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STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL FARMERS UNION 



Presented by 



Allen Richard , Legislative Representative 



Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, my name is Allen Richard. I am here toda> on 

 behalf of the 250,000 members of the National Farmers Union , (NFU.). 



National Farmers Union has strong concerns with H.R. 2927, which is currently before you. As 

 drafted, H.R. 2927 is in conflict with long-standing NFU policy relating to the Plant Variety 

 Protection Act. 



National Farmers Union policy on the issue reads as follows: 



The 1991 International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) 

 convention as currently negotiated will not allow farmers to sell non-patented seeds from 

 their own production to their neighbors. It also eliminated European farmers from saving 

 "bin run seed" for their own use. 



Therefore, we strongly urge the U.S. Congress to reject the 1991 UPOV convention. We 

 do, however strongly support the U.S. Plant Variety Protection Act of 1980 as it is 

 currently written. 



NFU views the UPOV agreement as a method by which plant breeders can routinely reach into 

 the farmer's pocket and increase his cost of production without providing any off-setting return. 

 Farmers in America and elsewhere use bin run seed and sell limited amounts to their neighbors. 

 This has gone on for years without any harm. Few farmers abuse the patent rights of plant 

 breeders by extending the seed and unlabeled "brown bagging" it for sale to anyone other than 

 their neighbors. 



Most farmers would rather purchase seed from seed dealers because of the experience these local 

 dealers possess. The exception to this is when a neighbor witnesses the performance of a new 

 variety on nearby land. He may approach his neighbor about purchasing some of the seed. 



The seller gets a higher price for the bin run seed than if he simply sold it to a commercial entity 

 like his local elevator for commercial use. The higher price is the seller's reward for his risk in 

 trying a new seed variety which may nor may not work on his farm. This has gone on for years 

 without any major outcry. 



Now with seed patenting in the hands of a few concentrated multinational corporations, the 

 world sees the development of the UPOV convention, and American farmers see legislation like 

 H.R. 2927. 



The multinational seed companies seem to be doing quite well. A few of them seem to have 

 enough profit to buy out their competitors and further concentrate the industry into the hands of a 

 few. 



This concentration could lead to fewer varieties provided to growers and higher seed costs. 

 Limited varieties can mean less tolerance to pests and disease and less climatic adaptability. 



