Rice Producer Alerts Archives

Previously Released Updates and Alerts

Rice Producer Update Alert
No. 2 August 29, 2006

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In our effort to keep rice farmers informed of the developments concerning the Bayer LLRice 601 contamination crisis we bring you the following update. We maintain that this effort is to provide information that we believe to be correct. There continues to be a considerable amount of mis-information and it is important to continue avoiding mistakes. As previously stated, if we make errors, please let us know. At the same time if you have information of interest to rice producers on this issue, please send it to us.

Few or No Bids on Rice in Texas

Rice producers in Texas report few if any of the mills are bidding on rice. In part this hesitation on the part of buyers is no doubt due to uncertainty in the market as a result of the LL601 situation. But it may be attributable to other factors as well, including efforts by the mills to adjust handling and processing regimens to cope with the new market realities brought on by the presence of LL601. We are of course disappointed that these buyers have abandoned producers at this critical time, but hopeful that once certain adjustments are made buying activity will resume at reasonable prices.

Widespread Positive Tests

Reports from within the milling and export industry indicate widespread positive results throughout the gulf and delta rice regions in both ’05 and ’06 crops. In addition to comments previously mentioned varieties sources now indicate positive tests in the variety Clearfield 161. As of this time we have not heard of any hybrid rice with a positive test.

Relation to Bt10 Corn

USRPA Washington Counsel Fred Clark met with Syngenta representatives this week to learn more about how Syngenta handled their responsibilities related to the Bt10 GMO event in corn. Fred reports that Syngenta made special efforts to address issues at the seed dealer, producer, marketer and exporter levels, and that some of these efforts continue years after the initial event. Grain trading firms and other related parties also report good cooperation with Syngenta in this regard. We can only hope that Bayer CropScience takes a page from Syngenta’s playbook in acting responsibly to help the industry work through the LL Rice 601 event.

Caution on “False Positives” Results

Reminder that for any producers or others using the strip tests as a screen, be aware that the results may be subject to false positives. Additional testing methods that are not approved by GIPSA and not official are not recommended. Although we have not heard officially except from two labs, we assume that all five laboratories licensed by Bayer to do the testing have completed their approval process. Again the five labs are found at the following website: www.bayercropscience.com/bioscience. Tomorrow we expect to make some procedural tips to assist farmers with testing in a way that is beneficial to them.

September Rough Rice Futures

September rough rice futures fell another 9.5 cents per hundredweight today, to $8.93. This means that since the announcement regarding the discovery of Liberty Link 601 in US long grain rice was made on Friday, August 18th , the value of the US long grain rice crop at the farm gate has fallen by about $135 million.

Emphasis On No Human Health, Food Safety or Environmental Concerns

The USRPA will continue to work with the Rice Federation to send an accurate and positive message that the rice supply of the U.S. is safe for use in food, feed supply and safe in the environment. As stated by the USDA and the FDA, the protein found in LL601 is approved in other products and has been repeatedly and thoroughly scientifically reviewed and used safely in food and feed, cultivation, import and breeding in the U.S., as well as nearly a dozen other countries around the world.

Rough Rice Futures (RR)

06Sep 893'0 -09'5
06Nov 922'5 -09'5
07Jan 949'0 -06'0
07Mar 973'0 -02'0
07May 1000'0 -02'0
07Jul 1026'0 -01’0

---------------- “If you are going through hell, keep going.” --Winston Churchill

Rice Producer Update Alert
No. 1 August 24, 2006

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With the fast-moving developments related to the presence of the genetically engineered “LLR601” protein in some long grain rice, USRPA has decided to issue frequent alerts in an effort to keep producers up to date. We are going to let you know what we believe to be correct as soon as we know it. If we make errors, please let us know. In the weeks ahead, please do funnel any information that may of use to producers to USRPA for publication in the update.

USDA Validates “PCR” Test for Presence of LLR601 Protein

Press reports confirm that GIPSA late this morning “validated” the Bayer testing method at its lab in Kansas City. However, the five laboratories licensed by Bayer to do the testing have not completed their approval process. It is hoped that by tomorrow the process will be done and testing can begin. Here is the official notification from GIPSA Administrator James Link:

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) has verified two analytical methods provided to GIPSA by Bayer CropScience to detect the LLRICE 601 trait in rice. Both tests are real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods - one that detects 35SBAR DNA sequence found in LLRICE and another that detects the DNA sequence specific to the LLRICE 601 trait. For further information about the specific analytical method or for a list of commercial laboratories that Bayer CropScience has authorized to provide testing services, please contact Bayer CropScience.”

Which can be done by pointing your web browser to www.bayercropscience.com/bioscience. The five labs are to be found by clicking the “Testing” tab on the left of the page.

Does My Rice Have the LLR601 Protein?

Right now that’s impossible to say. Seemingly reliable reports are that the protein seems to be concentrated in the Cocodrie and Cheniere varietal lines, but nothing is certain until a lot more testing is conducted. To date most if not all of the press reports about the wide-spread nature of the protein in long grain rice appear to emanate from testing reportedly conducted by a single Cooperative. But that entity has refused to say more about the specifics of the positive tests, geographically or varietally.

To Test or Not to Test?

Many producers are asking if they should test their crop, whether in the bins or the 2006 crop in the field. As it becomes available, we will pass along information about HOW to sample for testing by a commercial lab. Keep in mind that these sophisticated DNA tests will cost at least $200 to $300 each, and take at least 24 hours to complete, exclusive of the time and cost to ship the sample to 5 laboratories accredited by Bayer CropScience to conduct the USDA-approved tests. In the mean time, producers may want to consider identity preserving their crop, even by variety, if they can. But is must be emphasized that to do so effectively in the face of such challenges requires a great deal of detailed cleaning of equipment and facilities, to a degree that may be new to many producers.

Older “Strip Tests” May Give “False Positives”

USDA’s announcement was none too soon, as yesterday it was reported that preliminary evaluations of the commercially available strip tests reportedly determined that at least one test kit was producing false positive results. While not yet conclusive the limited review determined that “part number” 3,000,008 (like a lot number) produced false positive results. For any producers or others using the strip tests as a screen, be aware that this screening lot in particular may have real problems! Perhaps it should be subjected to a thorough review and verification. There is also concern that a laboratory in New Orleans, using its proprietary method to test for the presence of the Bayer gene, may be subject to false positives.

Rice Futures Prices Continue Fall – Sept ’06 below $9.00/cwt.

Rice futures in Chicago gave back yesterday’s modest gains and fell further again today. With Sept. 06 futures falling 18 cents/cwt, this means that the futures have fallen 86 cents/cwt since the close last Friday before the LLR601 “event” was made public. This means that the market value of just the US long-grain rice crop has fallen an estimated $129 million in value since Friday.

Rough Rice Futures (RR)
06Sep 897'0 -18'0
06Nov 925'5 -18.5
07Jan 1000'0 -17'0
07Mar 1042'0 -16'0
07May 1047'0 -16'0
07Jul 1053'0 -11’0

---------------- “If you are going through hell, keep going.” --Winston Churchill

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