Contact:
Shirley Pugh, 202-690-0437

FCIC BOARD APPROVES OPTIMUM® ACREMAX™ 1 PRODUCTS AS QUALIFYING FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY ENDORSEMENT PILOT

WASHINGTON, DC, Aug 31, 2010 – USDA’s Federal Crop Insurance Corporation Board of Directors recently approved Optimum® AcreMax™ 1products as qualifying for the Pilot Biotechnology Endorsement (BE) program, beginning with the 2011 crop year. Optimum® AcreMax™ 1 products are comprised of a combination of a Pioneer® hybrid with Herculex® XTRA insect protection and a Pioneer® hybrid with the Herculex I trait in the same bag.

The Pilot BE reduces premium rates for corn producers who meet program eligibility requirements and plant qualifying hybrids.

States in the Pilot BE include Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.