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MANY CONTRACTS that retailers make with processors to deliver specialty grains specify that the retailers must have identity-preserved (IP) capabilities, either at their elevator or at the farms with which they are dealing.
Managing an IP system requires a lot of work, says Dean Michaelson, grain manager, DeBruce Grain in Creston, IA. In DeBruce Grain's case, low-linolenic soybeans are stored at participating growers' farms. To underscore the importance of keeping low-linolenic soybeans segregated from other soybeans, DeBruce Grain holds grower meetings addressing IP issues twice a year and conducts random spot checks of grower bins.
The company also requires each participating contract grower to sign a checklist to ensure that his operation will strictly adhere to an IP system. The grower must affirm that the operation will carry out the following (and possibly other) procedures:
Planting
The specialty crop seeds will be kept separate from other seeds, in closed containers, until used.
Planter and drill boxes will be swept/blown clean and visually inspected to be free of contaminants before use.
Fields where the specialty crop seeds will be planted will be physically separated from fields of other varieties.
Harvest
Combine will be blown or swept clean and visually verified to be free of other grain.
Flush run will be used to assure equipment is free of contaminants.
Storage
All bins used to store the specialty grain will be labeled with “Identity Preserved” stickers or by another labeling method.
Transportation
All trucks used to transport the specialty grain will be clean and visually verified to be free of other grain.
All trucks used to transport the specialty grain will be labeled “Identity Preserved” in some manner.
Drivers will be clearly instructed as to the identity-preserved nature of the shipment.
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