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U.S. Farmers Reap Biotech Benefits,
Increase Proportion of Plantings
Demand for genetically enhanced seed is
expected to grow, according to the U.S. Agricultural Department, because
farmers reap significant benefits in terms of increased profits as well
as a reduction in their dependence on pesticides. "All in
all, we conclude that there are tangible benefits to farmers adopting
first-generation (genetically enhanced) crops," says a recent USDA
study.
The use of biotech crops has grown rapidly since their introduction in
1996. This year, the USDA estimates that 75 percent of soybeans
planted by U.S. farmers were genetically enhanced, up from 68 percent in
2001. Thirty-four percent of U.S. corn this year is genetically
enhanced, up from 26 percent last year. Also, biotech cotton accounts
for 71 percent of the total acreage planted, up from 69 percent.
The increase in biotech crops far exceeds any increase in overall crops.
Corn plantings nationwide were up only 4 percent compared to last
year, while soybeans actually were down 2 percent. Cotton
plantings were also down this year by 9 percent.
According to the USDA study, biotech crops helped increase farm income
by increasing yields. A 10 percent increase in the use of
insect-resistant cotton translated to an increase in yield of between
1.7 and 2.1 percent. The same increase in herbicide-tolerant
soybeans produced a .3 percent increase in yield. (No data was
available for corn.)
The study also showed that genetically enhanced crops resulted in an
overall reduction in pesticide use. "Farmland treated with
pesticides decreased by 19.1 million acres between the 1997 and 1998
crops," the USDA report said. "The amount of pesticides
used also declined by about 2.5 million pounds."
The study projects that the use of herbicide-tolerant crops will
continue to grow, while the demand for insect-resistant seed might level
off, limited mainly by the infestation levels of the targeted pests.
"USA: U.S. Farmers to Plant More Biotech Crops—USDA Study," Reuters
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