ADM Wants Modified
Grains Segregated

DECATUR, Ill. —(AP)— Agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland Co. is asking corn and soybean suppliers to keep their genetically modified crops separate from traditionally grown grains.

The move, which could discourage farmers from buying genetically engineered seed, was the latest setback in attempts to promote seed that is developed to resist insect damage and disease.

In a statement released earlier this week, ADM said the change is in response to demands by customers who are ``requesting and making purchases based on the genetic origin of the crops.''

``If we are unable to satisfy their requests, they do have alternative sources for their ingredients,'' the statement said.

The request to grain elevators just before the fall harvest is a sign of growing concern about export markets such as Europe and Japan, which favor products made from crops that have not been genetically altered.

But meeting ADM's request may not be possible.

In central Illinois, more than half of the local corn and soybean crops are believed to be genetically modified. The most common kinds are Roundup Ready soybeans by Monsanto and ``Bt'' corn varieties distributed by several companies.

And suppliers contend that keeping genetic crop varieties separate is impossible at most grain elevators.

Jerry Rowe, president of Farmers Grain Co. in Dalton City, said the grain elevators he manages are not currently equipped to segregate large amounts of corn and soybeans.

Row said trying to keep the crop varieties separate could significantly slow this year's harvest, because grain elevators would likely be forced to assign certain days of the week for delivery of genetically modified crops.

Moreover, the shortest test to assure genetic origin takes 15 to 20 minutes for large grain loads, which would further cause delays.

John McMillin, a stock market analyst for Prudential Securities in New York, said the issue puts ADM in a difficult position. The company is ``caught in the middle of this controversy, between farmers that like to grow the genetic crops and markets where the stuff can't be sold,'' he said.

Tuesday's statement follows an announcement earlier this year that ADM will no longer accept genetically modified crops that are not approved for import in Europe.