December 8, 2005

US adopting GM crops with greater ease

US farmers are adopting GM crops with greater ease, according to a new study update released by the US National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy.

The study examined 11 case studies of six GM crops, which include corn and soybeans, and is based on data from the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service and surveys from various universities' crop specialists.

In 2004, US farmers planted 47.2 million hectares of GM crops, an increase of 11 percent from the previous year.

The study also reported that as compared with conventional crops, GM varieties increased production by 3 million tonnes, a 24-percent improvement from 2003, and gave US$2.3 billion in additional net returns for US growers, a 21-percent increase from the previous year.

GM crops also reduced pesticide use by an additional 34 percent, or 7,000 tonnes, from 2003 to 2004, the study said.

Insect-resistant crops again produced the greatest yield increase among the crops studied. While insect-resistant traits increased production, herbicide-resistant varieties generated the greatest reduction in production costs by reducing the amount of pesticide needed by 25,000 tonnes and lowering costs associated with hand weeding and mechanical cultivation by US$1.8 billion.