INDIANAPOLIS, July 1, 2002 . . . Mycogen Seeds recently made a large sunflower seed donation to a conservation seed program that will provide additional food and shelter for wildlife.

The Conservation Seed Program is an environmentally friendly, economical way to dispose of obsolete seeds while providing a natural habitat for wildlife. The program was created by Resource Management Incorporated (RMI) about ten years ago and was the first effort of its kind. “This is a very strong program and Mycogen Seeds plans to contribute more seeds in the future,” says Jeff Housman, logistics coordinator with Mycogen Seeds.

Each year, certain seed varieties are removed from the shelves and labeled obsolete because new hybrids or higher-yielding varieties are developed. Since the seeds are treated with fungicides, they cannot be recycled into the food chain or fed directly to wildlife. Seed companies donate their obsolete seed to RMI for distribution through the Conservation Seed Program. “It’s an excellent way to recycle obsolete seed,” says Ladd Johnson, RMI President.

Non-profit wildlife groups contact RMI and request free bags of seed. The investment is a $4-$6 shipping fee per 50 lb. bag of seeds, which amounts to a retail value of $80-$150 per bag. Through this program, members of various wildlife organizations have planted nearly 2 million acres this year. Johnson notes that the program continues to grow each year and is expanding to other parts of the world.

“I am excited that we are starting to work with RMI on a larger scale,” says Housman. “It is a really good program that is win-win for both of us,” he adds.

When planted for wildlife, the Mycogen sunflowers will feed doves, turkeys and other neo-tropical birds. During the winter months, sunflowers are also a good source of nutrients for wildlife. Other common wildlife crops include corn, grain sorghum, wheat, soybeans and alfalfa. Overall, the crops provide excellent sources of nutrition and winter cover for numerous wildlife species.

Conservation and wildlife groups involved with the program include Quail Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, the North American Waterfowl Association and many others. RMI asks wildlife organizations to sign an agreement to plant the crops for wildlife, and to date, no one has abused the agreement, says Johnson.

Mycogen Seeds is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company and is an affiliate of Dow AgroSciences LLC. Mycogen Seeds is the leader in Silage-Specific™ corn, the largest sunflower seed producer, and a leading producer of seed corn, alfalfa, soybeans and sorghum. For more information on Mycogen Seeds, go to www.mycogen.com on the Internet.

Contact Information
Name: Greg Cannon
Phone: 317-337-7568
Email: [email protected]

Name: Claire Brannstrom
Phone: 262-784-7200
Email: [email protected]