levy.

Sifferath emphasized that when Europe is short of grain – the sorghum levy will be calculated on a realistic basis that reflects real-world prices. Whatever the market dictates – the sorghum levy will reflect it – and European buyers should be able to import sorghum readily – without weeks of dispute over the levy.