Who pays for the DNA test required to verify the recommended 90:10 ratio of tolerant:refuge varieties?
Seed growers pay for the DNA test to verify the refuge variety is present in the correct proportion before the certified seed is sold. As a general rule, whoever owns the certified seed pays for the seed testing to ensure the refuge is present. Once a test is commercially available, farmers would be expected to pay the expense of testing farm-saved seed — this cost is offset by midge tolerance preservation benefits and reduced insecticide applications. Farm-saved seed that falls below the recommended refuge level should be sold as commercial grain.
