Biotechnology
Crop Study Shows Boost to U.S. Grower Income, Other Benefits (10-27-04)
The National Corn Growers
Association (NCGA) is encouraged by the results of a new study that
found biotech crops, including corn, increased farmer income, boosted
yields, reduced pesticide use and spurred greater use of environmentally
friendly no-till agriculture in 2003.
The study, conducted
by the National Center for Food and Agriculture Policy (NCFAP),
suggests that six biotech crops – corn, soybeans, canola,
cotton, papaya and squash – increased grower income by an
additional $1.9 billion in 2003. Biotechnology boosted crop yields
by 5.3 billion pounds last year.
Darrin Ihnen, chair of
NCGA’s Biotech Working Group, said the report underscores
the value of biotechnology to corn growers.
“This report demonstrates
that farmers benefit from having biotech crops available to them.
Nearly half of this year’s record corn crop will come from
biotech hybrids,” said Ihnen, who farms near Hurley, S.D.
“For my farm, biotech crops allow me to achieve higher yields,
higher income and do less fieldwork.”
Biotech corn, especially
corn-borer resistant hybrids, was found to produce the highest yield
gains. In 2003, biotech corn increased yields by 4.9 billion pounds,
resulting in an additional $258.4 million in farm income.
Growers in Iowa, Illinois
and Minnesota benefited the most from the use of biotech crops,
particularly corn and soybeans, the report says. Iowa led the way
in increases in production, net economic impact and reductions in
pesticide use. The state reduced pesticide use by 7.5 million pounds
and increased farm income by $239 million. In the 47 states surveyed,
biotech crops reduced pesticide use by a total of 46.4 million pounds
in 2003.
“Opponents of biotech
crops often overlook the environmental benefits the technology offers,”
Ihnen said. “Herbicide-tolerant and insect-resistant hybrids
significantly reduce the need for pesticides and other traditional
crop protection products.”
According to the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, corn growers planted biotech corn seed
on 46 percent of their acreage this year, up 6 percent from 2003.
The NCFAP report indicates the number of farmers who use biotech
crops will continue to increase as new and improved hybrids are
brought to market. Seed supply has been the limiting factor, the
report says, and as more rootworm-resistant seed becomes available
in the marketplace, the number of acres planted with the crop is
expected to increase significantly.
The report also notes
that since biotech crops were commercialized in 1996, U.S. farmers
have increased their acreage of no-till corn by 14 percent. The
benefits of no-till agriculture include reduced fuel consumption,
decreased machinery wear, reduced input rates and improved habitat
for wildlife.
Growers make biotechnology
decisions based on the needs of their customers, Ihnen noted, and
corn producers will readily continue to serve markets that demand
both conventional and biotech corn.
An executive
summary of the NCFAP
report is available on the NCGA Web site.