Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Source: Compiled by USDA's Economic Research Service using data from 2001,
2002, and 2003 Agricultural Resource Management Survey.
Figure 7. Farmers' reasons for adopting GE crops.
Adoption of GE Crops and Yields
Currently available GE crops do not increase the yield potential of a
hybrid variety. In fact, yield may even decrease if the varieties used to carry
the herbicide-tolerant or insect-resistant genes are not the highest yielding
cultivars.
4
However, by protecting the plant from certain pests, GE crops can
prevent yield losses compared with non-GE hybrids, particularly when pest
infestation is high. This effect is particularly important for Bt crops. For
example, before the commercial introduction of Bt corn in 1996, the European
corn borer was only partially controlled using chemical insecticides. Chemical
use was not always profitable, and timely application was difficult. Many
farmers accepted yield losses rather than incur the expense and uncertainty of
chemical control. For those farmers, the use of Bt corn resulted in yield gains
rather than pesticide savings. On the other hand, a recently introduced Bt corn
trait selected for resistance against the corn rootworm, previously controlled
using chemical insecticides, may provide substantial insecticide savings.
5
