Iowa farmers aren’t having any problem selling their genetically modified corn and the soybeans, so they are increasing the amount they plant in 2002.
“That’s the attitude of the majority or we wouldn’t see the rapid shift,” said Robert Wisner, Iowa State University agriculture economist.
If farmers follow through with their plans, 43 percent of the state’s corn and 78 percent of the state’s soybeans will be genetically modified. In 2001, 32 percent of the soybeans were genetically modified.
Nationally, 32 percent of the corn and 74 percent of the soybean acres will be planted with genetically modified crops. That’s up from last year, when U.S. farmers planted 26 percent of their corn and 68 percent of their soybean acres with the high-tech seeds.
Farmers grow gene-altered crops because they require less chemicals to fight weeds or pests.
“Economic advantages,” said Tim Burrack of Arlington, who grows gene-altered and non-altered crops. “All you have to do is harvest one field that has fallen because of corn borders and you soon realize there is a benefit. It makes the management and yield better and takes a little risk out of production.”
The genetically modified crops also create an opportunity for production of non-modified crops. If a farmer has the physical abilities to keep the two crops separate, he may find specialty markets and earn premiums on the non-altered, crops, Burrack said. He has the contracts to grow non-gene altered corn for export.
International acceptance of gene-altered crops is yet to be determined, Wisner said. Nineteen countries require labeling of crops by the type of genetic origin.
One of those countries, China, has haltered grain imports from the United States. Japan’s corn imports from the Unites States are down.
“GMO wheat is new and has created a controversy,” Wisner said. “The North Dakota Legislature has barred the planting of the GMO wheat. North Dakota is the No. 2 wheat-producing state.”
Burrack said foreign countries that reject gene-altered crops are doing so because of trade policies rather than information.
“They’re not doing it because of their health fears, but they’ve been filled with fear,” Burrack said. “China is the best example. You have to follow GMO rules and regulations, but even Chinese importers can’t understand the rules and it slowed down trade.
“They’re using what’s stores, and there was a big flush into China in advance of this. They’re encouraging their farmers to raise more soybeans. It’s all market manipulation.”
News 
