Frequently Asked Questions about Identity Preserved Specialty Corn Production

1. What percentage of US corn acreage is planted to identity preserved (IP) and specialty corn? Which states produce the most specialty corn? What about Ohio?

Currently it is estimated that about 5% of the corn acreage in the United States is devoted to specialty corns.   This translates to 3.9-4.3 million acres of corn.   It is hard to get a handle on exactly how much of the total crop production is produced using IP because most IP corn being grown is under contract with no centrally reported acreage or production.   Remember specialty corn is not the same as IP corn - nearly all specialty corn (corn with modified compositional traits) is grown using IP cultural practices, and therefore can usually be considered IP corn, but not all IP corn is specialty corn. Non-GMO and organic corn are examples of conventional commodity grade corn which are produced using IP practices - the source of non-GMO grain may a conventional corn hybrid (without a GMO trait like Bt) that has not been contaminated by GMOs; organic corn is similar to non-GMO corn except that it must be produced following organic certification standards.    See Table 1 for a production summary of eight identity preserved corn products.   Keep in mind it's more than two year old and specialty corn acreage fluctuates in response to CBOT commodity grain prices.

Leading specialty/IP corn states include Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and Indiana. Texas and Kentucky are major producers of white corn. Since Ohio is not located near many end users for some of the major specialty corns, IP corn acreage is limited. In Ohio specialty corn and IP corn acreage includes white corn, nutritionally enhanced corn, organic corn and non-GMO corn.

Table 1.   Summary of acres for eight identity preserved corn products, 1999-2002

Source:   U.S. Grains Council Value Enhanced Grain Quality Report.   Entire report is available at: http://www.vegrains.org/documents/2002veg_report/toc/tablecont.html

2.   How long have specialty corn varieties been produced using identity preservation?

Specialty corns have been grown using IP for many years.   White, waxy and hard endosperm/yellow food grade corns have been grown for 30 years or more using some form of IP.  

3.   Is acreage increasing for IP corn varieties? If so, why?

Acreage for most IP specialty corns is stable. Acreage for some like non-GMO, organic, and high extractable starch (HES) corn is increasing whereas acreage for others, e.g. high oil corn, has decreased considerably in recent years.

4.   What are the most commonly grown IP corn varieties?

Those listed in Table 1, white, waxy, hard endosperm/yellow food grade, high oil, nutritionally enhanced, high amylose, non-GMO, and high extractable starch (HES), are among the most widely grown IP specialty corns. The acreage (not available?) planted to organic, high lysine, and blue corn is also significant.  

Other types of IP specialty corns, which are grown, include high oil, low stress crack corn, low-temperature dried corn and post-harvest pesticide-free corn, and red corn. Many IP corn products may be characterized under more than one category. For example, organic corn can also be characterized as non-GMO and pesticide-free. White, waxy, and blue corns are nearly always non-GMO.

GMO corns, which have been developed to produce pharmaceutical components and chemicals for industrial uses, MUST be grown using IP practices. Their IP protocols are far more stringent than for other specialty corns.

5.   Which IP corn varieties is in particular demand? Why?

Non-GMO, and to some extent organic corn acreage, appears to be increasing, mainly due to public perceptions concerning GMO corn and pesticide use.   More consumers are demanding GMO and pesticide free products. According to US Grain Council projections, high extractable starch (HES) corn acreage is also increasing.

6.   Have concerns about GM crops increased demand for IP corn?

Concerns about GMO corns have increased the demand for non-GMO and organic corns.  

7.   What is the range of premiums for IP corn varieties?

Producers receive a premium for producing IP corns. Usually these corns are grown under contract. Premiums may range from $0.07 to $1.10 and up.   Table 2 shows a range of premiums per bushel for IP corns received in 2002 but this information is dated - more than 2 years old.   Premiums for other IP corns may be considerably higher (for example "pharmaceutical" GMO corn), but companies and producers are not willing to report premiums being paid and to the best of my knowledge, such corn is presently grown on a very limited acreage.

Table 2.   Summary of premiums for

eight identity preserved corn products, 2002.

Source:   U.S. Grains Council VEG Quality Report.   Entire report is available at: http://www.vegrains.org/documents/2002veg_report/toc/tablecont.html

8.   What are the benefits of producing IP corn varieties?

There are benefits to producing IP corns for both producers and consumers.   It has the potential to provide farmers with higher returns.   It provides end users and consumers with greater knowledge and trust about the quality and composition of the product.

9.   What are the challenges?

There are many challenges to producing IP corns.   The standards may be difficult to achieve, there may be a high risk of contamination from pollen drift from other corns, TopCross high oil corn is more sensitive to certain stress conditions, there is a risk of contamination of the grain at harvest if the combine is not thoroughly cleaned.   There is also the risk of lower yields associated with certain types of specialty corn (yield "drag" or "lag").  

10.   Which IP corn varieties especially require segregation from GM corn?

Most IP corns require segregation from GMO corn. However for some specialty corns, e.g. certain nutritionally enhanced Bt corn, the presence of GMOs in the grain may not be a concern to the end user (livestock feeder) Different IP corns have different requirements as to the level (%) of GMO contamination permitted.   It is necessary to note that IP does NOT mean non-GMO, and that non-GMO does not mean organic.   Some IP corns are non-GMO, while some are GMO's.   Organic IP corn is non-GMO, but non-GMO IP corn does not necessarily mean organic corn.

11.   Are their specific management issues and considerations for farmers producing IP corn?

Important management issues and considerations include developing a proper attitude, knowing what's in the crop contract, developing an IP plan, growing and storing special crops in separate locations, keeping detailed records (using a third party certification agency where appropriate), cleaning equipment between crops, keeping an eye on custom operations, keeping samples and watching costs.

References

IdentityPreserved.com.   2003.   Identity Preserved Web Site.   Available on-line

at: http://www.identitypreserved.com/ [verified 5/20/08].

Ohio State University.   2004.   Specialty Corns for Value-Added Grain Production Web Site.   Available at: http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/hocorn/ [verified 5/20/08].

Thomison, P.R. 2004. Managing "Pollen Drift" to Minimize Contamination of Non-GMO Corn. Extension Fact Sheet AGF-135. Available at http://ohioline.osu.edu/agf-fact/0153.html [verified 5/20/08]

University of Illinois.   2004.   Illinois Specialty Farm Markets Web Site.   Available at: http://web.aces.uiuc.edu/value/index.htm [verified 5/20/08].  

U.S. Grains Council.   2005.   2005/2006 Value-Enhanced Grain Quality Report.  Available on-line at: http://www.grains.org/galleries/technical_publications/USGC%20Value%20Enhanced%20Corn%20Report%202006%20%20(English).pdf [verified

5/20/08].

U.S. Grains Council.   2002.   Value Enhanced Grains Web Site.   Available on-line at: http://www.vegrains.org [verified 5/20/08].

Wilcke, B.   1999.   Identity Preservation of Grain Crops.   Available on-line at:  http://www.bbe.umn.edu/extens/postharvest/ipgraincrops.html [verified 5/20/08].

Answers prepared by P. Thomison and A. Geyer, Horticulture & Crop Science Department

Ohio State University