Genetically engineered crops continue to grow in Nebraska

While genetically engineered crops remain a source of controversy worldwide, Nebraska and U.S. farmers have aggressively adapted to these new crop varieties since 1996, according to a recent report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

According to a recent USDA acreage report, 80 percent of the nation's corn crop is of biotechnology varieties and 92 percent of the nation's soybean crop is of biotech varieties.

The number of biotech corn acres planted this year was up from 73 percent last year, and biotech soybean acres are up from 91 percent from last year.

In Nebraska, farmers planted 9 million acres for all purposes in 2008, down 4 percent from last year but still the second largest planted area since 1936. Biotechnology varieties accounted for 86 percent of the planted acreage, up from 79 percent last year.

State soybean producers planted 4.75 million acres, up 25 percent from the previous year. Biotechnology varieties resistant to herbicides accounted for 97 percent of the planted acreage, up from 96 percent last year.

Nationwide, Nebraska is tied with South Dakota and Mississippi in the percentage of soybean acres planted to biotech varieties. Nebraska was fifth in corn biotech varieties behind South Dakota, 95 percent; Kansas, 90 percent; North Dakota, 89 percent; and Minnesota, 88 percent.

In Nebraska, 27 percent of the corn acres were planted to BT varieties that kill insects, down from 31 percent in 2007. Herbicide-resistant biotech varieties of corn planted in Nebraska were up from 23 percent last year to 24 percent this year. Stack gene varieties, which contain insecticide and herbicide traits, were up from 25 percent last year to 35 percent this year.

According to the USDA, the growth of biotech variety use in Nebraska since 2000 has been dramatic. For example, biotech corn variety usage has grown from 36 percent in 2000 to 86 percent this year. Biotech soybean variety usage has increased from 72 percent in 2000 to 97 percent this year.

In 2000, the statewide average corn yield was 126 bushel per acre, compared to 160 bushels per acre last year. In 2000, statewide soybean yields were 38 bushels per acre, compared to 50.5 bushels per acre last year.

The USDA survey data further illustrate that biotechnology is providing "solutions for today's farmers in the form of plants that yield more per acre and reduce farmers' production costs while being resistant to disease and insect pests," said Sharon Bomer Lauritsen, executive vice president of food and agriculture for the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).

Lauritsen said 282 million acres of biotech crops were planted in 23 countries by 12 million farmers last year.

"We expect this growing trend to continue, especially at a time when the United States and the world are looking for science-based solutions to rising food and fuel prices," Lauritsen said.

She said plant biotechnology has increased corn productivity more than 33.1 percent and soybean productivity has increased 17 percent.

Biotech crops have the potential to increase productivity by another 25 percent worldwide, Lauritsen said.

"The next generation of biotech crops, with resistance to additional diseases and environmental stresses like drought and the ability to better use soil nutrients, will boost productivity even more," Lauritsen said.

According to BIO, ag biotechnology has environmental benefits as biotech crop varieties require less cultivation and fewer pesticide applications. They also save fuel and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) air emissions, allowing for improved soil health and water retention.