The conflict continues over artificial bovine somatotrophin, rBST. Monsanto has announced an aggressive rebate program for customers of the product marketed as Posilac.

In a phone interview today with Western United Dairymen's Communications Manager Mark Looker, Monsanto officials outlined the new Secure Technology Action Reward or S.T.A.R. rewards program.

"We want to continue to reward and encourage producers who advocate the preservation of whichever U.S Food and Drug Administration-approved technology they use," said Brian Naber, Posilac brand manager for Monsanto Dairy.

Producers have until April 30 to enroll in the program to receive a rebate of up to $1 per dose of Posilac for the next year. Earnings will be accrued through April 2008, applied to a customer's account in June 2008 and eligible for use through August 2008. Posilac has been on the market for 13 years and Monsanto says that Posilac users average an extra 10 pounds per supplemented cow per day.

"That is an increase that's even more valuable when milk prices are rising and you have challenging feed costs," Naber said.

Monsanto's move comes as controversy over the use of rBST has caused retail stores such as Starbucks to announce a ban on milk produced with rBST. California Dairies Inc. announced recently that after Aug. 1, cooperative members who use rbST will be assessed a "handling surcharge." Monsanto's rebate program is seen as a counter step to such actions, which are increasing across the U.S.

Andrew Burchett, Monsanto's director of public affairs, told WUD that Monsanto's efforts are directed at supporting dairy producers who "understand the value of having such government approved technology and protecting their ability to choose that technology." Burchett said Monsanto is concerned that recent efforts to ban rBST "are starting us down a slippery slope. It may be rBST right now, but it is not the only approved technology that is being threatened," he said, pointing out assaults on the use of antibiotics and genetically modified organisms.

Naber said the rebate program has been well accepted by producers in its early stages. More information about the STAR program is available on the web at www.make10.net.