69 



STATEMENT OF ROBERT GEBHARDS, MEMBER, NATIONAL 

 CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION 



Mr. Gebhards. Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommit- 

 tee, I thank you for the opportunity to present the views of the Na- 

 tional Corn Growers Association. 



I am Robert Gebhards, and I raise corn and soybeans in the 

 northwest comer of Missouri. And for the sake of time, I will elimi- 

 nate a lot of the written testimony. However, the NCGA applauds 

 Congress and the administration for their proper response to the 

 weather-related crop losses. 



However, as stated by, I believe, every member on this panel, the 

 National Com Growers Association is committed to an improved 

 multicrop insurance program that would eliminate the need for the 

 ad hoc disaster assistance in the future. 



The NCGA feels that there are several inequities in the disaster 

 assistance. But these are in my written testimony and I won't 

 dwell on them. I would also like to have the past rules of the CCC 

 loan covered losses due to nonfarmer control, such as tornadoes 

 and floods, that that loss be reinstated as was covered earlier in 

 the testimony from the ASCS. 



We know we have had tremendous damage, and we want to be 

 able to return to the land; and we need the assurance that all the 

 Government agencies are going to work to repair the levees, fields, 

 terraces, waterways, and if necessary, amend or extend their soil 

 conservation plans. 



Whenever crops are stressed by extreme weather, as talked 

 about with the FDA man, they become more vulnerable to insects, 

 molds, and other fungus; and aflatoxin is a waste product of at 

 least two molds that affect corn. 



This year, aflatoxin is being reported in the southeast corner of 

 Missouri. In late 1979, it was reported in the Northwest, in my 

 area. In the late 1980's, it showed up in central Iowa and made lots 

 of news because they are the No. 1 com producing State. And be- 

 cause aflatoxin is unusual in these regions, the farmers and the 

 grain dealers aren't real certain about proper handling procedures. 



I feel much of this confusion could be eliminated if the Federal 

 Government would approve practices and procedures that are 

 available in States where aflatoxin more commonly is a problem. 



The corn farmers nationwide recognize the danger posed by 

 aflatoxin and want to handle it in a safe, responsible manner. We 

 have the most at stake. That our customers, both foreign and do- 

 mestic, feel comfortable that we have the highest quality, and the 

 corn is safe, but Federal law imposes a number of restrictions on 

 the use of aflatoxin contaminated corn. Some of them you have al- 

 ready mentioned. 



As a general rule, it prohibits treating corn that is above the set 

 standard for livestock feed use. Actually, in today's market, the 

 corn processors carefully monitor corn that goes directly in the 

 human food chain. And the law requires that the Federal Grain In- 

 spection Service test all exports for aflatoxin unless the buyer and 

 seller say otherwise. But the majority of the corn that is grown in 

 the United States is fed to livestock. And with proper treatment, 

 this could still be an appropriate use of aflatoxin-contaminated 

 corn. 



