Genetically engineered crops the norm in Nebraska

Data for each crop category include varieties with both HT and Bt (stacked) traits. Source 1996-1999 data are from Fernandez-Comejo and McBride (2002). Data for 2000-2006 are available in the ERS data product, Adoption of Genetically Engineering Crops in the United States.

Notwithstanding uncertainty about consumer acceptance and economic and environmental impacts, it’s estimated that producers have planted 76% of their corn acres and 90% of their soybean acres to genetically engineered crops. Nationally, soybeans and cotton genetically engineered with herbicide-tolerant traits have been the most widely and rapidly adopted GE crops, followed by insect-resistant cotton and corn.

A report released by the USDA Economic Research Service July 14 explores the adoption of these crops by state from 2000 to 2006. Randomly selected farmers across the United States were asked if they planted corn, soybeans, or upland cotton seed that, through biotechnology, is resistant to herbicides, insects, or both. Conventionally bred herbicide-tolerant varieties were excluded. Stacked gene varieties include those containing GE traits for both herbicide tolerance (HT) and insect resistance (Bt).

Corn

In 2006 Nebraska ranked fourth in the nation for overall use of genetically engineered corn as a percentage of acres planted. Seventy-six percent of Nebraska’s corn acreage was planted to GE varieties in 2006. Of that percentage, 37% were insect-resistant (Bt) hybrids, 24% were herbicide- tolerant hybrids, and 15% were stacked hybrids using both attributes. Just three states planted a higher percentage of their corn acres to GE hybrids: South Dakota, 86%; North Dakota, 83%, and Texas, 77%.

From 2000 to 2006, Nebraska’s percentage of corn acres planted to GE hybrids more than doubled: 34% (2000); 34% (2001); 46% (2002); 52% (2003); 60% (2004); 69% (2005); and 76% (2006).

Soybean

In 2006 Nebraska, at 90%, ranked sixth nationally in the percentage of all soybean acres planted to genetically engineered varieties, broken down by states. (Not surprisingly, herbicide-tolerant varieties accounted for all the GE varieties.) States with a higher percent of adoption were: Mississippi, 96%; South Dakota and Missouri, both at 93%; Arkansas and Indiana, 92%; and Iowa, 91%. North Dakota and Nebraska both indicated that 90% of their soybean acres in 2006 had been planted to GE varieties.

Adoption in Nebraska, as well as in many of the soybean producing states, has grown consistently since 1986 when GE varieties first became available and 72% of the soybean acres in the state were planted to herbicide-resistant varieties. During the first five years the product was available, adoption increased: 72% (2000); (76%) 2001; 85% (2002); 86% (2003); 92% (2004); 91% (2005); and 90% (2006).