Demand Grows For Non-GMO Seed

2014 - Volume #38, Issue #3, Page #19

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Seed companies large, medium and small report that demand for non-GMO seed is growing, and it’s not all driven by anti-GMO sentiment. Masters Choice, headquartered in Illinois and marketed in 48 states, is one example, says Scott Harris, sales manager.
  “The reason farmers are going non-GMO is financial rather than emotional or philosophical,” says Harris. “They are asking why they should pay a premium for traits that now have resistant weeds and insects. The premiums being paid for non-GMO grain also play a role. In some cases, farmers are saving $85 per bag of seed and getting a 90¢/bu. premium on corn and a $2/bu. premium on soybeans.”
  Daniel Jones, manager at DuPont Pioneer Food & Industry Markets, says non-GMO seed demand is up for corn and soybeans. He cites stable to slightly expanded export demand, as well as some increased domestic demand.
  “Increased domestic demand appears to be in reaction to potential biotech food labeling in the U.S.,” says Jones. “Some farmers seem to be testing going back to a portion or all of their production using traditional non-biotech seeds. And some increased demand is due to the increase in organic acres.”
  One reason even conventional growers are comfortable switching back to non-GMO seed is equal or better yield. Scott Odle, Spectrum Seeds, reports that his non-GMO hybrids produced yields as good or better than GMO hybrids.
  Bruce Ceranske, co-owner, Legacy Seeds, reports slightly stronger demand for non-GMO seed, if not as much as expected.
  “Given lower commodity prices, we thought farmers would back off on added trait hybrids,” says Ceranske. “We thought we would see more demand. We sell a fair amount of conventional hybrids and varieties, but we still have plenty available.”
  Genesys Grain Genetics announced non-GMO seed availability this past fall. Co-founder Jeff Littrell says demand is about what was projected, though he too expected more growers to switch due to trait failure and low margins. He does report increased interest from buyers of non-GMO grain.
  “We are hearing from major food companies who are looking for non-GMO grain to buy,” says Littrell.
  Cheerios from General Mills and Grape-Nuts from Post are now GMO-free, with Post considering making more cereals with non-GMO ingredients. The Non-GMO Project reports more than 14,000 food products with sales totaling more than $5 billion have been certified GMO-free.
  Meat giant Tyson and Perdue Farms are reportedly investigating marketing non-GMO fed poultry. Multi-state Murray’s Chicken is already offering certified non-GMO chicken through east coast supermarkets. Cargill, ADM and a host of smaller grain companies pay premiums for non-GMO grain. Even an ethanol plant in one area has had to match premiums offered at local elevators in order to get corn, reports Harris. He says livestock producers are also demanding non-GMO feed.
  “Livestock producers planting our non-GMO seed say they are getting improved herd health and higher production when feeding non-GMO grain,” says Harris. “Dairies report increased milk and higher protein and fat, and swine producers report improved rate of gain and feed efficiency.”
  Harris reports Masters Choice has seen exponential growth over the past 8 years with non-GMO seed accounting for 70 percent of yearly sales.
  Odle reports sales of non-GMO Spectrum Seeds nearly doubling annually since the company started. Spectrum now markets its seed in more than 30 states.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Masters Choice, 3010 State Route 146 East, Anna, Ill. 62906 (ph 866 444-1044; info@seedcorn.com; www.seedcorn.com); or Legacy Seeds, Inc., 290 Depot St., P.O. Box 68, Scandinavia, Wis. 54977 (ph 866 791-6390; www.legacyseeds.com); or Spectrum Premium Genetics, 220 S. Main St.,  P.O. Box 7,  Linden, Ind. 47955 (ph 866 400-9468; www.spectrumseed.com); or Genesys Grain Genetics, 2510 Hwy. 63 NE, P.O. Box 157, Stewartville, Minn. 55976 (ph 507 533-7855; www.genesysgrain.com); or DuPont Pioneer, 7100 NW 62nd Ave., P.O. Box 1150, Johnston, Iowa 50131 (www.pioneer.com).

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Demand Grows For Non-GMO Seed CROPS Miscellaneous Seed companies large medium and small report that demand for non-GMO seed is growing and it’s not all driven by anti-GMO sentiment Masters Choice headquartered in Illinois and marketed in 48 states is one example says Scott Harris sales manager “The reason farmers are going non-GMO is financial rather than emotional or philosophical ” says Harris “They are asking why they should pay a premium for traits that now have resistant weeds and insects The premiums being paid for non-GMO grain also play a role In some cases farmers are saving $85 per bag of seed and getting a 90¢/bu premium on corn and a $2/bu premium on soybeans ” Daniel Jones manager at DuPont Pioneer Food & Industry Markets says non-GMO seed demand is up for corn and soybeans He cites stable to slightly expanded export demand as well as some increased domestic demand “Increased domestic demand appears to be in reaction to potential biotech food labeling in the U S ” says Jones “Some farmers seem to be testing going back to a portion or all of their production using traditional non-biotech seeds And some increased demand is due to the increase in organic acres ” One reason even conventional growers are comfortable switching back to non-GMO seed is equal or better yield Scott Odle Spectrum Seeds reports that his non-GMO hybrids produced yields as good or better than GMO hybrids Bruce Ceranske co-owner Legacy Seeds reports slightly stronger demand for non-GMO seed if not as much as expected “Given lower commodity prices we thought farmers would back off on added trait hybrids ” says Ceranske “We thought we would see more demand We sell a fair amount of conventional hybrids and varieties but we still have plenty available ” Genesys Grain Genetics announced non-GMO seed availability this past fall Co-founder Jeff Littrell says demand is about what was projected though he too expected more growers to switch due to trait failure and low margins He does report increased interest from buyers of non-GMO grain “We are hearing from major food companies who are looking for non-GMO grain to buy ” says Littrell Cheerios from General Mills and Grape-Nuts from Post are now GMO-free with Post considering making more cereals with non-GMO ingredients The Non-GMO Project reports more than 14 000 food products with sales totaling more than $5 billion have been certified GMO-free Meat giant Tyson and Perdue Farms are reportedly investigating marketing non-GMO fed poultry Multi-state Murray’s Chicken is already offering certified non-GMO chicken through east coast supermarkets Cargill ADM and a host of smaller grain companies pay premiums for non-GMO grain Even an ethanol plant in one area has had to match premiums offered at local elevators in order to get corn reports Harris He says livestock producers are also demanding non-GMO feed “Livestock producers planting our non-GMO seed say they are getting improved herd health and higher production when feeding non-GMO grain ” says Harris “Dairies report increased milk and higher protein and fat and swine producers report improved rate of gain and feed efficiency ” Harris reports Masters Choice has seen exponential growth over the past 8 years with non-GMO seed accounting for 70 percent of yearly sales Odle reports sales of non-GMO Spectrum Seeds nearly doubling annually since the company started Spectrum now markets its seed in more than 30 states Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Masters Choice 3010 State Route 146 East Anna Ill 62906 ph 866 444-1044; info@seedcorn com; www seedcorn com ; or Legacy Seeds Inc 290 Depot St P O Box 68 Scandinavia Wis 54977 ph 866 791-6390; www legacyseeds com ; or Spectrum Premium Genetics 220 S Main St   P O Box 7   Linden Ind 47955 ph 866 400-9468; www spectrumseed com ; or Genesys Grain Genetics 2510 Hwy 63 NE P O Box 157 Stewartville Minn 55976 ph 507 533-7855; www genesysgrain com ; or DuPont Pioneer 7100 NW 62nd Ave P O Box 1150 Johnston Iowa 50131 www pioneer com

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